Tag Archives: sirloin

Herb Crusted Sirloin Roast | Paleo, Keto, Whole30

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Herb Crusted Sirloin Roast is my last-minute entertaining save during the holiday season, like when relatives drop by unexpectedly or I decide on a whim to invite the next-door neighbors over. It’s a delicious, surprisingly tender beef roast everyone needs in their repertoire, ready from prep to plate in just under an hour – making this holiday roast winner doable for weeknights too!Herb Crusted Beef Sirloin Center Cut Roast

Read on to learn how to cook a sirloin roast and some suggestions for what to serve on the side. Continue reading →

No-Fail 15-min Beef & Veggie Fried Rice – So Simple a Kid Could Cook it and Did

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egglands-best-beef-hah-with-street-corn-salsa-jennifer-fisher-voteI have a proposition! I’ll share my 15-minute Beef & Veggie Fried Rice recipe and with all the time you save on dinner, you’ll spend the 1 minute it takes to vote for me in the Eggland’s Best “America’s Best Recipe Contest”! My regional-inspired recipe is for Texas Egg and Steak Hash with Chipotle Street Corn Relish (copied the photo below so you know exactly what to vote for) — thank you, thank you!

 

15 minute Beef & Veggie Fried Rice

Now, onto the 15-minute Beef & Veggie Fried Rice recipe (originally developed for Beeflovingtexans,com)  — it’s a win on so many levels. Not only is it a lightening speed dinner solution, it can be kept simple enough that an older kid can make it. Honestly, realizing that my teenage boys were completely capable of cooking dinner every once in a while was a light bulb moment for me. What a relief to know I can call ahead and get them to start dinner on those crazy days when I’m stuck in traffic, sitting at another kid’s sports game or even trying to finish up my own workout.

15 minute Beef & Veggie Fried Rice is a super-quick way to get a vibrant and very healthy meal on the table. Plus, its simple enough that younger kids can help and older kids can cook on their own!

One of the tricks to cooking the recipe so quickly is super-thinly cut sirloin steak — a method that also stretches my food budget as it makes the meat look like, well, a larger quantity than it actually is!  So, just firm up your steak in the freezer for 10 to 30 minutes or before getting after it with a super sharp knife across the grain in razor-thin slices (like 1/8″ or less if you can).  When the meat is this thin, it literally takes 3 minutes or less to cook with the stir-fry method — toss in the hot, hot skillet and stir around constantly and quickly just long enough to take the “red” of. Beef should still look pink when you take it off the skillet as it will continue to cook a tiny bit, trust me, it will always be juicy and tender this way! Do NOT leave it in the skillet or wok as you continue to cook the veggies, that will just cause a lot of undesirable toughness.

skillet-vegetables-for-fried-riceAnother WIN is my recipe also includes a scramble of eggs, an assortment chopped vegetables selected by the young chef (a good trick to get kids to eat more veggies), a simple sauce and pre-prepared rice.  Of course, you can cook your rice the old-fashioned way, but in a hurry and with the kids, I either keep those rice pouches from the frozen aisle on hand or meal prep my own and package into portions.

Love to use crunchy nuts for the top, NOW Foods has a great selection of organic options — cashews may be my favorite!

wiliam-and-beef-sirloin-fried-rice

William, the 16-year old chef who picked out all the yummy veggies for this recipe and cooked them up for his mama! 

So, no need to call for Chinese take-out to solve dinner – make your own healthier version in less time than it would take the delivery guy to show up. What’s even better than this? Getting the kids in the kitchen while you kick your feet up!

Coconut Macadamia Nut Fried RiceLooking for a more exotic fried rice recipe? Try my Coconut Macadamia Nut Fried Rice, it is soooooo swoon-worthy!

15min Beef & Veggie Fried Rice so easy a kid could make, and did! #fitfluential

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So, do you get your kids in the kitchen to cook? What’s in their repertoire? If you could only have 3 veggies (or fruits) in a stir fry – gasp – what would they be? Please share in the comments below – XOXO , Jennifer 

