BBQ Beef Sandwiches for Grey Cup festivities!

The Grey Cup is the Canadian equivalent of the Super Bowl in the US....well, its smaller, much more modest cousin...but it celebrated it's 100th game this past weekend, and so it was a big deal for us canucks!  While we love our pulled pork sandwiches for tailgating, we latched on to this BBQ Beef sandwich recipe some years ago and it stuck.  And it is a bit of a healthier alternative (don't tell Z and K).  Some short prep, toss in the slow cooker and it's a snap to make!  Zach was my guest photographer for this entry...he had to get a shot of his double-decker sandwich garnished with dill pickle slices and red onion on an over-sized toasted garlic bun!

BBQ Beef Sandwiches (adapted from Cooking Light Magazine)

2 (1.5 lb) flank steaks

1/3 cup dark brown sugar, divided

3/4 tsp black pepper

1 (6 oz) can tomato paste

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup ketchup

3 tbsp cider vinegar

2 tbsp molasses

2 tbsp worcestershire sauce (if you are not allergic!)

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp prepared mustard

1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dry mustard

12 (2.5 oz) sandwich rollsred onion rings and dill pickle slices to garnish

Cut each steak in half crosswise. Combine 1 tbsp brown sugar ad pepper. Rub steaks with sugar mixture. Place remaining brown sugar, tomato paste and next 10 ingredients (through dry mustard) in a slow cooker, stir well. Add steak and turn to coat. Cover with lid, cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce to low and cook 6 - 7 hours until steak is tender. Remove steak from slow cooker (leaving sauce in cooker). Shred steak with 2 forks (don't do this until ready to serve or it will dry out). Return shredded steak to cooker, stir well to coat with sauce. Spoon onto buns and garnish. 375 cals.

Ne'er Fail Crisp Chicken Legs with Sweet Tomatoes

I've been delinquent...when I started doing this blog, I figured an entry a week would be appropriate.  It's been really busy at work, so I have kind of slowed down on the entries, but I am realizing that this is fun and creative and it is a wonderful outlet for the stresses of the day job...so a resolution to be better is in order!

In the spirit of simple, but very tasty recipes...here's a keeper.  My girlfriend Christina gave it to me in an email recipe exchange...although I'm not always good about participating in those...this recipe has become a staple in our house.  I love it because it is so simple, it has gorgeous colours and aromas, and if you were really in a jam, you could make it a one pot meal by adding halved baby potatoes or cannellini beans.   Otherwise, you can add a green vegetable and orzo or mashed potatoes for a very yummy, casual dinner.

4 - 6 chicken legs (the ones with the back attached)
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
a big bunch of fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
2 big handfuls of red and yellow cherry tomatoes,halved and ripe plum tomatoes, quartered
1 whole bulb of garlic, broken up into cloves
1 chili finely chopped (optional)
olive oil
Optional adds:  baby potatoes (halved) or 1 tin of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed.

Preheat oven to 350F.  Season chicken pieces all over and put them into a snug fitting pan in one layer.  Throw in all the basil leaves and stalks, then sprinkle over with tomatoes.  Scatter the garlic cloves into the pan with the chopped chilli and drizzle the whole thing with olive oil.  Place in oven for 1.5 hours, or until chicken skin is crisp and the meat falls off the bone.  Voila!