Another foodie post

2 weeks ago I posted that I would be submitting the recipe for this Sunday dinner I prepared....and needless to say. I never did!

Back in Feb 12 Food Network Magazine released the chocolate issue. You guessed it, filled to the brim with recipes with chocolate/cocoa.

I was really intrigued by this one recipe of COCOA-RUBBED STEAK WITH BACON WHISKEY GRAVY. Sounds really intense but it was actually quite delicious.



for the steak

Ingredients
For the steak:

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Kosher salt
3 1-pound New York strip steaks (about 1 1/2 inches thick)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

For the gravy:

4 strips bacon, diced
1 leek (white and light green parts only), finely chopped
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whiskey
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions

Make the steak: Mix the cocoa powder, both paprikas, brown sugar, cayenne and 2 teaspoons salt; rub on the steak and bring to room temperature, 30 minutes.

Make the gravy: Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring, until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove to paper towels with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add the leek to the drippings and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute.

Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the whiskey, then return to medium heat; if the alcohol ignites, let the flames die out. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the mixture is reduced by one-quarter, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the heavy cream and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the gravy coats a spoon, about 7 minutes. Stir in the butter, reserved bacon and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat, about 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter; when it melts, add the steak and sear until a dark crust forms, about 8 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes. Season with salt. Slice and serve with the gravy.

Of course I couldn't make this meal without a dessert so I took a stab at a Flourless Chocolate Cake



The cake was so incredibly moist and dense {does that even make sense?} but you needed a whole 2 glasses of milk to wash it down. It was WAY too chocolatey for our tastes buds.