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15-minute Beef & Veggie Fried Rice Recipe
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
Get a vibrant and very healthy fried rice dinner on the table in less time that it would take to wait on delivery -- faster, fitter, fresher and easy enough for older kids to prepare!
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 12 ounce top sirloin steak, set in freezer for 10 minutes
  • 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons minuced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon grated ginger
  • 10 ounce bag frozen steam-in-bag whole grain brown rice or previously prepared rice
  • 6 cups assorted chopped vegetables (onions, bell peppers, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, etc.)
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce
Instructions
  1. Bring large skillet to high medium-heat. Add olive oil and add cut sirloin and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 to 4 minutes or until no longer red but pink n the middle with edges browning.  Remove from heat immediately and drain on paper towels.
  2. Spray same skillet (now empty) with cooking spray. Add eggs, garlic and ginger and cook, stirring vigorously, until scrambled. Scoop out of skillet to rest next to beef.
  3. Place bag of rice in microwave and cook on high for 4 minutes. Or, used 10 ounces of previously prepared rice. Remove and set aside.
  4. Add remaining olive oil to same skillet (now empty again) and stir fry vegetables on medium-high for 3 to 5 minutes or until crisp tender. Exact time will depend on size and type of chopped vegetables.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low and add cooked rice, cooked beef and cooked eggs back to skillet with vegetables. Stir to combine.
  6. Quickly mix together soy sauce and Sriracha. Evenly drizzle over top of mixture and stir well to combine, continue to cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through.

Keep Austin Weird Beef, Veggie and Watermelon Stir-fry

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Beef Veggie and Watermelon Stir FryI have been waiting all summer to share this recipe – Beef, Veggie & Watermelon Stir-Fry!  –It’s steak “meats” watermelon (and loads of fresh veggies) atop of a plate of slightly chewy, insanely satisfying udon noodles. Earlier this year, the Texas Beef Council asked me to come up with my personal take on a Texas food tradition. “Focus on pasta,” they said, and “make it your own.”

Most of us know by now what happens when I’ve been let off the proverbial leash like that – I can go a little wild. But, my creativity isn’t random; it makes sense – to me, anyway!  My jam is merging together seemingly unlikely ingredients to make a beautiful recipe that not only comes together easily but also optimizes nourishment to support an active lifestyle.

watermelon carrots beans peppersYou might be wondering how my Beef, Veggie & Watermelon Stir-Fry a Texas “thang” – there’s no BBQ sauce in sight!  The Texas spirit is found in the local lean beef and farmer’s market produce sourced from these here Central Texas parts. It also has that far-out, Far East fusion flavor going on that’s so popular with some of the food trucks found down in the hip and happening parts of Austin that do their best to Keep Austin Weird. Heck, I do my best to Keep Austin Weird!

jen vw bus

I’m especially excited how this fit and fresh dish pairs up BEEF with WATERMELON as these are two of my all-time favorite foods ever in the history of all time, period.

Beef Veggie and Watermelon Stir Fry

This 30 minute dinner recipe features Top Sirloin, a super-lean cut of beef that has only about 5g fat and 150 calories per 3-ounce serving (along with about 26g protein)! Eating a protein portion approximately this size (25 – 30g), three to five times a day, gives me the power to feel fuller longer, stay active longer, and maintain a leaner muscle-to-fat body ratio. Of course, my meals aren’t always beef (variety is the spice of life, ya know), but lean beef is an AWESOME, nutrient-dense (think ZIP: Zinc, Iron, Protein) go-to choice that works beautifully in my life several times per week (or more).

profile facebook beef protein challengeIf you want to join the free Protein Challenge to learn more about how tweaking the protein intake in our life can help you feel and look better, sign up here.

 

 

 

 

 

What about the watermelon? Well, first off – it just screams summer in Central Texas.  I can’t think of a picnic, river tubing trip or day at the lake spent without sharing a huge watermelon with family and friends. If you’ve not ever tried watermelon warm and spiced up a bit, get ready to live on the wedge! The sweet heat flavor is fantastic and the high water content of this juicy fruit (92% water) helps keep you hydrated on most blazing hot days. Plus, watermelon is low in calories and a great source of electrolytes and antioxidants that help support my lifestyle as an athlete. Oh, and you’re going to LOVE the sprouted watermelon seeds sprinkled on the to — despite what your mama may have said, you CAN eat watermelon seeds (they’re very nutritious)!

Summer Squat Challenge -- Do 100 squats per day from this mix an match list!Learn much more about Watermelon for Fitness (uhh and don’t miss my Watermelon Workout Videos) at Watermelon.org. Here’s a little Watermelon Squat Workout I dare ya to try!

Note on the noodles: You don’t necessarily have to use the Udon noodles, I like to incorporate them when I need a little more carb energy in my life for long runs and endurance events. A great gluten-free option would be Soba noodles (made of buckwheat which is gluten free) or rice noodles . . . or just rice. I’m also going to make this dish in the future and try it totally grain-free by using spiralized zucchini or summer squash!

