How to make picadillo con papas; and the best way to reheat filet mignon

Hey daddio! Here’s what you’ll find in this week’s newsletter -

• How to make picadillo con papas that you’re family will think are from the neighborhood taqueria - without the stress OR the price tag

• The best way to reheat filet mignon to avoid dry and chewy leftover steak

• Egg-citing ideas to get enough protein to satisfy even Rocky Balboa

But first…

Dad Joke of the Week

Tag us with your best dad jokes on Twitter or shoot us an email at [email protected] - we’ll feature our favorites here!

Family Recipe: Poor Man’s Picadillo

Ground beef tacos have been a staple at my table for as long as I can remember. It’s hard to beat the hearty flavors and simple food prep of a classic, protein-packed picadillo taco.

Growing up, we just threw in a packet of McCormick taco seasoning together with some beef. In college, I started experimenting with my own spice blends. Fast forward a few years, and I’ve been spoiled by the amazing Mexican food scene in Chicago. Some might even call me a taco snob.

These days, I demand more from my tacos than adding a simple spice blend to ground beef and serving over tacos. I look for a thick, rich tomato sauce, with a nicely balanced heat and flavor profile. I love the addition of tender potatoes for a nice varied texture.

But I’m still a busy dad out here balling on a budget. I don’t want to order takeout every time I’m craving tacos, and I can’t spend all day preparing food either.

That’s why I’ve perfected this simple recipe for delicious, satisfying picadillo tacos, that leverages prepared food as ingredients for minimal prep & cook time.

It’s a recipe I like to call Poor Man’s Picadillo.

Follow along with video and photos on Twitter, or keep reading below for the recipe:

Poor Man’s Picadillo

Serves 4

1 lb ground beef

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika (or ancho chile powder)

1 teaspoon oregano

Half a bag of breakfast potatoes

1 jar of salsa

1. Brown the meat (drain excess grease)

2. Mix in the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes (until aromas released)

3. Add the breakfast potatoes and cook for 1-2 minutes (until potatoes thawed)

4. Dump in full jar of salsa and stir to combine

5. Cover with a lid and cook for 10 minutes, until the sauce is thickened and the potatoes tender

6. Season with salt and pepper to taste

Serve over tacos, nachos, or with an egg scramble!

Not in the mood for Mexican? 3-ingredient pulled pork is another great low-prep recipe.

Dinner Dojo: Best Way to Reheat Filet Mignon

There are few things more savory and delicious than a filet mignon cooked to perfection at home on the grill!

To be honest, I'm always tempted to eat more steak than I can handle, whether I'm at home or out to eat. I just can't bring myself to waste anything so delicious (and expensive!), and I always worry that the steak will be disappointing after reheating

This week, we found ourselves with a few leftover filets after enjoying some particularly tender and juicy steaks over the weekend for Mother's Day.

I took care with reheating the steaks, and they turned out pretty great! Here’s how I did it:

1. Fill bottom of skillet with water and bring it to a simmer

2. Add steaks, cover with a lid, and turn heat to high until the water boils off - this steams the meat to reheat evenly and retain moisture

3. Remove lid and add a tablespoon of butter or cooking oil

4. Sear steaks on medium-high heat for 1-2 minutes each side to get a nice crust

5. Pair with a veggie and sauce / gravy of your choice, and enjoy!

Shopping Cart: Eggs

You've probably already got eggs in your shopping cart - but a little reminder never hurts!

I remember in high school I used to down 3 raw eggs in a glass every morning during wrestling season. I thought it was the most efficient way to get all the protein, (good) fat, and all 9 essential amino acids found eggs. They even contain important nutrients for you brain!

Luckily, you can get all those benefits from cooked eggs.

Hard boiled eggs are a great snack on the go. For a quick lunch at home, you can’t go wrong with a fried egg sandwich. Scrambled are the only way that my wife will eat her eggs.

With a few extra ingredients and a little prep, can make this easy breakfast casserole with sausage and tater tots.

Throw whatever you want together with eggs honestly. A solid go-to any time you want to add some cheap and easy protein to a meal.

Community Shoutout

As I get settled into the rhythm of being a new dad, I’ve been getting back into hobbies that have been collecting dust since my son’s arrival. It feels good to do a few things for myself, but also exciting thinking about sharing my passions with my son as he grows up.

I shared that excitement with the dads on dinner community, as a friendly reminder to make time for yourself every once in a while.

I enjoyed getting to know a few of the dads in our community, and what they like to do outside of the kitchen. Shoutout to Wordsmith Wentworth, Adam Pulley, and Justin from Let Me Cook for keeping on top of their own hobbies while chefing it up for their families!

Special shoutout to Jason from Let Me Cook who put out this awesome thread sharing tips for a great salsa:

That’s it for this week! Don’t forget to subscribe for weekly updates right to your inbox:

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