Steak Skillet Supper #foodbloggers4tx

When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas at the end of August it was almost overwhelming to know how to help or where to start.  I had empathy for everyone that was in the storm's destructive path.  And I wasn't the only one.  Soon a group of food bloggers that I work with regularly and I started talking and brainstorming what we could do to help and bring awareness to the relief needs and efforts.  We decided to all come together by creating Texas inspired recipes and sharing them today.

When I think Texas, I think beef - afterall, Texas raises the most cattle in the United States.  There were so many ranchers that we affected by Hurricane Harvey.  In fact, the counties that sustained damage from the hurricane were home to 1.2 million cattle.  Ranchers worked tirelessly to drive the cattle to higher ground but they couldn't get to them all immediately.  They are still working day in and day out to move cattle, but despite their resilience, Texas agriculture officials fear thousands of cattle have died in the aftermath of Harvey.

So to support those ranchers and share their pride in Texas and their ranches, I decided to make a Steak Skillet Supper for Two.  Break out your cast iron and get ready for a delicious, simple and quick meal for two.

Steak Skillet Supper for Two

2 - Steaks of your choice (I used T-Bones since I thought they represented Texas well and I had some in my deep freezer)

Garlic Salt 

Pepper

2 Tbsp Butter

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 heaping cups Zucchini, sliced in 1/2 inch circles and quartered

1 Onion, sliced

1 Green Pepper, sliced and cut in half

1 Jalapeno Pepper, sliced and cut in fourths

8 oz Whole Button Mushrooms, sliced in half

Season your steaks with garlic salt and pepper and let sit out at room temperature while you get the cast iron skillet ready.  Warm up the skillet over medium-high heat, then add the butter and oil.  Once the butter has melted add the steaks.  Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of your steak and your preference for doneness.  I prefer my steaks medium rare so I aim for an internal temperature of 130°.

After steaks are cooked, take out of the skillet and let rest on plate.  Turn down heat on skillet to medium and start adding your vegetables.  Saute the zucchini, onion, peppers and mushrooms for 8-10 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender.  Add your steaks back to the skillet and serve.

Usually I feel like steak should be paired with some good, hearty potatoes, but you won't miss them with this vegetable medley.  The combination of flavors from the onion and peppers, along with the generous portion of zuchinni and mushrooms will fill that spot.  My favorite parts of this skillet supper are probably that you only use one pan and that you can make it in 20 minutes.

Now, how you can help!  First, there are several organizations that are needing everyone's help in order to take care of ongoing relief needs.  I have chose to support the Houston Food Pantry this month through Comments for a Cause, but any of these organizations would be great:

• Houston Food Bank
• Salvation Army - Houston
• Samaritan's Purse
• American Red Cross

Second, you can join me and the over 30 other bloggers today by sharing your favorite Texas inspired recipes, along with links to relief organizations:

An InLinkz Link-up

Please consider donating today and remember to Comment for a Cause!  Also be sure to check in next Thursday, September 21st as we share Florida inspired recipes to bring awareness to Hurricane Irma Relief.

Comments for a Cause - Houston Food Bank

Happy September 1st!  As Labor Day Weekend starts it is time to unofficially say good-bye to summer and get ready for fall.  And I have to admit, that kind of makes me happy!  Fall is my favorite season.  I love harvest time, tailgating, college football, excuses to eat fall foods, everything apple and everything pumpkin!

But before I get ahead of myself with celebrating fall, let's recap last month's Comments for a Cause efforts for the CAL School Supply Closet.  Last month I had 73 comments, creating a $36.50 donation to help families in my local community get ready and prepared for school.

In the month of September I'm proud to be supporting the Houston Food Bank.  I will donate $0.50 for every comment made on my blog to help with their Harvey Disaster Relief.

My heart is with everyone in Texas and Louisiana that was hit by Hurricane Harvey.  It is almost overwhelming to know how to help or where to start.  After seeing photos of ranchers moving cattle to higher ground through flooded plains in Southeast Texas and families being rescued by boat out of their homes in Houston, the one thing I knew tied everyone together and that was going to be affected greatly was food.  After doing some research I decided the best location to send money would be the Houston Food Bank.

The Houston Food Bank has set up a Harvey Disaster Relief program that is helping people in the greater Houston area affected by the flooding.  There is both a short term need, as they provide food and supplies to those distressed, and a long term need, as they will continue to help residents as they rebuild their lives.

So help me, help those in need after Hurricane Harvey and comment all month long to support the Houston Food Bank.  In addition to this month's Comments for a Cause, I am joining up with other food bloggers on September 12th to not only share recipes that celebrate Texas, but also to highlight how you can help, including donating to the Houston Food Bank and other reputable charities.  If you are a food blogger and are interested in participating in the #foodbloggers4tx outreach effort contact me and I'll get you lined up!

What are some other relief efforts you are aware of for those affected by Hurricane Harvey?  Remember to comment all month long and thank you for your continued support of Comments for a Cause.