Far-Out Far-East ATX Fusion! Beef, Veggie and Watermelon Stir-Fry @BeefLovingTX #sp

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What have you been stir-frying lately? Favorite Fruit? Favorite type of Squat? Noodles, rice or nothing?  Please share in the comments  – XOXO, Jennifer 

This post was sponsored by The Texas Beef Council and the Beef Check Off, however all opinions, comments, enthusiasm and weirdness are my own. 

Beef Veggie and Watermelon Stir Fry
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Beef, Veggie and Watermelon Stir-fry
This fit and fresh dish features top sirloin, my favorite cut of lean beef, paired with farmer’s market-fresh produce, flavors of the Far East, and some funky South Congress food truck fusion. Keep Austin weird!
Course: Fruit, Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Asian, Southern
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For beef and marinade:
  • 1 1/2 lbs top sirloin, cut into thin strips
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
For Sauce:
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons hot water
  • 1 teaspoon corn starch
  • 3 tablespoons watermelon juice (reserved from watermelon balls/chunks below)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Sambal Oelek (ground Thai chili paste)
For Stir Fry:
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
  • 12 ounces fresh French green beans, cut in half crosswise
  • 1 large yellow bell pepper cut into thin strips
  • 3/4 cup grated or matchstick carrots (orange or tri-color)
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cups watermelon, 1” balls or 1” chunks
For Plating:
  • 8 ounces dry udon noodles, cooked according to package directions
  • 1/4 cup hopped green onions, bulbs and tops
  • 1/4 cup sprouted watermelon seeds (or pepitas)
Instructions
  1. Toss together beef with garlic, water, soy sauce and sesame oil. Let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, stir together hot water with cornstarch until dissolved. Stir in watermelon juice, lime juice, 2 tablespoons soy sauce and 1 to 2 tablespoons Sambal Oelek according to personal preference for spicy heat.
  3. Drain and discard marinade from beef. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet over high heat. Add one-half of beef to skillet and brown for 45 seconds without stirring. With tongs, quickly turn beef and cook additional 30 seconds or until barely browned. Take care not to overcook. Transfer to a warm plate immediately. Repeat browning with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and beef.
  4. Add final 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet and bring to medium-high heat. Add green beans and peppers and stir-fry for 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add matchstick carrots and ginger and stir-fry an additional 1 minute. Add cooked beef and watermelon juice-chili sauce mixture and stir-fry another 1 minute, or until slightly thickened. Remove from skillet from heat and stir in watermelon.
  5. Garnish with chopped green onions and sprouted watermelon seeds. Serve immediately with prepared udon noodles.

Mediterranean Beef Pitas Perfect for Summer Protein Challenge

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Those Mediterranean people have right, stuffing a pita with hummus and as many vegges as it will hold — of course, you know I had to boost up the protein a bit more with with some beef — a very thinly sliced, lean cut called “sirloin tip” steak. Ask your butcher if you can’t find it or feel free to swap for top sirloin, strip steak or whatever you got! mediterranean beef pita pockets jennifer fox

 

This international inspired “sandwich” is such a quick and easy recipe that will satisfy the whole family — kids and grown-ups can fill the bread pockets with the fillings they like best (feel free to set out a larger variety than just what is listed in the recipe). Can’t you see this being a hunger-busting hit a a pool party or picnic — as people get hungry, they can just swing over to the pita bar and prepare their own meal with a selection of hummus flavors, array of veggies and assortment of toppings like feta cheese, olive slices or tatziki sauce.

Mediterranean Beef Pitas are a quick and easy lunch or light dinner and pack plenty of protein and veggie nutrition!. This 20 minute recipe uses the stir fry cooking method, keeping it quick and low in fat.

This 20 minutes recipe (or less) is done so quickly thanks to stir-frying — a method not usually associated with beef and anything other that Asian food. I love how it keeps the kitchen cool and doesn’t require any added oil in the wok or skillet. Oh, and it’s also a well-balanced but higher-protein meal solution that fits beautifully into the 30 Day Protein Challenge with just 367 calories and 27 grams of protein. And if you’re keeping a gluten-free, lower-carb or Paleo diet, just feel free to ditch the pita and pile the yummy stir-fry beef atop salad greens! Mediterranean Beef Pitas

Last week, it was fun making the Mediterranean Beef Pita recipe on FOX Good Day Austin on behalf of the Texas Beef Council and BeefLovingTexans.com — all the stars must have been in alignment that rainy day, because I didn’t even have one single (and usually inevitable) live television SNAFU. Awesome things happen when you are fueled by beef!

mediterranean beef pita pockets jennifer foxCheck out the video of my cooking segment!

