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BEEF Swanky  Soiree
 

Invite your guests for an evening of elegant cocktails, beautifully prepared food and exciting conversation. The Smoky Cilantro Pesto Beef Crostini will make the perfect entree for your soiree. Crisp, stylish décor will allow your cocktails and food to stand out. Set square clear dishes atop white square chargers, use sleek, modern flatware and add stemless wine and beverage glasses. Decorate the center of the table with white candles in clear cylindrical holders, in varying sizes and heights, and add small monochromatic floral arrangements in small silver vases. Display the delicious meal on long white trays, light the candles, and let the smooth tunes of Frank Sinatra dazzle your guests.




Smoky Cilantro Pesto Beef Crostini

Total preparation and cooking time: 40 to 45 minutes

Marinating time: 15 minutes to 2 hours

2 beef shoulder center (ranch) steaks, cut 1 inch thick (about 8 ounces each)
24 slices baguette bread, cut diagonally 1/2 inch thick
1/4 cup grated Cotija cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Smoky Cilantro Pesto:

3 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
2 small chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Cotija cheese
1/2 cup olive oil

Prepare Smoky Cilantro Pesto. Place cilantro, pine nuts, chipotle peppers, garlic, lime juice and black pepper in food processor container. Cover; process until finely chopped. Add cheese; pulse on and off until just combined. With motor running, slowly add oil through opening in cover, processing until smooth. Spread 1/4 cup pesto evenly onto beef steaks. Place steaks in glass dish. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 15 minutes to 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate remaining pesto. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Arrange 12 bread slices around steaks. Grill steaks, covered, 11 to 14 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 12 to 16 minutes) for medium rare to medium doneness, turning occasionally. Grill bread slices 2 to 3 minutes or until lightly toasted, turning once. Remove bread slices from grill. Repeat with remaining 12 bread slices. Spread 2 teaspoons remaining pesto on each toasted bread slice. Carve steaks into thin slices. Place beef slices evenly over bread slices. Top evenly with 1/4 cup cheese and chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.

Makes 24 appetizers.

Cook’s Tip: Four beef tenderloin steaks, cut 1 inch thick, may be substituted for shoulder center steaks.

Nutrition information per serving:
148 calories; 9 g fat (2 g saturated fat;
5 g monounsaturated fat);
13 mg cholesterol; 136 mg sodium;
11 g carbohydrate; 1.0 g fiber; 6 g protein;
1.2 mg niacin; 0.1 mg vitamin B6;
0.8 mcg vitamin B12; 0.9 mg iron;
6.4 mcg selenium; 1.4 mg zinc.

Source: BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com

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