Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

My family loves red meat, I on the other hand could do without it but if the kids eat then we go with what they will eat.  Tonight's menu is Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches.  If you are from the east coast then you know that you order your sandwiches wit or witout.  No that is not a misspelling but the first time I ever had a PCS was in Philadelphia. 

Some may ask what is a PCS?  Well its beef (thinly sliced), caramelized onions, cheese, mushrooms (for those that like them), mayo and a good kaiser roll.  when cutting your beef you need to make sure that you freeze your meat to give it enough body that you can get that think slice.  my marinade is red wine (something you would drink), soy sauce, Worcester sauce and a few red pepper flakes (not enough to hurt, just so you can feel it).  Mix everything together put in a Ziploc bag marinate overnight.

Butter w/ EVOO

45 minutes before you are ready to eat, start your onions - I use a mixture of EVOO and Butter, this lowers the smoking point of the butter so that it doesn't burn as quickly.  place your onions in the pot and cook them low and slow (it will take about 20-30 minutes).

Mid way thru you start to see the color developing

Beginning Stage

the end product

Remove the onions from their pan, place in a bowl for later to serve.  Add your mushrooms with about 1/4 cu of red wine, 1/4 c beef stock and a couple of shakes of Maggie sauce and Worcester.  start your mushrooms  and when they are about half way done add the wine mixture continuing to cook until reduced to half.  Remove the mushrooms and place in a bowl for serving.  Now crank up the heat on the pan when its hot add the beef mixture to your pan and start stirring.  The smell is Devinne.

Now you have everything completed - Lets head to the table to make our dinner.  I found some interesting facts about how you order PCS in Philadelphia here is what I learned.

When you come up to establishment there are a list of rules

You literally order this way or you get what the establishment thinks you want. . . .  if the establishment is very busy then you could get sent to the back of the line (flashback  of grade school here) - Kinda like the "Soup Nazi" from Seinfeld wit-out the year long ban.  Remember that the shops there run like well oiled machines, when very busy they want the orders to come and go with the most efficiency.  When special orders come in it takes time from the "regulars" in line that know better.So while I won't be banning anyone tonight because they didn't order correctly I thought you should at least know what could happen . . . . Good eats everyone hoped this helped a little on changing up your routine.  Simple is better One last promise I will start shooting the end product see it.