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The Ruminating Rambler

BLACK & BLEU AND STEAK ALL OVER – A MAIN COURSE SALAD

7/14/2019

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flat iron steak, steak salad, steak preparation tips, traeger grilling, summer meals, main course salad, eating local beef, beef preparation tips, grilling for a crowd, family meals
Black & Bleu & Steak All Over with Clear Creek Beef's flat iron steak

​Peanut butter + jelly. 
 
Macaroni + Tillamook cheddar cheese. 
 
Summer nights + s’mores. 
 
A soft kiss + a tight hug.
 
Combinations.  Partnerships.
Things that go better together, or things that become better when they’re matched up.  You know what I’m talking about...you can probably add a half dozen more combinations without any effort at all.
 
I’m going to suggest a combo that becomes better when put together, one that should definitely go to the top of your list: 

Steak + salad.
 
Let me tell you how I got there...
 
Recently, I giddily unpacked a delivery of various cuts of prime Clear Creek Natural Beef—tri-tip, rib eye, ground beef, ribs, flat iron.   The preparation options seemed endless, and although my mouth was watering with the possibilities, I knew I wanted to create something worthy of the meat and pleasing for my family.
 
First, a little background... I cook for my growing family of four, and they’re definitely the toughest customers I’ve ever found.  I care about providing them healthy meals—not just once in a while, but every time they sit down at our dinner table.  Where their food comes from, and how it’s prepared, is quite important to me.  In a nutshell: I love to grill great quality beef because it allows me to show my family how important each of them is to me.  
 
Clear Creek Beef fits this description to a ‘T,’ giving our family a tasty, healthy, enjoyable meal every time out...including leftovers (leftovers are a rarity at our house, however)!
 
So, as I looked over our freezer full of Clear Creek Beef trying to decide my course of action all of these thoughts went through my head:
 
...with great beef comes great responsibility.
 
...grill something healthy, that everyone will enjoy.
 
...remember, time is precious today—you have two lawns, three shrub hedges, and tree trimming to get after today.
 
The freezer chill narrowed my focus.   Great beef...healthy meal...limited time.   I grabbed a package of beef and closed the freezer; I had my answer—flat iron steak salad!  
 
In my opinion, warmer weather doesn’t naturally lend itself to heavy meals, so we like to add cooled or cold veggies to our dinner menu, pairing protein and fresh vegetables with a leaf salad.  Combining all of that into an ultimate steak salad is a no-brainer!
 
Perfectly seasoned with ‘The Rocks’ All Red Meat Dry Rub by @whiskeybentbbq, the Clear Creek Beef flat iron was grilled quickly over high heat on my Traeger Grill.  Combined with a platter full of three types of lettuce, roasted peppers, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes, radishes, and a generous helping of blue cheese crumbles, this salad is definitely a marriage of flavors that made the whole experience greater than the sum of its parts.  In fact, I’d go so far as to say it created a FLAVOR EXPLOSION (we enjoyed this on Independence Day, after all)!
 
For a family that enjoys dining al fresco (fancy for “out on the patio”) as much as possible when the Oregon weather allows, this was the ideal summer meal. 
 
A combo worthy of inclusion in the “great partnerships in history” discussion, for sure.
 
Enjoy!

summer meals, steak salad, summer recipes, grilling tips, flat iron recipe
Black & Bleu & Steak All Over


​Black & Bleu and Steak All Over Salad


​
Perfectly seasoned wood-fired steak rests on a cushion of leafy greens, paired with generous chunks of blue cheese and a whole mess of veggies, pushing the flavor of this steak salad off the charts.

 
PREP TIME 20 MINUTES
COOK TIME 13-15 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES
SERVINGS 4-5

[ Ingredients ]
​

·       1.5-pound Clear Creek Beef Flat Iron steak

·       1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
·       Whiskey Bent BBQ “The Rocks” All Red Meat dry rub seasoning 
·       2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
·       2 cups fresh spinach
·       2 cups chopped red/green leaf lettuce
·       1 yellow pepper, roasted, sliced in strips
·       1 orange pepper, roasted sliced in strips
·       3-4 radishes, thinly sliced
·       3-4 Roma tomatoes, sliced, then halved
·       1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
·       1 cup sautéed mushrooms
·       1 tablespoon crushed/chopped garlic
·       1 tablespoon butter
·       ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
·       Salt and fresh ground pepper
·       2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced to ¼” thickness
·       ½ cup ‘craisins’
·       ¼ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
·       2 tablespoons herb & garlic compound butter


[ INSTRUCTIONS ]

1.     The day before you intend to dine on this delicious salad, sauté 1 ½ cups of button mushrooms (they will reduce to roughly 1 cup once fully cooked) and 1 tablespoon of crushed/chopped garlic in 1 tablespoon of butter and ½ tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.  Season with pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper.  Refrigerate.


