Oven Grilled Steak Mark Bittman Food

OVEN-GRILLED STEAK (MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to its maximum, 500° or more, for at least 20 minutes; if it is equipped with a pizza stone, so much the better.
• About 10 minutes before you are ready to eat, put a cast-iron or other ovenproof heavy skillet large enough to hold the steaks over high heat.
• Wait 2-3 minutes, until the pan is beginning to smoke.
• Add the steaks and let them sit on top of the stove as long as you can before the smoke is intolerable-probably no more than 1 minute.
• Immediately transfer the pan to the oven; roast the steaks for about 4 minutes, or until nicely browned on the bottom, then turn and cook on the other side for another 3-4 minutes, until done.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

QUESO FUNDIDO (MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°; roast chile in a dry skillet over medium heat (or over an open flame), turning to brown on all sides; cool it, then peel, seed, stem, and chop.
• Liberally butter a 9-inch gratin dish or similar baking dish and put it in the oven.
• Meanwhile, add the oil to a large skillet; turn heat to med-high.
• Add in onion; cook/stir occasionally, until translucent, 3-5 minutes.
• Add in the chile and chorizo; cook/stir occasionally, until the choirzo is cooked through, about 5 minutes; drain oil from pan.
• Layer the cheese across the bottom of the heated gratin dish and sprinkle the chorizo mixture on top.
• Bake until the cheese melts, about 10 minutes.
• Scoop the hot melted cheese and chorizo into warm tortillas and serve.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE (BY MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it.
• Cook the milk with the bay leaves in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. When small bubbles appear along the sides, about 5 minutes later, turn off the heat and let stand.
• Cook the pasta to the point where it is almost done but you would still think it needed another minute or two to become tender. Drain it, rinse it quickly to stop the cooking, and put it in a large bowl.
• In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter; when it is foamy, add the flour and cook, stirring, until the mixture browns, about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaves from the milk and add about 1/4 cup of the milk to the hot flour mixture, stirring with a wire whisk all the while. As soon as the mixture becomes smooth, add a little more milk and continue to do so until all the milk is used up and the mixture is thick and smooth. Add the cheddar and stir.
• Pour the sauce over the noodles, toss in the Parmesan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Use the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to grease a 9 x 13-inch or similar-size baking pan and turn the pasta mixture into it. Top liberally with bread crumbs and bake until bubbling and the crumbs turn brown, about 15 minutes. Serve piping hot.
• Simpler Macaroni and Cheese.
• Here the ingredients are just layered and cooked together: Proceed with Steps 1-3 as directed. Butter the baking pan with an extra 1 or 2 tablespoons butter. Layer one-third of the pasta, sprinkle with half of the flour, fleck with half of the butter, cover with about 1/2 cup of the cheddar, pour half of the heated milk over the top, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Repeat the layers, using the remaining flour, butter, and milk, and top with the remaining pasta, cheese, and bread crumbs. Bake until bubbling and browned on top, about 30 minutes.
• Rich Macaroni and Cheese.
• Super-creamy and decadent; make this even more special with some sautéed wild mushrooms: Reduce the milk to 3/4 cup. Omit the bay leaves, the first 3 tablespoons butter, and all of the flour. Substitute mascarpone cheese for the grated cheese. Add about a cup or so sautéed wild mushrooms, if you like, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves (or 11/2 teaspoons dried sage). Cook the pasta as directed. Mix together the milk, mascarpone, and Parmesan in a large bowl. Add the cooked pasta and the sage, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and combine. Proceed with Step 5.
• Nutty Macaroni and Blue Cheese.
• Substitute 1 cup blue cheese for the Parmesan and reduce the cheddar by 1/2 cup; use a mild or medium cheddar. Add 3/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts. Fold the blue cheese and walnuts into the pasta mixture in Step 5 (melting the blue cheese in the sauce will make it gray and not so attractive).
• Macaroni and Goat Cheese with Roasted Red Peppers.
• Nice and tangy from the goat cheese, while rich and sweet from the roasted peppers: Add 2 roasted red peppers, peeled and chopped, and 1/2 cup each chopped fresh basil leaves and toasted pine nuts. Substitute 1 cup soft goat cheese for the Parmesan, and reduce the grated cheese by 1/2 cup. Omit the bay leaves. Proceed with the recipe, stirring in the peppers, basil, and pine nuts with the pasta in Step 5.
• Macaroni and Chile Cheese.
• For a spicy dish, use a hotter chile or add a tablespoon chopped chipotle chile with adobo sauce: Use grated Jack or cheddar for all 2 cups of the cheese. Add 2 medium poblano or other mild green fresh chiles, roasted, cleaned, and chopped, 1/4 cup or so chopped fresh cilantro leaves, and 1 medium tomato, sliced. Proceed with the recipe, stirring in the chiles and cilantro with the pasta in Step 5, then top with the tomato slices and bread crumbs.

BRAISED AND GLAZED BRUSSELS SPROUTS (MARK BITTMAN)

Steps:

• Combine the butter, Brussels sprouts, and stock in a deep skillet with a tight-fitting lid; sprinkle with salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Cover and adjust heat so the mixture simmers; cook until the sprouts are just tender, 5-10 minutes, checking once or twice and adding liquid as needed.
• Uncover and increase heat to boil off all the liquid so that the vegetables become glazed and eventually browned; resist the urge to stir them frequently; just let them sizzle until golden and crisp, then shake the pan and loosen them to roll over.
• It is ok if some sides are more well done that others; taste and adjust the seasonings, then serve hot or at room temperature.