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!
Danielle M. 02.14.2011
O M Gosh! My husband made me lobster tails, steak, and garlic mashed potatoes for a Valentines day surprise on Saturday! What a coincidence you two decided to make nearly the same thing! (: We had strawberries with chocolate fondue and alcohol-infused chocolate whipped cream for dessert! Happy Valentines Day!
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
omg what a sweetie!!!
Anna @ ciaotochow 02.14.2011
I totally agree with Ben: there is nothing better (& more simple) in life than Funfetti cupcakes. Though for me, it’s usually gotta be the pink frosting with the rectangular pastel-colored sprinkles hehe :) Have you guys ever tried making Funfetti cookies? I made 3 batches for my sister’s middle school students last year and was a HUGE HIT! They are so soft and chewy…even days after you bake ’em!
Mary (Sisters Running the Kitchen) 02.14.2011
awesome dinner. my boyfriend and i decided to stay in this year as well. we already go out quite a bit and thought it would be fun to make dinner at home to save money–plus it turned out better than we would have had at a restaurant!! We actually made LIVE lobsters! I do feel a little bad about killing them but thankfully I did not have to do that this time.
As for baking, I do like to make everything from scratch. Although I have never really made CUPCAKES from scratch….but I have made cakes. I found that I love Ina Garten’s recipe for Beatty’s Chocolate Cake. It comes out SO moist!
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
You are braver than me! :D
Hope 02.14.2011
That dinner looks incredible! I’m actually making the same thing tonight for us for V-day! Thank you for showing how to prepare lobster tails. I have some to make and I am so nervous but I am going to follow exactly how you made them! So easy! I LOVE Funetti! That is my favorite cake mix by far! :)
Lindsay @ The Reluctant Runner 02.14.2011
I really like funfetti, too! I used to make it for almost every party I had. Have you ever tried putting vanilla pudding in the mix? You just make one box of vanilla pudding, let it chill until it’s thickened, and dump that in the cupcake batter. It makes it so moist and delicious!
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
YUM! No! I will have to try this!
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn 02.14.2011
AHH CUPCAKES:) Is that funfetti?! Funfetti is the best!
Kristin 02.14.2011
Next time use a kitchen shears to cut open the lobster shell. You’ll never get the right leverage with a knife.
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
Great idea!
Hannah @ PalmBeachRunner 02.13.2011
I went to a V-Day party last night featuring 10 different cupcake combos: bacon maple peacon, red velvet, andys mint, peanut butter chocolate, funfetti, vanilla, chocolate, and MORE.
I’d say my favorite would have to be rich peanut butter frosting layered over milk chocolate cake. Delish!
When I make them- I am like you, always going for the mix. Dunkin Hines cake mixes are so moist ;-)
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
uhhhhm – omg! A Cupcake party?!
Kath 02.13.2011
What a fun Valentine’s dinner! We have cooked live lobster and live Dungeness crab…it is an adventure, but so good!
Mimi 02.13.2011
I bake 99% of things from scratch, but sometimes the boxed things really are just *better*.
Also, I will admit that I usually scan past meat recipes, but now I’m more interested in figuring out some good recipes to cook for my meat-eatin carnivore fiance! Any good new-to-cooking-meat recipes to suggest?
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
You bet!
Try these:
https://iowagirleats.com/2010/10/25/embrace-your-imperfections/
https://iowagirleats.com/2011/01/21/living-on-the-edge/
https://iowagirleats.com/2010/06/28/the-secret-ingredient-to-make-anything-taste-better/
https://iowagirleats.com/2010/11/01/you-know-youre-from-the-midwest/
https://iowagirleats.com/2010/11/28/moms-easy-baked-chicken-parmesan/
https://iowagirleats.com/2010/02/25/cookie-alert-crock-pot-recipe/
Heather (Heather's Dish) 02.13.2011
oh my gosh, please pretty please make me steak and lobster! this sounds amazing…i’ll just take another lobster tail instead of the cupcake (i know, i’m crazy :))
Jess@atasteofconfidence 02.13.2011
I prefer baking from scratch, but if I’m in a pinch I don’t mind mixes at all- I especially like adding a little something to them!
Valerie 02.13.2011
ben’s face after devouring that cupcake made me laugh out loud. he looked pleased :)
i’m SO glad i didn’t have to read about you boiling lobster alive. whew!
Iowa Girl Eats 02.14.2011
Oh – SO pleased with himself, you have no idea. ;)
Jessie 02.13.2011
yum! what a wonderful valentines dinner! whenever I hear about cooking lobster all I can think about is this scene from annie hall:
Emily 02.13.2011
YUM! That dinner looks restaurant-worthy, to be sure. :) We’ve made our Valentine’s Day meal together for the past two years…I think it’s our new tradition for sure. This year’s menu was heavy on the comfort food: homemade deep dish pizza (homemade crust, too!) with salad and for dessert, Cuba Libre cupcakes! http://coconutlime.blogspot.com/2007/01/cuba-libre-cupcakes.html). However, I’m still with you–my homemade cakes are rarely as good and dense as a cake mix!
Mac 02.13.2011
Funfetti with Funfetti frosting is by far my favorite store bought cake. Favorite homemade good though is chocolate zucchini cake, so rich, thick and moist! Good call on the lobster tails, I could never cook anything live, I would geek out!
Stephanie @cookinfanatic 02.13.2011
Red Velvet plus Cream Cheese frosting is my ALL TIME favorite too!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love. It.
Great dinner at home, beats a restaurant any day if you ask me :)
Veggies, Cake and Cocktails 02.13.2011
My favorite is white cake with strawberry frosting. So good!
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles 02.13.2011
Chocolate cake and buttercream frosting!!
Looks like you had a wonderful dinner – everything looks so darn delicious!
jimandjo 02.13.2011
I used to have to steam live lobsters at Hy-Vee and HATED it!!
I have been a land locked Iowan for 55 years, lived on a farm, raised cattle and hogs, and really dislike seafood. Steak looks great, not so much the lobster tails, but to each his (her) own.
Happy VD!