2.     Remove thawed steak from packaging, place on a cookie tray or small rack and return—uncovered--to the refrigerator; allow steak to ‘dry’ in fridge for 12-24 hours.

​3.     Remove steak from fridge and trim any membrane or silver skin.

4.     Drizzle ½ tablespoon of the olive oil on one side of the steak, then season liberally with The Rocks dry rub seasoning; flip the steak, repeat on the other side, then refrigerate for at least :30, and up to 4 hours.

Picture
Clear Creek Beef, flat iron steak, whiskey bent bbq rub, bbq rub, dry rub, steak prep tips, beef for dinner

​5.     When ready to cook, set temperature to High and preheat, lid closed for 15 minutes.

6.     When the grill is hot, place steak directly on the grill grate. Cook for 7-8 minutes then flip and cook 6-7 minutes more. Remove from the grill when the internal temperature reaches 130℉ when an instant read thermometer is inserted into the thickest part.
Clear Creek Beef, Clear Creek Natural Beef, Traeger, grilling, steak resting, flat iron recipes, flat iron prep, flat iron, steak salad, great grilling recipes
A CCB Flat Iron Steak rests after a proper Traeger cook

7.     Place two pads of herb & garlic compound butter on top steak and let steak rest 10 minutes before slicing. (See Recipe Notes & Tips*)

steak prep tips, tender steak, traeger grilled, clear creek, clear creek natural beef, clear creek beef, pasture raised beef, farm to table, local rancher, oregon beef
Slice thin and against the grain to maximize tenderness in each bite

8.     While the steak is resting, build the salad. In a large bowl or serving plate, layer greens, radishes, peppers, eggs before spreading craisins and pumpkin seeds. Distribute ¾ of the bleu cheese crumbles over the entire spread.

9.     Top your creation with the sliced flat iron steak. Finish with the remaining bleu cheese crumbles, drizzle of any remaining steak juices, and add a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh black pepper. Enjoy!
​
At our house, the steak went fast- first words heard at the patio dinner table:
​"This steak is AMAZING!"
Picture

*[ RECIPE NOTES & TIPS ]*

·      Refrigerator air drying your steak for 12-24 hours will help create a better crust when grilling; it is much more difficult to achieve a satisfying crust when grilling wet steaks

·      Be sure to watch the temperature of your steak while grilling; a well-done steak will not give you the tender, buttery deliciousness you are seeking
·      Slice thin and against the grain to get nice, tender steak in every bite
 
 
#LOVELAUGHGRILL
                                                                                                                                                           
 
 
You can probably tell by his IG name and logo that Oregon holds a special place for Alan.  As a native Oregonian currently living in the Portland area, Alan appreciates the beauty and splendor found in all four corners of the state and finds the Pacific Northwest essence uplifting and enriching. 
 
This inspiration has led Alan to grill and cook in a way that he hopes fills his growing family’s tummies and spirit.  Alan strives to use local ingredients whenever possible, believing that they are fresher, healthier, and make his meals better, and more enjoyable.
 
Inspired by authenticity and passion, Alan believes that quality product made by passionate folks doesn’t just connect you to great stuff, it connects you to great people.
 
Alan blogs about his cooks on Instagram, and can be found @an_oregon_family.  He longs for days of wide-open skies, snow-capped mountain ranges, and endless opportunities.
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THe Mythological Brisket

5/15/2019

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Many thanks to Alan, our guest blogger, for this delightful rendition of his recent experience with one of our small briskets. He breaks down his preparation methods and shares his and his family's review- spoiler alert: he raves JUST a little bit. And as the rancher's apprentice, I can't help but rave about our beef with him! I'm learning the ropes from true artisans- and Alan has just found out exactly what that means. Follow him on Instagram (@an_oregon_family) for more photos on his many grills and cooks!
brisket, clear creek beef, pasture-raised, hand-finished beef, hell's canyon beef, bulk beef, quarter beef, local rancher, personal rancher
The Clear Creek brisket, already hours into preparation for its cook.

​​This is a story of conversion. 
 
