Shaved Beef. . . My New Favorite Ingredient

Shaved Beef and Spinach Salad

 

Shaved Beef and Spinach Salad

 A while back, Trader Joes used to carry this great item called shaved beef.  Think thin sliced beef

similar to what's on a Philly - endless possibilities!!  However, I haven't seen it in a long time, and talking to the employees confirmed that they no longer carry it.  SO when I saw this product show up at the local Harris Teeter, I was pumped!  It's an easy way to add some variety into your dinners (we eat a LOT of chicken) without spending a ton or requiring a ton of work.  Here's an easy recipe for a dinner salad that eats like a meal. 

 

 

 

Beef cooking, just a minute or so each side
 

Ingredients

• 1 lb shaved beef
• 8oz mushrooms, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced thin
• 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
• Spinach leaves
• cherry tomatoes
• Garlic salt/seasoning

Directions

1. Sautee the mushrooms and onions in pan on medium heat with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.  They are done when they start to caramelize and turn brown.
2. In a separate pan, heat 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil on medium-high.  When the oil is hot, add the shaved beef slice by slice.  As you add, sprinkle with the garlic salt or garlic powder.  They should be ready to flip after 1-2 minutes depending on thickness.
3. Remove the shaved beef as it cooks to a paper towel lined plate.
4. When your ready to serve add a handful of baby spinach leaves to your plate, sliced cherry tomatoes, and top with sliced mushroom, onions, and shaved beef.  The meat is so flavorful you wont need to use a dressing.  But if you do want a touch of something try topping with a splash of balsamic vinegar or even Trader Joe's balsamic glaze

Sauteed mushrooms and onions

Happy New Year!

 Welcome 2014!  I'd say time has flown by and it doesn't seem like January should be here yet, but time is always moving faster than we'd like, so much so that it's the norm.  Regardless, 2013 is another year in the book, and we are marching on into a new one.  I'm not here to write one of those prototypical New Years posts you see everyone rushing to post at 12:01, detailing all the bad habits they're giving up, volunteering they'll start, you know, how they'll basically be transformed overnight. Don't get me wrong setting goals (even lofty ones) is undoubtably a key to success, but I've never been a big believer in New Years resolutions.  If we want to change and be truly committed to it, it has to happen in a meaningful way and at a meaningful time, not just because of an arbitrary calendar turn.  New Years resolutions imply that we have to wait for a certain big moment to start a new commitment, when smaller opportunities are all around us everyday. Not to mention that by February or March the vast majority of resolutioners (maybe my resolution should be to make up more new words!!!) can't even remember what it is they committed themselves too.  

It takes a lot of work for something to turn from an idealistic vision in your head, to something you do when you have time, into a habit and way of life.  The road to self improvement will inevitably include a mistake or two or twenty.  And it's often those slip-ups that totally derail people from their goals.  I said I wanted to go for a run everyday, and now I missed a day so I might as well give up, I didn't keep my resolution.  NOOO!  It's about the forward progress you make, not whether or not you did what you said you wanted to at 12:01. All that being said, I DO want to make a commitment to myself and to all you out there to be more vigilant about posting on this site.  One new recipe a week is my goal!  Here's to a new year and some new posts!