i couldn't think of a better way to kick start my second blog feature here at Rita Bakez, than with a bit of inspiration from a highly addictive tv show. every summer when the heat in Vegas reaches the point of unbearable it's time to start enjoying new delicious episodes of True Blood. if you are like me helplessly glued to your tv screen every sunday night you certainly shouldn't have an empty stomach, it just wouldn't be the proper thing to do. with each 'Recipe Box' post i'd like to use as an opportunity to share a meal with you, because that's how i was taught people got to know one and other. so with a heart full of southern hospitality i'd like to share my Makers Day meal with you,  Stakes & Garlic Fries with a boozy Sweet Tea!

could you tell i was a little excited for this show to return? this was premiere night dinner! confession? sometimes i get a little carried away..it happens. another thing you should know.. i kind of maybe watch a lot of tv...ssh. it's secret.

but seriously..back to the food!

for the steaks i chose new yorkers, they are usually my first choice but feel free to choose your favorite.

season them with salt, pepper, and a good amount of garlic powder at room temperature for at least 30 mins. while your steaks sit get started on the fries!

fries

4   russet potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch thick fries (i left the skins on)

6-8 cloves of garlic

10   tablespoons of olive oil

in a small frying pan on low heat, fully warm the minced garlic and olive oil. you don't want to really cook your garlic, we are just trying to infuse all that yummy garlic flavor into the oil. seat aside.

place the cut fries into a bowl with all of the minced garlic and 2 tablespoons of the garlic olive oil, we will be saving the rest of the oil for later. give the fries a good stir and shake so the garlic and oil can be evenly distributed. place plastic wrap over the bowl of fries and heat in the microwave on high for 4 mins.

while the fries heat away time to get started on the seasoning.

Merlottes Vamp proof seasoning

1/4   cup corn starch

1/2   teaspoon cayenne pepper

1        teaspoon dried rosemarry

1        teaspoon garlic powder

1        tablespoon salt

1/4   cup, chopped parsley

1/2   cup, shredded parmesan cheese. set aside for the baking process!

mix all ingredients (except for the parmesan!)  press with a fork to break up some of the rosemary. smells good, huh? 

ding! go check the microwave and pre heat the oven to 400F.

place the hot fries (be careful!) on a baking sheet, and brush the tops of the fries with half of the garlic infused olive oil we set aside.

with a small spoon, sprinkle half of vamp proof seasoning you made earlier try to coat as evenly as possible.

pop them in the oven for 10 mins, then remove fries and repeat the process after you flip them. after another 10 mins of time in the oven remove the baking sheet.

switch your oven to broil.

sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese and place under the broiler for 5 mins.

let's get into this. 

while the fries were in the oven becoming amazing, i pan fried the steak.

if you'd rather grill, i'm all about it.

if you'd rather only eat these savory crispy oven fries, i'm all about that too.

dinner's up!

a southern dinner really can't be complete without a strong sweet tea, i stepped mine up with a lemon simple syrup and bourbon.

fill a mason with ice, add desired amount of bourbon and fill with sweet tea. i will be sharing my sweet tea recipe soon so stay tuned.

i hope you enjoyed the first taste in the 'Recipe Box' with a dinner straight off the Merlotte's menu.  

happy watchings Truebies

until next time

xox

rita

this cake was my gift to summer and my motivation to really attack away my clutter! i have been fixing, cleaning and changing..uh, pretty much everything.  sometimes you just need a life purge! you know? donating away your past that you have out grown is necessary for making room for all of your new adventures and that's exactly what i am doing. my hardest parts are behind me now, and the road ahead has so much fun (and hopefully pretty) in store! adjusting my home space so that it really fits my needs is my first priority and i have already started planning like a maniac. it's exciting but it's A LOT of work, so here's to good time management!! oh and that fully stickered up desk is getting a face lift, what can't be purged will be given new life!

for this summer berry cake, i cooked down strawberries with brown sugar and browned butter and folded it into vanilla cake batter. for the blueberry lemon butter cream i also cooked down blueberries, this time with lemon zested sugar & lemon juice. you have no idea how fantastic my kitchen smelled, better than warm pie!

best wishes to all who take on a life purge, my advice? do it with cake. anything done with cake is clearly better than anything done without cake.

xox

rita