If you’ve attended church at all in your life you have a certain understanding, or expectation, for what “church” is like.  In some towns you can find a church on almost every other corner.  You see those churches—regardless of denomination—and say to yourself “I know what it feels like in there, I know what to expect.” However, if you’ve ever found a CHURCH, then you know what a rich, dynamic, fulfilling experience it can be.   How...expanding. 
 
There is a definite difference.  If you know, then you know.
 
I now know the same can be said for meat, specifically, beef.  
 
I have purchased beef from a variety of places, probably the same type of places most folks shop...Fred Meyer, Safeway, Winco, Cash & Carry.  My beef shopping choice du jour has generally revolved around which store also happened to have milk on sale, or a great deal on eggs, or cheese, or...you fill in the blank.   Basically, my beef shopping choices were all based on things that had very little to do with beef, or the quality of that beef. 
 
Here’s why.  Regardless of store, my beef experience was basically the same.  It was about price, and it was simply an alternative to pork, or chicken, or turkey.  The taste was fine, it was ok.  Bottomline: I knew what to expect. Or I thought I did.
 
Then something changed for me.  I found BEEF.  Clear Creek Beef.
 
Through the magic of social media and Instagram, I came across Clear Creek Beef, and Sheen, the Rancher’s Apprentice.  The Clear Creek story and their mission resonated deeply with me.  I am #bornandraised an Oregonian, and I love this state, and the pacific Northwest.  The diversity here—people, geography, business—combine to draw out an innovative, pioneer creativity that is uniquely Oregon.  I find myself drawn to that which is uniquely Oregon; it both grounds and inspires me.  Clear Creek Beef fits this description perfectly.  Long story short, I soon found myself on the receiving end of a beautiful 3-pound brisket.
Brisket, small brisket, clear creek beef, flat and point
The beautiful 3 pound brisket, thawed and ready to begin prep.

​I was excited holding this cut, and a little nervous, too.  Brisket is almost mythological in its meat status, so when my thoughts turned to the upcoming cook, I knew that I had to do justice to the steer that surrendered this special cut of beef.   In my opinion, that meant letting the beef flavor shine through, and that meant it was going on my Traeger Bronson grill. 
 
                                                                                                                                                           
 
If you’ve ever had low and slow smoked brisket you know how awesome it can be.  With a beautiful Clear Creek brisket in hand I knew that I wanted to focus on simplicity to allow that pasture-raised beef flavor to shine.   After a review of options, I decided upon going “Texas style,” a guarantee for big beef flavor that almost melts in your mouth.  Texas style means salt, pepper, smoke, and time.  That’s it—simple, straight forward...perfect for me.
 
The day before I planned to grill, I prepared to trim up the brisket by giving my best boning knife a few extra passes on the sharpening stone. 
 
FYI: Frankly, trimming is what made me the most nervous with this cook.  If you’ve never trimmed a full brisket before I’d definitely recommend reviewing some of the how-to videos or articles available on the Internet before you feel like you understand what and how to trim.  Personally, I’m a big fan of Aaron Franklin (@franklinbbq), Susie Bulloch (@heygrillhey), and Danielle Bennett(@divaqbbq) for their passion and approach to brisket and grilling.
trimming brisket, flat and point, marbling
Now, we all know that fat equals flavor.  However, the visible fat deposits and silver skin on briskets don’t really render down, and they certainly won’t provide any added flavor benefit, so I felt confident that I could trim away!  Besides, it’s the marbling that truly makes the beef sing, and my Clear Creek brisket had marbling to die for! 
 
After steeling my nerves with a second cup of black coffee, I set to my task.  Ten minutes later I had removed about 8 oz of fat and separated the “flat” from the “point.”  My Clear Creek brisket was now divided into two nice slabs of beef ready for seasoning—my favorite part.
Picture
Brisket flat and point separated, excess fat removed

​I had any number of beef-centric rubs and seasoning blends available to me, but I wanted to taste BEEF, not seasoning.  For me, the decision was clear: simple Texas style seasoning--coarse salt and black pepper.  I prefer to blend my salt and pepper before applying them to the meat, so I measured out equal parts of each (about 2 tablespoons each) and combined them in a spice shaker container.  After applying a light coating of olive oil as a “binder” I shook the spices over the meat, creating a nice even layer across the entire surface of the flat and the point.  Oh, let me tell you, it looked so good; I could picture the bark forming already.  I may have even drooled a bit.
Picture
Texas style seasoning- coarse salt and black pepper, with olive oil as a binder

​With the seasoning applied, I covered the brisket with plastic wrap and placed it in the refrigerator, letting it rest for about 20 hours.  Yard work, family activities, and more yard work filled the rest of my day, capped by a Traeger-grilled cast iron pan pizza for dinner.  At day’s end the beef was prepped, my yard looked good, the family was fed and happy, and I was fully ready for brisket glory!
 
