Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches - Bama style!

There are many advantages to shopping at a grocery store that has a real live butcher employed there - Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches are one of them!  Living in Birmingham makes it hard to find a good PCSS; especially since Philly Connection closed down. Even though Salem's in Homewood makes a great one, they are only open for lunch, and it's a bit of a drive just to fill a craving. I ended up having to make up my own PCSS. These sandwiches are wonderful, and I use my secret seasoning on them...well, I guess it's not really a secret; it is just a seasoning that many people don't know about. The best part is that it is made right here in Alabama! It is Southern Flavor Charbroil Seasoning, and it gives your food that "right off the charcoal grill" flavor that is Chewly Awesome! You can't find it everywhere, but Piggly Wiggly sometimes has it, and you can always find it at the General Store at Pepper Place (you can read more about the General Store on Birmingham Mom's General store at Pepper Place article.)

The best cut of meat for a PCSS is a rib-eye, but that isn't always in the budget.  If they are on sale, by all means, grab a few up and ask your butcher to shave them for you.  If you can't get your hands on some rib-eye, chuck eye steak will work.  Just ask your butcher to slice it thin for philly cheese steak, and they should be able to do it.  As a last resort, you can always chop it up in your food processor; it is not the ideal method, but it is better than no PCSS at all!



Ingredients:
Makes 4 large six-inch sandwiches

2 lbs of sliced steak
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup of Moore's or Dale's  (I use Moore's because it has less salt)
1/2 onion sliced (optional)
1/2 bell pepper sliced (optional)
6 sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 Tablespoon of Southern Flavor Charcoal seasoning if available *
1/2 tsp Garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to taste

2 French Bread Loaves (See Homemade French Bread - Yes, You Can!) cut in half and sliced down the center
8 slices provolone cheese or 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

*If you don't have Southern Flavor seasoning, you can use the following:

1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder


Put a pan of water in your oven while it is preheating to 350 degrees F.  Put your french bread in the oven for 10 min. to steam it.  This will give you that nice soft bread that is great on a PCSS!

Drizzle extra virgin olive oil in your pan and let it heat to medium high heat

Add steak, and seasonings including Moore's or Dale's

Stir

Add onion, bell pepper and mushrooms

Cook until beef is done and onions are translucent stirring frequently

Lay cheese on top of steak and allow it to melt.

Put the mean into the bread. Slice and serve :)

I like to have mayo and Texas Pete hot sauce on my cheese steak sandwich, but you can make yours however you like! :) Enjoy!