is it spring yet?

The weather during February was teasing us into believing warmer weather is on its way. On Friday, the weather switched from rain, to snow, to rain and snow both falling at the same time.

​Thiis week’s Whole Food local sales makes you hope warmer, sunnier weather is on its way. Although I grill year ‘round, sometimes the warmer weather just makes you feel like spring is on the way. Until next Tuesday, Whole Foods has on special London Broil or Top Round steak for $5.99/lb. (regularly $8.99/lb.) This week Foodtown has Rancher’s Legend brand London Broil and top round steak on special for $2.49/lb., a difference of $3.50/lb. Was it worth the extra cost? Yes, the meat was flavorful, rare in the center and delicious. We don't eat beef that often, so the splurge was worth it. However, meat prices have climbed over the past few years. I went to Costco the other day and found a flank steak for around the same price as the London Broil. Flank Steak in the food stores can be over $10/lb.
 
Although I haven’t made a London broil in years, this week's sale is making me reconsider this cut of meat. In the May 1996 issue of Gourmet Magazine, they had an entire menu centered on grilled marinated London broil. It’s a quick prep of under 45 minutes, but you do have to allow the meat to marinate for at least 4 hours and up to 24. The ingredients are pantry staples such as fresh garlic, salt, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and honey. As long as you don’t overcook this cut of meat and cut it on a bias, you’ll have a delicious meal.
 
Accompanying this London broil in Gourmet Magazine was a yellow pepper orzo gratin and grilled red onions with balsamic vinegar and rosemary. The orzo gratin is a nice change up from potatoes and the red onions with the balsamic vinegar and rosemary play up nicely against the marinate that was used for the London broil.
 
Also on special this week at Whole Foods are Bell and Evans air-chilled split chicken breasts for $2.29/lb. (regularly $4.49) and pork tenderloin $6.99/lb. (regularly $14.99/lb). I know you can find pork tenderloin for considerably less, however, Whole Foods is antibiotic free.

There are many wonderful chicken recipes on my blog. 

I also prepared roasted butternut squash with baby spinach and cranberries, a recipe from Wegmans. I've had this item in their prepared meals to go and I really enjoyed the flavor and textures of the squash with the baby spinach greens and then a bit of tang from the cranberries. I prepared this ahead for one this week's meals. It can be a side dish or a meatless lunch on Friday. 

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