A Tennessee Countryside

Today is once again Tennessee Day. With the exception of our 2020 The Flavors of Tennessee, the following three years have all been recipes incorporating Bourbon or Whiskey in one form or another.

We had Tennessee Whiskey Skillet Pork Chops, Tennessee Bourbon Hot Chocolate and last year’s ever popular French Brea Pudding with Whiskey Bourbon Sauce. So why should this year be any different?

I gotta say, our favorite cut of steak is a nice bone-in Ribeye. For our wedding anniversary this year, we went to Outback Steak House. We weren’t looking for anything fancy, just good. Wow – what a disappointment! They had bone-in Ribeye steaks alright – nice big, beautiful steaks. However; Outback doesn’t grill their steaks over an open flame. It’s cooked on a flat griddle. What the heck?! Bacon and eggs are cooked on a griddle. French toast is awesome on a griddle. Smash Burgers and smashed on a griddle. But not steaks.

When I saw Tennessee Day was coming up on my National State Day schedule, I knew Hubby and I needed to satisfy that longing for a properly grilled Ribeye Steak while making a supper fitting to do the state of Tennessee justice. Wow – so good. Here’s to Tennessee – a great excuse to grill up steaks. Enjoy.

Spicy Grilled Bourbon Ribeyes
3 1-inch thick Bone-in Ribeye Steaks
1 large Shallot
4 Garlic Cloves
1/2 cu Bourbon Whiskey
1/4 Worcestershire Sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
1 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste

Trim excess fat from steaks, leaving most of the fat for flavor. Place steaks in a marinating container or 2-gallon ziplock bag. Set aside. Peel and finely mince shallot and garlic. Set aside.

Pour bourbon into a 2-cup measuring cup. Add Worcestershire Sauce, Ketchup, Olive Oil and Tabasco Sauce. Whisk to combine. Add minced shallot and garlic. While whisking to keep mixed, pour half of the marinade over the steaks. Turn steaks over, pour remaining marinade over the steaks. Refrigerate at least 4 hours for best flavor, turning once mid-way through.

Remove steaks from marinade, reserve liquid. Blot dry steaks with paper towels. Season well with salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Pour reserved liquid over the steaks. Let continue to rest for 15 minutes longer.

Heat grill to medium,-high heat. Add steaks, grill for 8 to 10 minutes total, turning once. Tent steaks. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Sorry, no pictures of the steaks on the grill. My Grill Master Hubby was manning the steaks while I was finishing the Twice Baked Potatoes, and the trusty Cannon Camera was in the kitchen with me.

Twice Baked Sour Cream Potatoes
3 large Baking Potatoes
3 tablespoons Sour Cream
3 tablespoons Butter, soft
1-1/2 tablespoon Milk
Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
Chives or Green Onions for garnish

Note: Select potatoes similar in size, that easily lay flat.

Heat oven to 425-degrees. Scrub potatoes, pat dry. Lay potatoes on counter, turning to see which side is more-flat for a stead potato. Pierce top of potato with a fork, place in the oven to bake directly on the oven rack. Bake for 1 hour or until potato is soft with skin beginning to crisp slightly.

Remove potatoes from oven, reduce heat to 375 Let potatoes cool slightly. With a knife, cut into the top to remove a most of the skin from the very TOP of the potato only. With a spoon, hallow out potato, leaving outer shell intact. Place potato pulp into a bowl.

Add sour cream and butter. Whip potato pulp until almost smooth. Add milk, continue to whip until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

Fill potatoes with the sour cream mixture until even with the edge of the skin. Place remaining mixture into a pastry bag or cookie press fitted with a large star tip. Pipe remaining pulp mixture for a pretty presentation. Place potatoes into the oven, bake for a second time for about 15 minutes or until heated through.

While the potatoes bake, snip chives or green onions. Remove potatoes from oven, garnish just before serving. Perfect with that Bourbon Ribeye. Enjoy!

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 I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord,
but rather in his conversion that he may live.