Bistecca with Balsamic-Roasted Onion Crostini

We’re back! And what a great time we had! I better watch out or Taylor will want to move to New York. And can I say how amazing the food is there? From the roasted almonds off the street to frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity3 to tapas at Pipa (honestly one of the best dinners we’ve had in our lives), New York City is one big culinary adventure. Next time we visit, forget the sights, we’re eating our way through the city. :)

While it was nice not to have to cook for a week, we’re glad to be back in our own tiny kitchen. We both loved this recipe, it worked great for us as a main course but would also be fantastic as an appetizer. Is it just me or have we been using tons of red onions lately?

Bistecca with Balsamic-Roasted Onion Crostini

Recipe from Michael Chiarello. Makes 6-8 servings.
We used a tenderloin steak, and it was delicious. Just whatever cut you use, be sure it’s nice and tender. It’s a bit tough to bite through the crusty bread and steak all at once, next time we’ll slice the bread a bit thinner and not toast it quite so much. This one’s a keeper for sure!

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large porterhouse steak, about 1 1/2 pounds and 2-inches thick, at room temperature
Salt, preferably gray salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 large red onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 loaf crusty bread, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
Extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

In a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat until very hot. Season the steak with salt and pepper. Turn on the exhaust fan and put the steak in the pan; stand back to prevent being splattered. Cook until the steak is brown on the first side, about 2 minutes; brown on the other side. Remove the steak to a rack or baking pan until you are ready to finish cooking it. When ready, put the steak into the oven and cook until done to your liking, about 10 minutes for rare. Remove the steak to a carving board and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Peel and cut the onions into thirds or quarters, depending on their size. Leave as much root on as possible to keep the wedges from falling apart. Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in the same skillet used to cook the meat over medium-high heat until hot. Add the onions, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Season them with salt and pepper. Place the pan of onions in the oven and roast until tender and very browned (the onions tend to char around the edges), 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the onions from the oven, add the garlic, and cook briefly until light brown. Add the thyme and stir. Add the vinegar (stand back so as to not get splattered) and toss well with the onions. Stir and scrape up all the browned bits clinging to the bottom of the pan.

Reduce oven to 400 degrees F. Place the bread in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until the bread is golden brown and crisp, about 8 to 9 minutes.

To serve, cut the meat off the bone, then carve it into thin slices. Put 1 slice of meat on each crostini and top with the roasted onions. Pour any juices from the carving board over the crostini. Serve immediately.

Note: In order to cook the meat in the shortest amount of time and thus extract the most flavor, the meat must be at room temperature. Afterward, the meat must rest before carving. If this procedure is followed, the carving knife glides right through the steak.

Turkey Onion Soup with Thyme and Gruyère Crostini

A rare indulgence… Taylor decided he wanted to make French Onion Soup, with all it’s rich cheesy goodness. And yes, that cheesy goodness was indeed delicious.

Topped with crusty bread and broiled until the cheese is melted and bubbly, this soup is perfect when you really just want to sit back and savor something warm and satisfying.

I also have to comment on the adorable serving vessels… perfect mini-replicas of our beloved Le Creuset, and in the exact colors to match our rainbow kitchen appliances. A gift from Auntie Sal… we’ve been waiting for the perfect dish to use these, and I think we’ve found it!

French Onion Soup with Thyme and Gruyère Crostini

INGREDIENTS
1 pound yellow onions, halved and thinly cut lengthwise
3 to 5 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh cracked pepper
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 cups beef stock
1 cup water
1 1/2-inch-thick slice of ciabatta bread cut in half
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups grated Swiss Gruyère cheese

DIRECTIONS
In a heavy 5-quart pot melt the butter over low heat. Add the onions, thyme, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to taste and cook until the onions are deep amber and exceedingly soft, stirring occasionally, 25 to 30 minutes. Add the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, then add the wine, increase the heat, and let the wine bubble away for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the beef stock and water, and let the soup simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Preheat the oven to broil. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven.

Place the ciabatta on the middle rack of the oven and toast until crispy, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs from the soup and discard. Pour the soup into two ovenproof bowls, float the toasted ciabatta on top, and cover it with a thick layer of the Gruyère. Put the soup bowls under the broiler on the middle rack and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and golden.

Goat Cheese Crostini with Blood Orange and Black Pepper Marmalade

I managed to score a bag of blood oranges at Trader Joe’s a few weeks back, something I absolutely love but haven’t been able to find since we left the produce-laden hills of California. Hooray for Trader Joe’s! After my find, I immediately scoured the internet for the perfect way to use these ruby red gems. And you know my affinity for goat cheese, so when I stumbled upon this recipe, well, how could I not make it?

The marmalade is surprisingly tart. I wouldn’t eat a spoonful of it on it’s own. But paired with the creamy goat cheese and toasty bread, well, it’s perfect. Can’t say much more about it than that.

Goat Cheese Crostini with Blood Orange and Black Pepper Marmalade

Makes 6 servings. Recipe from Epicurious.

INGREDIENTS
8 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, room temperature
4 blood oranges, divided
1/4 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
Fresh lemon juice (optional)
18 1/2-inch-thick slices French or raisin baguette, toasted

DIRECTIONS
Place goat cheese in small bowl. Finely grate 1 teaspoon peel from 1 blood orange; stir peel into cheese.

Using vegetable peeler, remove peel (orange part only) in strips from remaining 3 oranges. Cut peel into 1/8- to 1/4-inch pieces and place in medium saucepan.

Using small sharp knife, cut white pith from all 4 oranges. Working over another small bowl to catch juices, cut between orange membranes to release segments. Squeeze any remaining juice from membranes into bowl. Discard membranes. Coarsely chop orange segments and add to saucepan along with any juices. Add juices from bowl to saucepan. Stir in honey and 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper.

Bring to boil over medium-high heat and cook uncovered until thick and reduced to 1/2 cup, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Cool. Season with more ground black pepper to taste and with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

DO AHEAD: Cheese and marmalade can be made 1 day ahead; cover separately and chill. Bring to room temperature before assembling crostini. Top toasted baguette slices with goat cheese, then marmalade. Place crostini on platter and serve.