Steak makes everything better..

You know when you have that feeling that a good weekend is just around the corner? That's how I felt Friday morning.

So I had started my Friday by making a list. Clearly. I got this sometimes annoying, sometimes handy trait from my Mom. And I can't go in a store without one. Call me crazy, but if I run rampant in a grocery store without a list, one of two things will happen:
1. I'll rack up a $500 bill without even noticing and eat only rice for weeks after the food runs out.
2. I'll rack up a $500 bill and somehow justify every single purchase even though I know I didn't need the extra virgin balsamic vinegar that I needed a teaspoon for in a recipe.

So, I tend to stick to my list. It's just better this way. :)

So, since there was no work for me that day, I went and ran a ton of errands while I finally had time. This included my favorite chore of all... Harris Teeter.

Oh, there is nothing like hitting up the grocery store when it's empty on a Friday afternoon. Especially when you LOVE the grocery store right around the corner from your house. I was so glad to have found this one in particular since I had such a great store (Publix) to go to growing up in Lexington, SC and later in college in Columbia, SC.

Since I have moved to DC, I find myself eating a lot more fruits and veggies than I did when I was in college. Maybe it's because I actually take the time to cook them in different ways to find out what I like best, but it's working out quite well. All the fruits and veggies in HT are organic, which always makes me happy! I don't try to be a health nut, but it's always nice to know that you are putting good foods into your tummy.

So I kept to the list, mostly, and came home and cleaned out the fridge to make room for the new food. This is a daunting task. And sometimes interesting.

Then I started planning out my meals for the next week. This is helpful because I never have to scrounge for food. I always know what I have and a yummy recipe to make. It's easier to come home after work and know what you want instead of eating junk. Since it was Friday, I figured I would make a good meal for me and the roomies. I love to cook for them. They are a good sounding board for my cooking, as they do not hesitate to tell me if something is good, or too salty, or just plain gross. I will be forever grateful.

Turns out, we had some friends in town who were going out with Christa later in the night. Of course, we thought it would be fun for them to come over and eat with us, so I decided to make steak. This wasn't just any steak, this was sirloin filet with gorgonzola cream sauce. Yum. And asparagus, mac and cheese (courtesy of Randan), mashed potatoes, and a quick appetizer of caprese salad.

Here are some pictures from the glorious meal that was had.


Mmmm.. STEAK. We don't have a very accessible grill, so I usually grill inside on the stove. Just add olive oil and season the steaks with salt and pepper. Grill about 5 minutes per side for medium. Only flip once though. :) They come out perfectly every time ( I am mostly referring to Adam grilling the steaks perfectly because I usually relegate this task to him. But he wasn't here this weekend so I took on the job and I did it!)

Gorgonzola Cream Sauce:

This is so easy to make, and a delicious addition to any meal. Gorgonzola cheese is the Italian version of Bleu Cheese. I like it better because it is a bit saltier and smoother. We ate it drizzled on everything from the steak to the mashed potatoes and then the next day, I made some bowtie pasta for a quick dinner and poured it on there. So good!

Here's the recipe:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream or half and half (whichever you have on hand)
  
• 1/4 pound Gorgonzola (one container is enough)
  
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add butter to melt. Saute shallots until tender. Add the cream and let reduce by half. If you use half and half the sauce will not be as thick, but it tastes just the same. Turn heat to low, add the Gorgonzola and stir until it melts. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Here is the Caprese Salad. It's just a fancy term for tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Just slice a tomato, and add some sliced mozzarella on top. Sprinkle on some fresh basil and drizzle with olive oil or balsamic vinegar. I just recently started using balsamic vinegar. Adam's mom does this, and I find that it tastes sweeter. Try it, you'll love it.


Here is the final product. It was soooo good. Especially washed down with some fantastic Cab Sav. (I am referring to Cabernet Sauvignon, for those who are not wine connoisseurs like my friends.)

Mmm hmm. That was a great night. I recommend that you try some of these recipes. They will put a smile on your face, for sure.

The rest of the weekend was fabulous as well. Enjoyed a Saturday afternoon in Burke, VA volunteering at a cigar and margarita fundraiser for SICF, the Sponsor Iraqi Children Foundation, with Christa and her parents. Please check out the Web site if you would like: http://www.sicfoundation.org. Also had a great time at Whitlow's on Wilson in Clarendon with everyone on Saturday night. Overall, it was a fun weekend. Just like I knew it would be.

Hope you all have a good week. We are picking back up our "Roomie Night" weekly routine, and I'll attempt to follow my Dad's lead of making homemade pizza. Could get interesting..