We’re back!
Thank you so much for your kind words regarding Ben’s Grandma. She was such a sweet woman and will be terribly missed. Your kind words mean a lot.
If there is an upside to all this, it’s that the family got to spend some real quality time together this weekend…including dining twice at Quaker Steak and Lube. For realsies. I couldn’t make this stuff up! It actually might be my new favorite restaurant. In addition to the hysterical name – it was REALLY good!! :)
Ben and I drove the 1.5 hour drive home this morning and have been busy ever since. Went grocery shopping, organized the house, then put our lobster cutting, butter melting & cupcake icing skills to the test. Valentine’s Day came a day early in the form of Surf & Turf for dinner!
Steak and lobster, baby! Oooo yeah!
We’ve actually been planning this dinner for WEEKS. Normally Ben and I like to go out to a nice restaurant for Valentine’s Day but, I don’t know, it’s kind of awkward timing this year since the big day lands on a Monday, and we don’t really like to go out to eat on Sundays (I know,) so we planned to whip up a decadent feast in the comfort of our own kitchen. :D
Ok so the original plan called for boiling 2 live lobsters, but when push came to shove – we totally chickened out and bought lobster tails!! Well sorry, but for one thing, the store had GORGEOUS beef tenderloin medallions pre-packed with lobster tails for $30, and the whole lobsters would have been at least that much just by themselves without the beef.
For another thing, I just felt bad. Poor lobster! I couldn’t bear the thought of putting the frightened crustaceans into my crowded trunk, then having them crawl around my dark fridge, then – eek – dropping them into a big pot of boiling water! Right?! Have you ever cooked anything alive?
With that dilemma passed, we turned to the prepping of the tails. I’ve already confessed that prior to cooking Pasta allo Scoglio, my experience with cooking exotic seafood was basically nil.
Up until today my interaction with lobsters has been limited to tapping on the outside of the glass case they sat in at the grocery store while my mom shopped when I was little. ;)
After a quick search on the internet, Ben and I found the best way to cook the tails was on the grill or in the oven. Well the grill is still under 2 feet of snow (despite a PICTURE PERFECT day here today, OMG!) so we opted for the oven.
First you’re supposed to split the tail and crack it open so it cooks evenly – which, let me tell you, is easier said than done.
Fate decided that the knife was not going to be penetrating one of the shells, so I ended up having to crack it open from the bottom side, while I finally did get the other one to open on the top. Big sharp knives are key for this process!
Next came the butter. Lobster tails need lots and LOTS of salted butter! :D
I laid the tails on a baking sheet and drizzled ~1/2 Tablespoon of butter on each tail, then popped them into a 400 degree oven for ~12 minutes, until the flesh was firm, but still a bit springy. Kind of the texture of cooked shrimp.
Picture break while we anxiously wait to find out how the hell the tails are going to turn out. We really had no idea what we were doing!
Badda bing, badda boom! Flesh slightly pulling away from the shell, bright pink coloring on the outside of the tail flesh, and slightly firm to the touch. We did it!!
Whee! :D
The lobster tails joined a pot-o-butter for dipping, fresh asparagus spears, garlic fries and THE most incredible beef tenderloin I’ve ever had.
Lobster tails, people. GET THEM!
Once you figure out what you’re doing with the knife, they take less than 15 minutes to cook.
Soooo decadent, chewy and dripping with butter. It’s love!!
The beef tenderloin was actually my #1 favorite item on the plate though. I have a seriously large place in my heart reserved for exceptional cuts of beef (what, you don’t? ;) )
Ben kept his master steak cooker title with these babies and they were like BUTTER! He gave them a quick sear on each side on a flat top skillet, then finished them in a 400 degree oven.
Mouthwatering, fork-tender, perfectly seasoned – I could eat this every single night. It was the best steak I have EVER had. Go Ben!
Steamed asparagus canceled out some of the lobster butter, I’m sure.
Although, the garlic fries probably canceled out that cancel out. ;) We were going to make twice-baked potatoes but remembered we had a big bag of these in the freezer, and they totally made the meal. My warning remains – eat these WITH your significant other – you will be breathing fire afterwards!