The next morning it was time to start the cook!  Pulling the brisket from the fridge so it could raise to room temperature, I fired up my Traeger Bronson on a blend of hickory, maple, and cherry pellets, setting it to 250 degrees to allow the smoky goodness to really bathe the brisket.  My goal was to get consistent heat and a steady flow of smoke over the meat as it slowly cooked.  I was not in a rush.
Picture
Low and slow- Clear Creek brisket on the Traeger Bronson

​Going low and slow with a brisket means that you are cooking based off of meat temperature, not time.  I was seeking an internal temperature of 165 degrees, so I inserted my digital meat thermometer and closed the lid. 
 
165 degrees arrived after about three hours in the smoke, and I wrapped both pieces of meat in peach butcher paper.  This is a crucial step as it helps ensure that the brisket is mouth-wateringly tender, with a super dark bark crust.  I placed the brisket packs back in the Traeger and raised the temperature to 275 to finish off the cook, looking for an internal temperature of 203.  The smoke continued to roll, and I enjoyed a glass of pre-brisket red wine with my wife in the spring Oregon sunshine.
 
After a full glass (or two), 203 degrees arrived and I pulled the meat from the grill.  I have to say, I was tempted to dig right in—my hunger, combined with the grilling aroma (and the wine) were making me dizzy with anticipation.  However, I resisted temptation, hearkening back to Susie Bulloch’s advice:
 
“Rest your smoked brisket. DO. NOT. SKIP. THIS. STEP. Resting your brisket allows so many of those hot and bubbly juices to settle down a little and redistribute to the meat. It also brings your brisket down to perfect slicing and serving temperature.”
 
Advice heeded, I wrapped the brisket packets in a clean, old towel and placed them in my cooler for the requisite resting period. 
 
Heading indoors, I prepped green salads for the family and put the finishing touches on a quartet of cheesy twice baked potatoes, coating them in way too much melted shredded Tillamook cheese.  With the table set, the family pressing me for dinner, and a reasonable brisket rest period (40 minutes) it was time to slice and eat!    
                                                                                                                                                            
​And now, the conversion starts... 
 
Buttery.  Break apart tender.  Beefy.  Rich.  Juicy delicious.  So good. 
 
There are not enough adjectives to fully capture the tastiness, the tenderness, the richness of this meat.   No knives were used at the table.  Not a scrap of beef was left on a plate, no fat trimmings pushed to the side.  It was not until the brisket was gone did anyone even start in on their potatoes or salads.  There were no leftovers.  There were many smiles.
 
Brisket is indeed the stuff of myth, and the Clear Creek brisket we enjoyed only added to the legend. 
 
I thought I knew what to expect from beef, but that was before I had experienced BEEF.  Pasture-raised, hand-finished.  Clear Creek Beef.  
 
Our brisket dinner was a rich, vibrant, fulfilling dining experience. 
 
There is a definite difference.  If you know, then you know, and you want more. 
 
I’m converted.
 
#LOVELAUGHGRILL
                                                                                                                                                           
You can probably tell by his IG name and logo that Oregon holds a special place for Alan.  As a native Oregonian currently living in the Portland area, Alan appreciates the beauty and splendor found in all four corners of the state and finds the Pacific Northwest essence uplifting and enriching. 
This inspiration has led Alan to grill and cook in a way that he hopes fills his growing family’s tummies and spirit.  Alan strives to use local ingredients whenever possible, believing that they are fresher, healthier, and make his meals better, and more enjoyable.
Inspired by authenticity and passion, Alan believes that quality product made by passionate folks doesn’t just connect you to great stuff, it connects you to great people.
Alan blogs about his cooks on Instagram, and can be found @an_oregon_family.  He longs for days of wide open skies, snow-capped mountain ranges, and endless opportunities.
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    Author

    ru·mi·nate verb
    1. to think deeply about something
    2. to chew the cud

    ram·bler noun
    1. one who enjoys walks, especially through the countryside
    2. one who talks in an aimless, erratic & often long-winded fashion

    Sheen is the rancher's apprentice and the online face of the team. She enjoys reading, writing, ranching and rambling and avoids cooking and housework. She loves people most days and animals every day. You will usually find her outside either sweating or freezing, likely learning another of life's lessons the hard way.

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