Steak & Gorgonzola Flatbread – New Belgium Trippel

Steak & Gorgonzola Flatbread

Weight watchers – 3/piece

Servings – 8 (2 pieces/person)

Roll of thin pizza crust from refrigerated section

2t minced garlic

2t onion powder

1 c reduced fat cheddar & jack

1/3 c gorgonzola cheese

5 ounces of grilled filet mignon (rare)

Spray olive oil

1.      Cook pizza crust according to package

2.      Take pizza crust out of oven

3.      Preheat oven to 350

4.      Spray crust with olive oil

5.      Spread garlic & onion powder over crust

6.      Slice filet into strips and sprinkle across crust

7.      Sprinkle both cheese over steak and crust

8.      Heat for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted

9.      Cut into 16 rectangles

Made this for a paring party and it was a big hit.  So delicious.  I now love making flatbreads, refrigerated crusts make it so easy. I paired this with a New Belgium Trippel, one of Mike’s and my favorite beers.  New Belgium is overall one of our favorite breweries.  This tripel is lighter than most tripels and can be a everyday beers.  It’s malty with a strong coriander flavor.

Teriyaki Chicken Wings – Abbey Dubbel

Teriyaki Chicken Wings

Weight Watchers points – 3/chicken wing

Servings – 15 people (about 3/person)

5 lbs chicken wings, disjointed

1 c soy sauce

½ c Splenda brown sugar mix

¼ c lemon juice

1 T garlic powder

1.      Heat oven to 300

2.      Combine last 4 ingredients

3.      Place chicken wings in a greased pan in a single layer

4.      Pour sauce over wings

5.      Bake 2.5 hours, turning wings every 20-30 minutes

6.      Wings become very dark in color

Although I don’t know where this recipe originally came from, my mom taught it to me and I just love it.  I can eat pounds of these wings all by myself.  They are great as an appetizer or even as a main dish.  Chicken Wings aren't healthy even when baked, they aare 3 points just for one, but these are a far better alternative then deep friend.  A plain chicken wing has a good amount of fat and thus should be a treat rather then a regular choice.  When I eat them, I always make them or order then grilled or baked and "naked" without breading.  I also pair with a salad or lots of veggies so I have just a handful of wings.

I paired these with an abbey dubbel.  I don’t generally drink many dubbels, but Mike loves them.  One we both like is the New Belgium abbey ale.  Almost every single beer out of New Belgium is awesome.  One of the things we were most upset about cancelling our wedding in Denver was not being able to tour the New Belgium brewery.  If you ever plan to go you need to register at least 6 weeks in advance. 

Abbey Dubbels are also called Belgian dubbel. Traditionally abbey dubbels are trappist ales.  Meaning they were brewed by Trappist (a Roman Catholic religious order who follow rule of St. Benedicct) monks.  They have mild hoppiness without a lingering hop flavor.  They have fruit aromas and caramel flavors due to crystal malt used. 

The New Belgium Abbey Ale has won a lot of recognition and awards at the Great American Beer Fest.  It is brewed with 6 different malts and a Belgian yeast strain.  It has a sweet flavor reminiscent of banana and is well balanced.