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600th Post: Grilled Porterhouse Steak and Mushroom Risotto

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Los Angeles Food Bloggers Koreatown Excursion (that’s my brother on the right!)

Time flies whether you’re having fun, or not!  It’s hard to believe we’ve had this blog for four years this month!  That’s long enough to earn a college degree.  We’ve learned so much and met some really wonderful people and it’s been an unbelievable journey.  Here’s the link to my very first blog post.  I didn’t receive a single comment until my 7th post and that was from my brother & niece.

My 15 minutes of fame at the Fresh Bloggers reception in Seattle!


Here are some of the things we’ve learned:
– People blog for all kinds of reasons.
– Not all blogs are created equally – they are as diverse as people’s personalities and skill levels.
– You can learn something from everyone you meet.
– Technology will never stop changing.
– You will get better at all of it.
– It’s a big time commitment and a lot of work.
– It’s worth it!
– Food bloggers are a great community of people who love to share – food, information, and advice.
– Do what works for you – it’s YOUR blog.
– Find a group you’re interested in and join it!
– Don’t take it personally if your post doesn’t receive a lot of comments – people are busy living their lives.
– Don’t compare your blog to other people’s blogs – make it your own.
– Invest in a custom template.
– Choose a blog name that reflects your style and what you’re doing so people can remember it.

My niece Chelsea’s Strawberry Birthday Cake
I’ve read a lot about blogging – what works, what doesn’t; how you should do it, how you shouldn’t, etc.  Many writers about blogging suggest that you have it all figured out before you even get started.  I totally disagree with this.  Blogging should be a voyage of discovery.  Every post isn’t perfect, or beautiful, but you just have to keep at it.  In the four years we’ve had our blog, I’ve seen many others come and go.  People blog for all kinds of reasons.  Our blog started as a way of recording recipes for our family and friends who were always asking for them.  I also wanted to keep a log of some of the lovely table settings we create.  Because I love taking pictures, I typically add a photo at the end of each post of a place we’ve been, our cats, or our garden as my signature.

Our blog continues to highlight fresh, seasonal foods from Southern California and we continue to try new ingredients and methods all the time.  We’ve developed a lot of confidence and are far more willing to try new things.  We’ve participated in French Fridays with Dorie for 3 and-a-half years and Baked Sunday Mornings for three.  In September, we attended the International Food Bloggers Conference in Seattle and met our mentor, Dorie Greenspan, and several of our fellow Doristas.  And, along with Sheri, of Pork Cracklins, and Celine, of Bourbonnatrix Bakes, I’m one of the administrators for Baked Sunday Mornings.  A group of us also tested recipes for Matt Lewis and Matt Poliafito’s forthcoming cookbook!

Christina & me in LA

On Saturday, I met up with a group from the Los Angeles Food Bloggers for lunch and a shopping excursion in LA’s Koreatown!  My friend, Christina, of Christina’s Cucina, led us through the huge Koreatown Galleria grocery store where she told us how we could use all kinds of unfamiliar ingredients.  And one of the bloggers I met, David from www.menwholiketocook.com , suggested stocking up on mushrooms because, besides the variety the store carries, the prices were so much less than other markets.

Well, I may have been a little too exuberant…but, when I got home and saw the beautiful Porterhouse Steaks John had set out for dinner, we decided to make Mushroom Risotto to go with them and it was just delicious!  And to round it out, John poured a 2005 Paradise Mountain Imagine Syrah.

 

 

I’m not a fan of rare meat, so this one is medium-well.

Grilled Porterhouse Steaks

Two hours before you’re ready to grill the steaks, take them out of the refrigerator, set them on a platter and sprinkle with Back of the Yards Garlic Pepper Butcher’s Rub.
Let them sit and allow to come to room temperature.
 
Grill over medium-high flame for 5 minutes on each side, then move off flame and continue to grill for up to 15 minutes – depending on desired level of doneness.
Only I would buy mushrooms at a  Korean market to make Risotto!

Mushroom Risotto

In a large skillet, saute:
Banapi, Beech, and Shiitake Mushrooms
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Shallot, finely sliced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
3 ounces Pancetta, chopped
 
When the Shallot starts to soften, stir in:
1 cup Arborio Rice
Continue stirring until rice begins to brown.
 
