Spicy Marinated Beef w/ Mushrooms and Mozzarella Cheese

Red meat mostly visits our pots rather than pans which mean we use it as a side ingredient in a main dish, less in quantity so to speak. The price range of course plays a big role in that, but I think we would still stick with our Turkish dishes that "feature" red meat given the condition it was made more budget-friendly. We have a big variety of savory dishes featuring red meat in Turkish cuisine.

As a change, I decided that red meat would get the main role for dinner. While I was shopping for it, I explained that I'd like to marinate it with spices and then cook slowly. Satisfied with my shopping, I was back home. Checking on the spices I had; cayenne pepper, grounded black pepper looked the most appealing among others. We had fresh garlic, it was definitely going in. Olive oil a must, said the Mediterranean in me. So, the plan was set! In a container, I poured olive oil to cover the base, one layer meat and spices & chopped garlic over it, then other layer of meat.. just like this, I stacked all four layers - making sure each layer could absorb the marinate sauce well over night. It rested a night and I took a picture of my ingredients for this dish:

- Mushrooms washed, beef marinated, fresh garlic cloves and some mint leaves ready

Additionally, I used rings I cut from half an onion to go in with meat and mushroom on the pan and some mozzarella cheese at the end for extra flavor which are not in the picture.

- I didn't let cheese melt, so we could distinguish flavors better

Cooking was easier than I predicted. I placed marinated beef on a non sticky pan, mushrooms as whole, garlic cloves, onion rings all together. I lowered the heat as much as possible because we enjoy beef well done; so it'd cook slow but just give us the taste we crave. I mostly left the cooking do itself, but occasionally stirred and meanwhile couldn't keep patient. The smell it released was so good to a mesmerizing point. When I made sure that it was done, I thinly sliced mozzarella cheese and just spreaded over beef. We like mushroom & melted mozzarella in the oven a lot, so featuring cheese would remind us of that taste, I thought... Here is the dish:

- Close up of mushrooms

- Spicy Marinated Beef w/ Mushrooms and Mozzarella Cheese dish, I served with green onion

After getting our protein levels fixed, we returned to our greens. Especially in the region I'm from, we're especially known for our love for greens, herbs. I'm Aegean. The city I live in is named "pearl of the Aegean".

Lastly, a photo I've taken of the coast I reside on from winter which was like a bright spring day with some occasional breeze:

Pasta with Broiled Eggplant, Coriander and Garlic

I was craving for eggplant taste last few days, so I finally satisfied my tummy. I think this veggie enjoys garlic, coriander and olive oil's company the most. I figured I'd use these as sauce to my pasta - soon I had to start preparing because the smoky taste I was aiming for just made me impatient to wait till I could serve my meal. Picture above features my composition of garlic, coriander and eggplants - when I've already completed the first step with them; broiling on my oven flame for 5 - 10 minutes that is. I took them aside when they were soft enough. A smoky smell came out that I didn't mind inhaling a bit as I was moving onto the next step with my ingredients.

I washed & chopped some coriander leaves and got my spices ready before I'd begin peeling whole broiled eggplants' skins - a wise decision. :) As the flesh got exposed, I could begin to slightly mash up eggplant, coriander bits, chopped up garlic and also spices I'd use : Thyme, nutmeg, salt. Adding a table spoonful of olive oil upon finishing the sauce making. Simultaneously, I boiled some water and threw in some bow shaped pasta into the pan. Pasta took about 8 minutes to cook. By the way I didn't need to drain any water afterwards, cause I just add enough water to boil pasta and calculating the bit that'll evaporate!

Sprinkle some cayenne pepper just for decoration purpose and that's all! I didn't have to show a lot of effort for this healthy and yummy meal. What else would go well with it... Hmm, maybe some Turkish yogurt.