Ben said it was the best meal we’ve ever made. Who says you need to pay big bucks at a restaurant to enjoy the finer things in life? ;)
Or always make things from scratch, for that matter? ;)
For a sweet, Valentine’s Day treat, Ben whipped us up some of his very favorite cupcakes for dessert – Funfetti Cupcakes!
My favorite cupcakes to make from scratch are Magnolia’s Vanilla Cupcakes, but good HEAVENS do I love these babies!
Ben took his task very seriously…
and it totally paid off…
these were the best freaking cupcakes I have ever had!!!!
Iced and decorated by yours truly, we were mmmmmm’ing our way through ’em.
Actually Ben was “mmmhffmmmgereehhhfff’ing” through his.
The man refuses to eat cupcakes any other way but whole. I’ll never understand it… ;)
I mean…I guess I get it.
I can hardly control myself around these tender pillows of luscious cupcake love either.
Ugh, I want 40 of them!
WHOOOOO I am stuffed! But feeling good. The hotel we stayed at this weekend had a sweet gym and I got in a nice workout every day we were gone. I’m normally terrible about working out away from home too, so I felt it was worthy of an extra-decadent V-day dinner. ;)
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got this to clean up.
Ugh, right?! Nobody said surf and turf was clean and tidy! ;)
Have a great week!
~~~~~
What’s your favorite cupcake/icing combo?
Red Velvet + Cream Cheese Icing – FO SHO! :D
Do you like baking from a mix or from scratch?
Honestly I like to bake everything (cinnamon rolls, brownies, cornbread, etc.) from scratch except cupcakes/cake. Mine never turn out as moist and luscious as the box mixes!
Lesley 02.13.2011
I don’t think I could go hardcore on live lobster either. Actually, I’ve never had lobster outside of lobster ravioli. (I know, I’m missing out!)
My favorite cupcake combo is tied between red velvet with cream cheese frosting and vanilla bean cake with vanilla buttercream. Unless I go to Crumbs; their cookie dough cupcake is Insane!
I am not much of a baker, so I usually do neither!
Lisa (Dishes of Mrs. Fish) 02.13.2011
Your dinner looks so good! I can’t wait until my husband and I get to celebrate next Saturday!
Those lobster tails look to dye for. Whole Foods had them for $8.99 this weekend. I kinda wanted to try them, but had now idea of how to prepare them. Now I do. :)
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
You bet – go for it! :D
VeggieGirl 02.13.2011
I LOVE using Funfetti mix!
jad18 02.13.2011
My favorite cupcake combo is dark chocolate/cream cheese frosting. I love those funfetti cupcakes and we had some at our neighborhood party last night. Your dinner looks delicious and your comment about the lobsters reminds me of the scene in “Julie & Julia” where she is cooking lobster.
Jen 02.13.2011
The passage in the book where she purchases and cooks the lobsters is absolutely HILARIOUS. I was upset the movie didn’t highlight it more!!
Jess (Sweet Potato) 02.13.2011
My husband and I cooked our own Valentines dinner as well. It was great! I like baking things from scratch. It makes me feel more accomplished!
dana @ my little celebration 02.13.2011
Cute post. Happy Valentine’s Day to you two!
My favorite cupcake/frosting combo is probably vanilla with strawberry or just plain buttercream frosting. But I recently had a chocolate cupcake with peanut butter frosting and it was AMAZING. SO that may come in a close second for me.
I’ve realized recently that I’ve been preferring to make things from scratch much more often because I like saving money and knowing what exactly is going into my food. BUT, there isn’t any shame in a box cake mix. They are so stinkin’ delicious!!!
Koren H 02.13.2011
Not sure if this link will work… but it’s an AMAZING cake!!! Tryi it! I’s a chocolate cake… major yummy!
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Dark-Chocolate-Cake-II/Detail.aspx
Kristen @ That Hoosier Girl 02.13.2011
Your dinner looks amazing!!!