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What would you stuff in a pita? How many times a week do you do a 20 minute meal? How are you kicking off summer? Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer

How to make a Mediterranian Steak Pita in 20 min! #Beef #ProteinChallenge @fitfluential

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Mediterranean Beef Pitas
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Mediterranean Beef Pitas
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 
Course: Main Dish, Sandwich
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 pound beef sirloin tip steak, cut 1/8 to 1/4" thick ask your butcher if you can't find or substitute top sirloin or strip
  • 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup plain or seasoned hummus
  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach
  • 1/3 large cucumber, sliced thinly
  • 1 to 2 medium vine-ripe tomatoes, sliced
  • 1/4 medium red onion, sliced thinly
  • additional vegetables, as desired
  • 1/4 cup crumbled Feta cheese
Instructions
  1. Stack beef steaks. Cut lengthwise in half, then crosswise into 1" wide strips. Combine beef, lemon pepper and salt in medium bowl.
  2. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-hight heat. When hot, add 1/2 of beef, stir-fry 1 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove with surface of beef is no longer pink, do not over cook. Repeat with remaining beef.
  3. Spread hummus inside pita pockets and fill with vegetables and beef. Top with feta cheese.
  4. May be served hot, room-temp or cold.

Steak, Fig and Blue Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

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Fig & Blue Cheese Salad with Pomegranate VinaigretteLooking for an easy yet elegant salad — a gorgeous plate of early fall flavors that will have co-workers peeking over the cubicle or neighbors knowing at the door? My Steak Salad with Fig, Blue Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette will have you running to the grill for some last minute steak-making before Jack Frost rears his ugly head. Honestly, in Austin, the fall is the BEST time of year for grilling!

Jennifer Fisher Vim & Vigr AmbassadorAnd, time to break out the compression socks, finally!

Check out my favorite brand, Vim & Vigr — I’m an ambassador for this fun, quirky and super stylish sock company!  Their Instagram profile also equally energizing!

Fig & Blue Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This salad features top sirloin steak, a lean cut of beef that packs a great nutritional punch for athletes and active individuals with only about 150 calories and 6.5 grams fat for a 3 ounce serving plus 26 grams protein and lots of iron and other essential vitamins and minerals. The beauty of sirloin is it’s versatility, convenience and (duh) taste – it’s a weekday AND weekend go-to for me. Because sirloin is already a fairly tender cut, there is no need to marinade except to add flavor — my simple pomegranate marinade adds a slightly sweet, super delish dose of that!  But, if you are rushed and need to skip marinating, the recipe will still be yummy.

Fig & Blue Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Figs have been so great lately, you may want to make a few more fig recipes before the season is over. Check out the 5 Ways with Fresh Figs from the Simmer and Boil blog at CookingLight.com figs with prosciutto

Steak, Fig, Blue Cheese Salad w/ Pomegranate Dressing #FallFlavor #CLblogger

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What is your take on fresh figs, love ’em or hate ’em?  What are you doing this weekend, anyone have a race? Please share in the comments below – XOXO, Jennifer

Fig & Blue Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
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Steak, Fig and Blue Cheese Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
37 mins
 
Enjoy the ripe, rich fruits of fall on a delicious steak salad that is kicked up with the aged tang of blue cheese and salty Spanish Almonds.
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
For Marinade and Steak:
  • 1 cup 100% pomegranate juice
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
For Dressing
  • 1 cup 100% pomegranate juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon quality aged balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 to 1.5 lbs top sirloin steak
For Salad:
  • 6 to 8 cups baby spring mix
  • 1/2 cup pomegranat arils
  • 12 black mission figs, halved
  • 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles
  • 1/3 cup Marcona almonds
Instructions
  1. Add pomegranate juice, oil, molasses, vinegar, pepper, salt, and thyme to non-reactive boil and whisk together until ingredients are incorporated. Pour into heavy-duty zip-top bag and add sirloin steak(s). Seal top and gently toss a few times to coat meat. Marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes to 6 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare vinaigrette by simmering the pomegranate juice in non-reactive saucepan until reduced to 1/3 cup, approximately 9 or 10 minutes. Remove from heat. While still warm, stir in the honey, salt, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil; set aside to cool.
  3. When ready to prepare steaks, heat grill to 400 F degrees. Drain and discard marinade from steaks. Grill steaks for approximately 5 minutes per side, flipping once. Remove from grill when instant read thermometer reaches 135 F degrees when inserted at thickest part of meat. Let rest for at least 5 minutes while prepping salads. To prepare salad, divide spring mix evenly among four plates. Top with halved figs, pomegranate arils, almonds and blue cheese crumbles. Slice steak thinly across grain and top each salad with 3 to 4 ounces of beef. Drizzle with vinaigrette and serve immediately.