Bride of Magazine Challenge: Crispy Oven Fries

So.
Sometimes I just don't know what to add to my meal plan that will be good for 1 night.
With so many things that I make feeding 4, we get 2 nights out of many meals.  But with all schedules, there's often 1 night in the week left over, and I don't know what to make.  It's at that point we whip out something really simple that if we don't get to it and go out, it won't really matter.
One of those simple, one night meals that we often rely on is broccoli, potatoes or a rice packet and grilled steak.
We buy our steak at Costco, and cut them in half when we repackage into smaller portions.  So a tray of steaks makes a whole lot more servings than the 3 that originally start on the tray at the store.  With the current decision to use up everything in the freezer (or a good portion thereof before defrosting), steak is definitely on the menu.
Usually, I make mashed potatoes because all I need to do is chop, boil and mash to make a side.  But when I saw this recipe in the October 2006 issue of Everyday food, I thought that they might be a nice change of pace.  I was right.  We loved them.  J has requested that I make them again sometime.
They're not for a quick night, but they're different.  I present to you now from the October 2006 issue of Everyday Food Crispy Oven Fries:

Achieving Fangirl Status: Monterrey Chicken Skillet

So.
According to Urban Dictionary, a fangirl is:

 "A rabid breed of human female who is obesessed with either a fictional character or an actor. Similar to the breed of fanboy. Fangirls congregate at anime conventions and livejournal. Have been known to glomp, grope, and tackle when encountering said obesessions."Hugh Jackman: 'ello. Fangirl: SQUEEEEEE! *immediately attaches to Jackman's leg* Jackman: Security!

I'm getting close to the point where I am a total fangirl of Beth and her website, Budget Bytes.  I have to admit I'm not planning to grope her, though...I'm making no guarantees about attaching myself to her leg.  How about just sit in her kitchen and love her process?  Maybe question her a lot about costing out recipes, and how she manages to get some things so cheaply?  Yeah, that doesn't sound obsessive.  
I discovered Budget Bytes not long after joining Pinterest.  I read the "Top 20 for 2012" post, and started trying recipes:  Chicken Meatball Teriyaki Bowls, Black Bean Quesadillas, and beans in the crockpot.  Anything I've made has worked, has been full of flavour, and I've been told that I'm more than welcome to make it again.  What's not to love?
When I saw this recipe on her website, I was a little skeptical about the combination of flavours.  I don't use BBQ sauce a whole lot, and I wasn't sure about the sweet with everything else.  Neither was J.  He asked if maybe I thought I should leave the sauce out.  But I decided to stick with the process.  I mean, I hadn't been steered wrong before.  
Just as well.  The BBQ sauce was a nice touch.  
I present to you now Budget Bytes' Monterrey Chicken Skillet:

Something different: Stromboli

So.
While I don't often make pizza at home, I do make pizza dough and turn it into calzones with a variety of fillings more often.  I love that calzones are freezable, and make a couple of nights worth of dinners.
One Monday while perusing the offerings from another group's reveal day for the Secret Recipe Club, I came across this recipe for stromboli.  It was so pretty, I wanted to give it a try too.  While not a calzone, I still needed to make pizza dough and create a filling.
On a Sunday night with a salad, this was a lovely dinner.
I present to you now On the Move - In the Galley's Stromboli:

Bride of Magazine Challenge: Roast Beef with Potatoes and Pearl Onions

So.
I set this post up and planned to complete it before the time came for it to go live.  Whoops.
For the eagle-eyed among you, the post went live with one word and no recipe.  Time is not my friend right now.  I keep meaning to get to the blog, and it just doesn't happen with everything else that's happening.  But I keep making new things.  So much to share!
Maybe November will be kinder.  Ha!
I like meals that are quick, easy, and give me at least 2 nights worth of meals.  This one is a winner, hands down.  When I went to the grocery store, there were no shallots.  How is that possible?  I think shallots are a fairly basic ingredient.  They did have bags of tiny red onions.  I thought those would be just as yummy.  They were probably more of a pain to peel.
J told me the next time I want to make a roast, he'd be happy to help eat it.  I'd use this recipe again, and even use shallots.
I present to you now from the October issue of Everyday Food, Roast Beef with Potatoes and Red Pearl Onions:

Classics: Cornbread

So.
I think I've posted about my Holly Hobbie Cookbook before.  It's the first cookbook I ever received, and one of the few that's actually followed me over the years.  There are probably only about 3 recipes that I still make from the book, but with an inscription in the front (Christmas 1980, To Sarah from Mom and Dad with Love, Happy Cooking!) I don't think I'm planning to get rid of it any time soon.  Besides, it's been sitting on the couch for a few days and our new kitten has decided that it's a good thing to try and chew.  Yeah.  We got a kitten.
I make cornbread when J makes chili.  It's not something I think of on a regualr basis, but it is tasty.  I enjoyed it in the days after spread with jam for breakfast.  This recipe is quick, simple, and is made of pantry staples.  And frankly, anything baked at home is delicious (and is even more delicious fresh out of the oven with hot chili covered with shredded cheese and sour cream).  I totally recommend it.
I present to you now from Holly Hobbie's Cookbook, Cornbread:

Secret Recipe Club: Peanut Butter Cup Pie

So.
Incredibly, it is well before the due date for this recipe and I'm already sitting down to complete my post for the Secret Recipe Club.  The premise of the club is simple:  All people who are a part of the group are assigned another blog from the group, which is a secret, until reveal day.  You go to the blog you've received and make a recipe to reveal.  Easy, right?  Super fun too!
This year, we're home for my birthday.  I didn't want to make a cake that the 2 of us would then be left to eat, but with a deadline looming, I decided to see what I could find on my assigned blog, The Saturday Evening Pot.
Chef Jon's lucky wife Anne is a girl after my own heart - she too loves the combination of chocolate and peanut butter!  After perusing a few recipes, and knowing that eventually I want to make both the healthy Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Blondies and the Raspberry Cinnamon Glazed Loaf Cake, I settled on something decadent that I had everything in the house to make - Peanut Butter Cup Pie.
Okay...I didn't have quite everything in the house, so I improvised.  But the dish didn't change.  And oh, what a dessert it is.
I present to you now the Saturday Evening Pot's Peanut Butter Cup Pie: