This recipe has everything going for it: It's fast and easy to make. It can get away with being a Halloween dish, because of the "Bloody Mary" dipping sauce. It's main ingredient is steak. And it calls for a half cup of vodka.

The only downside is it comes from terminally perky and insufferably annoying Food Network star, Rachael Ray. (Who wouldn't be so bad if she would... Just. Stop. Talking.)

If you're having a girl over this weekend, and want to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible, throw some of these steak bites together. Add a quick salad, and you're eating in under 20 minutes. And getting on to other things.

For more recipes like this one, go to FoodNetwork.com


Steak Bites with Bloody Mary Dipping Sauce
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup vodka ...More

This week's ESPN/Kingsford charcoal match-up pits two teams from the great, and highly unusual, state of Florida (the only state with it's own category on Fark ), Miami U and Florida State.

Pitmaster Chris Lilly has chosen to represent "The U" with Caribbean Jerk Pork due to Miami's close proximity to the islands. For Florida State he's going with Florida Orange Sweet Ribs that are seasoned with a dry rub, hickory smoked and then finished in a Florida orange marinade.

Both are easy to make, with prep times of about 20 minutes before hitting the grill for a few hours while you watch the game. For more college football grill match-ups click here.


Caribbean Jerk Pork

1 pork shoulder butt, semi-boneless (5-6 pounds)

Jerk Paste
1-2 Scotch bonnet peppers, seeded (can substitute habanero peppers)
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 green onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tablespoon salt
...More

This college football season, Kingsford charcoal has teamed with ESPN, former NFL great Joe Theismann, and champion pitmaster Chris Lilly, to bring you Tailgate Week, featuring a grill and flame throw-down of the week's hottest NCAA game.

Each week a match-up is selected by ESPN and Lilly and Theismann create a dish to represent each team, adding a little food-fueled rivalry to your tailgate. This week's pick is Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State and Lilly has created Corn Husk Skewers and Grilled Steak Pizza, OK-Style.

The corn husk skewers are made with alternating medallions of corn, zucchini and eggplant, while the pizza features grain-fed steak and tomato sauce with KC Masterpiece® barbecue sauce mixed in. Grill 'em both up for this weekend's game. And you can find more college football head-to-head recipes for upcoming weeks here .

Corn Husk Skewers
4 ears corn, in husks
2 zucchini
2 eggplant
4 metal skewers, 12” minimum
1/2 cup butter, salted
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon dry thyme
1 teaspoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Without removing the corn husks from the corn cob, peel husks down uncovering the ears of corn. Remove the silk from the corn ears. Cut the ear of corn from the stalk (a small piece of corn can be left on the stalk). Place the corn husks, still attached to the stalk, into a bowl of water.

Cut each ear of corn, the zucchini, and eggplant into 3/4-inch medallions. Place medallions into a medium mixing bowl. ...More

I've found that while women love a guy who can cook, breaking out the baking skills drives them right over the edge. And since my personal baking skills are limited - baking is more of an exact science than cooking is - I found a recipe simple enough that could be pulled off by even those of us with limited dessert-making skills.

The recipe is Chef Robert Irvine's Three-Apple Crumble from his show Dinner:Impossible, which is a favorite of mine. ("Okay Chef, today you have eight hours to cook a seven-course meal for 400 visiting dignitaries, using this hot plate and pair of salad tongs...") It uses different varieties of apples to give it depth of flavor (perfect for fall), and is served hot topped with vanilla ice cream. (What woman doesn't love a little a la mode?)

Since it comes from a show where Irvine has limited time and resources to cook with, the dessert is easy to make, requiring only about 20 minutes of easy prep before it goes in the oven for 30 minutes. Easy for you, delicious for her. Everyone's happy.

Three-Apple Crumble
Makes six servings

6 large apples (2 each of 3 different varieties: Granny Smith, Winesap, Rome Beauty, Stayman, Braeburn) peeled, cored and medium diced
6 tablespoons sugar, divided
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
1 lemon, juiced
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 pint vanilla ice cream, for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place the apples and just 1/2 of the sugar (3 tablespoons) into a saucepan and cook ...More

Are you a guy who needs to add a little heat to everything? Hot sauce on your eggs in the morning? Enough cayenne in your chili to ignite a campfire? Spiced olives in your martini? Even you might think adding chipotle chilies to your chocolate chip cookies would be insanity, but not to the bakers at SparX Foods.

SparX Spicy Cookies may look like ordinary bite-sized cookies, but try one and you'll realize, quickly, there's nothing ordinary about them. With flavors like Chipotle Chocolate Chip, Ancho Oatmeal Raisin, Cayenne Toffee Pecan, Chipotle Double Fudge and Jalapeno Peanut Butter, you know you're venturing into unique territory. Which is why you have to ignore the strange flavor combinations - and your own expectations - and just try one. You'll get the delicious sweetness of the cookie, which gives way to the slow burn of the spice. Not enough to make you run, eyes tearing, for the fridge to grab the milk, but just enough to keep it interesting. And to keep you reaching for more.

They're also 100% all natural, with no preservatives or artificial flavors... you're getting the real spice here. And since they make them with pure butter, there's no trans fats to worry about either.

Winner of the 2005 Fiery Food Challenge, they're perfect to keep the heat going after your next chili cook-off or tailgate barbecue. (Or if that obnoxious sales guy at your office won't let up about how bad your team is doing this year, offer him a handful. They'll keep him quiet for a while.)

$3.95 for a 4 oz bag
www.sparxfoods.com