I’ve been around a crawfish boil when you cook the poor little crustaceans live! They make this “wheeeeee” sound. It’s horrible – but they taste so incredibly good with some good ol’ cajun seasoning!
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
Oooook – glad we didn’t go the live lobster route. That was exactly what I was fearing – ahh!!!
Emily 02.13.2011
I’m glad you were able to spend time with your family. I’m going through the same thing with both my grandparents right now and it’s so hard to be far away.
Anywhoooooo, positive note, you’re dinner made me smile! You and Ben are so adorable! I love that he took on the task of baking!
I usually like to make stuff from scratch, but then I’m scared if they turn out bad, I’m the one to blame! Haha copout, but true :)
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
I always feel that way too! Can’t blame me – blame the box, right? ;)
Meghan 02.13.2011
So glad that you are back, thoughts and prayers are with your family! That meal looks absolutely AMAZING!! Happy Valentines to you and Ben!
Funfetti is absolutely my favorite boxed mixed but cookies and cream cupcakes will always reign supreme when faced with a bakery case :)
Kim 02.13.2011
I always bake from a box. I made Valentine Funfetti cookies today for my students.
Suzi 02.13.2011
I’m a fan of your blog and have been reading it for about 6 months! Nice V-day dinner – We always make ours too!
I noticed your fav cupcake combo is red velvet with cream cheese frosting. I just posted these on my blog: Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Filling. They’re make from scratch and better than anything I’ve tried. Serious. I think it has to do with the filling, which I part made up :) Check it out! http://runner-foodie.blogspot.com/2011/02/red-velvet-cupcakes-with-cream-cheese.html
Lori 02.13.2011
It’s so much fun to read your blog with all the wonderful pictures. You definitely write with flair, and you cook that way, too!
Yesterday I got to finally go to Trader Joe’s in Rochester, MN. Since I’m from the NE part of Iowa, Rochester is closer than Des Moines. the last time I was in Trader Joe’s was 2 years ago in Michigan, I was way overdue! I bought some wonderful fresh veggies for salad and made a whopper of a fabulous lettuce salad and toppings for dinner last night, along with Lobster Ravioli that I bought at TJ’s. I didn’t put any sauce on it, it was still delicious! Not as extravagant as your meal by far, but wonderful shared with my sweetheart just the same!
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
I’ve been wanting to try those!
Jessica 02.13.2011
In the midst of my obsession with Julie & Julia, some friends and I made Julia’s Lobster Thermidor…..by the time it was done, we were nearly too tired to eat. But the dumping of the live lobsters into the pot of wine & water wasn’t as bad as I expected.
ps – love that Ben is wearing an Iowa State shirt! Go Clones!
Jen 02.13.2011
If you want to make a homemade chocolate cake, use the recipe on the back of the Hershey’s Cocoa container. So so so good!!! Ice it with the chocolate icing recipe that is on there also.
I make most things from scratch, I couldn’t tell you the last time I used a boxed brownie mix! I am, however, now dying for some Funfetti cupcakes iced with some of the frosting from a can… YUM!!!
Marissa 02.13.2011
That looks SO good! I never would’ve guessed lobster is that easy to make!
Hannah 02.13.2011
I just made the best cupcakes from scratch — I’m an amateur cook, so if I can do it, you can!
http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/one-bowl-chocolate-cupcakes?comments_page=1&#conversation-container
Betsey 02.13.2011
Those cupcakes look delicious – they’re a favorite in our house, too! Normally I make my cupcakes from a box … they never fail.
Krissy Murphy - Shiawase Life 02.13.2011
Dinner looks great!
I like Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes…and this fall, I had an amazing Pumpkin Spice Cupcake with Cream cheese Frosting!!!
Lauren 02.13.2011
We always make our V-Day dinner (with the exception of this year because we don’t have our house yet) but it’s so nice to do this together! I swear you’ll be making this your new tradition from now on.
The lobster looks FANTASTIC!!!!!! We saw lobster last night but went for crab cakes instead. Gosh, wish we would have chosen the lobster now.
And how cute is Ben making cupcakes. ;) What a sweetheart.
Glad you guys had a wonderful V-day!