Earlier this week my wife decided to surprise me with a dinner she thought-of more-or-less on-the-spot.
We are both big fans of The Melting Pot. Tuesday she popped out to Kroger and bought a small package of potatoes, some various broths, and an absolutely AMAZINGÂ meat rub spice mix. Also she found some strawberries (on sale – how cool), and “melting chocolate” (no idea how this is different from “normal” chocolate, but whatever).
Unbeknownst to me while I was finishing work for the day, she was busy in the kitchen mixing-up a broth to boil the veggies in, and eventually cook some filet we had in the freezer (which she had also been thawing – again on the sly in the kitchen while I was working).
Her approximate recipe for the main course:
- 1 small chicken broth
- 3 small vegetable broths
- veggies per preference (ours were carrots, mushrooms, and potatoes)
- small can of pineapple chunks – including the juice
- spice-rubbed filet
Green goddess (Melting Pot’s ‘signature’ spread):
- 1/2 C sour cream
- >1/2 C cream cheese
- chopped chives
Dessert:
- ~1 C melting chocolate
- splash of Southern Comfort (flambeed to remove alcohol content, but leave flavor)
- fresh strawberries
Cooking method:
- heat broth to near-boiling (I think this is “simmering” – but I’m not positive on the technical term)
- add veggies
- after veggies are between ‘hot’ and ‘tender’, add rubbed filet chunks (15-25 minutes, depending on heat and preference)
- remove from heat 2-3 minutes later and serve
Dessert method:
- melt chocolate in microwave- and flame-safe container
- add splash of SoCo
- flambe
- dip strawberries
This was an awesome dinner – not to mention less expensive than Melting Pot by, oh, 70% – and I was very sad I got too full to finish all of it 🙂
Thanks, babe!
BTW – LivingSocial had a Melting Pot special this week (which we have taken advantage of). Not sure if it’s still available, but check it out – it’s half off 🙂
*UPDATE@201107071203* the LivingSocial special has been sold out.