Add 4 cups Beef Broth in 1 cup increments, stirring frequently until most of the liquid is absorbed before adding the next cup.
Then stir in:
1/4 cup White Sherry
2 large Shiitake Mushrooms, sliced
10 – 12 Beech Mushrooms
10 – 12 Banapi Mushrooms
1/2 teaspoon Northwoods Seasoning (you probably won’t need to add salt)
Keep stirring until for about 8 minutes until mushrooms soften.  
Let rest for 5 – 10 minutes before serving.
Top with Parmesan Cheese.

Enjoy!

Here’s what I brought home with me so stay tuned as we explore some exotic flavors.
Thank you all for your love and support. 
Without you, we’d just be banging around in cyberspace!
These recipes are provided for your personal use. If you publish them, or re-post them, please give me credit. Grazie e Buon Appetito!

Comments

  1. Christina Conte says

    WOW! 600th post! Congratulations, Susan! That’s quite a feat when you also work full-time! This is a wonderful post and thank you for including my photo with you! I love how you used the mushrooms, but you are wrong on one count: you are not the only person who would buy mushrooms at a Korean store for risotto! Haha-guess who else does that? I’m sure you’re not surprised, given how much we have in common! It was lovely to meet your brother and I wish you all the success in the world with your fabulous blog! xx

  3. Kelly Page says

    What a great post on blogging and our Koreatown experience. Congratulations on your major milestone. That’s no easy feat. I also bought every mushroom I could get my hands on Saturday so I look forward to reading more about your ideas and recipes!

  4. Mary Hirsch says

    Well, well, Mr. and Mrs. Lester, I know you both are joyous over this accomplishment but you also should be darn proud. You both have been an inspiration to me since I began my blogging journey. Remember, Susan, when I baked a cake from your blog and tried to frost it the 103 degrees temp in Las Vegas. I finally opened the fridge, stuck it in and frosted it right there. You thought that was a novel approach but probably not the best one. You and John took me to dinner, the first Dorista meet-and-greet, last March when I was in Simi Valley visiting Reagan. And, you generously shared John who shepherded me also when we were at IFBC in Seattle. Always, a “Join us, Mary”. (I’m not really grateful for that 5am tour to Pikes Place. What were you thinking, Susan?) My new blog design (with a custom banner per YOUR suggestion) goes live this Thursday. When you both visit me this week-end here in Cambria, we have lots to celebrate. But, most of all, we’ll celebrate our fantastic friendship. Sending love and congratulation.

  5. Christy says

    Congratulations on 600 posts! That is quite an accomplishment. This is a great post, and I think most people don’t understand the life of a blogger, food or otherwise. I love that the food community is there for a food geek like me. Looking forward to meeting you and Mr. Lester in the near future and enjoying some quality foodie time!

  6. Have Apron....Will Bake says

    Congratulations!!! That is inspiring, indeed! Great post. I love seeing what you two are creating in the kitchen. And I envy your location for fresh fish and produce. So lovely to see. Keep up the great work and keep inspiring others!

  7. Trevor Sis Boom says

    Congrats my friend! I still say if there is anyone out there I want to have cook a meal for me it is you. Always so well put together and you made one of my favorites for your 600th post. It only seems right! Best to you!
    XO, T.

  8. Kathy says

    Congratulations, Susan! 600 posts…such an accomplishment! Your meals always look beautifully delicious and this one is no exception!
    The maket-place in LA sounds quite interesting…a perfect place for a foodie to get lost!

  9. Cher Rockwell says

    Congratulations on your accomplishment – that’s a lot of Amazing Meals 🙂
    It was so nice to meet you and John this year – hopefully, we will all be able to be on the same coast once again sometime in the future.

    Cheers

  10. Cocoa and Lavender says

    Wow – congratulations! I never realized we started blogging about the same time! I had also forgotten that it took many weeks to get a comment from someone other than a friend… It has been so much funding finding community through food and writing! It is so much better than I ever expected or even dreamed! Your steak and risotto look wonderful! xo, David

  11. Dana @ FoodieGoesHealthy says

    Hi Susan, Congratulations on your 600th post. That’s quite an accomplishment. I enjoyed meeting you at the Koreatown food crawl. I love your kitchen counter photo– I can see that you are an over-ambitious market shopper like me. Looking forward to seeing what else you create with your finds. Best, Dana