While laying in bed today with a horrible case of bronchitis, it seem like all the Food Network cooking stars were talking about Steak Diane. While I’m having a horrible time trying to breathe, this bronchitis has not affected my appetite.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Steak Diane

Steak Diane is a culinary dish made with a cut of beef tenderloin, namely the filet mignon. This steak is often cooked at the table in a restaurant, combining a show and a meal for the patron.

The steak is pounded flat, seasoned by rubbing garlic and ground black pepper into it and fried quickly in butter. Often a sauce is prepared from the pan juices left after the frying of the steak, using sour cream and, often, Worcestershire Sauce. This sauce is poured over the steak prior to serving.

My favorite recipe came from Paula Dean. I will be trying this recipe as soon as I’m back in the kitchen.

Steak Diane Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

6 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

2 tablespoons minced onion

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley leaves

1 pound beef tenderloin, cut into 8 slices

Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, onions, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and salt, and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender. Stir in the parsley; pour the sauce into a small metal bowl or saucepan, cover, and keep warm. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in the skillet. Cook the steaks over medium-high heat, turning them once, for 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium. Serve the steaks with the mushroom sauce.

Quick corn on the cob, broccoli, and a tossed salad, and your meal will be done in less than 30 minutes.  A great dish on those busy days.

Do you keep in your pantry items to make a meal in minutes?

Take-out food is so expensive. When you do a little preparing, you can actually fix meals in minutes. While meals in minutes are probably better for you and your family than a burger and fries. The good thing is that you are saving money.

I always keep a bag of precooked fajita meat in the freezer. Stir fry the meat, onions and bell peppers. Add lettuce and toast to make a fajita salad. Open a can of fruit for dessert.

The same fajita meat can make Nachos. Spread tortilla chips with bean dip, add fajita meat and cheese. Microwave until cheese is melted.

Quick fajitas can also be made with the meal. Add chips and hot sauce to make your meal.

Boil noodles and top with the stir fried fajita meat. Add a jar of gravy and heat until hot. Serve meat over noodles. Add a salad to complete your meal.

Frozen meatballs are another staple I keep in my kitchen. Brown meatballs in a skillet until thawed. Add a can of spaghetti sauce and simmer. Boil spaghetti pasta. Broil under the broiler toast with butter and garlic powder for garlic toast. Add a salad to complete your meal.

Brown meatballs in a skillet. Cook Ramen noodles. Toss meatballs with noodles. Add a salad.

Brown meatballs in the skillet until thawed. Pour in a can of beef gravy. Open a box of macaroni and cheese. Add a salad to your meal.

I always keep a package of the frozen skillet meals in the freezer. These can be made within 15 to 20 minutes. Add a salad and a can of fruit and your meal is complete.

Kids love this dish– take 2 cans of Ravioli. Layer Ravioli, cheese and crushed corn chips. Top with cheese. Microwave until the cheese is melted. Add your salad and your set.

Fix a package of stuffing mix according to directions. Take thick slices of turkey that you can purchase from your deli. Roll stuffing inside turkey to make a roll. Pour a jar of turkey gravy over the top and microwave until warm. Serve with a can of green beans.

All time favorite is soup and grilled cheese sandwiches or soup and a salad is a big hit in the winter time.

A list of “never-outs” would be:

Precooked frozen fajita meat
Salad fixings
Bean dip or refried beans
Shredded cheese
Jar gravy
Noodles
Ramen noodles
Frozen meatballs
Spaghetti sauce
Macaroni and cheese mix
Frozen skillet meals
Ravioli
Corn chips
Stove Top Stuffing mix
Turkey gravy

Make a list of your “meals in minutes” and tape to the inside of your pantry door. When you are in a hurry, turn to your pantry instead of the phone number to your favorite take out restaurant. Every time you fix a quick and easy meal instead of take-out food, put the money you would have spent into a jar. Tell your family about the money jar. As a family, decide what you are going to do with this money. (I.e., Disney trip, etc.) Fast food is a habit everyone gets into, so make getting out of the habit fun for everyone.

About the Author: Betty Reed Lynch, owner of My Country Kitchen, a menu planning service for the BUSY person! Visit her web site at: www.mycountrykitchen.com to subscribe to her menu planning service. If you have any questions, feel free to email Betty at betty@mycountrykitchen.com