Steak and Potatoes

Sometimes you just need a little meat and potatoes.

Waiting tables for the past 6 years hasn't exactly been my favorite. I'd say that the worst part about it though is that it just wears me out. That is one big restaurant, and when you're in a station far away from the kitchen, it's like working out- for 6 hours. I'd like to cook a nice meal every night but I just don't have the money or the energy right now. So, I'm currently exploring ways to stretch my time and my budget.

I've found that baking potatoes are pretty versatile and when I'm tired and hungry and just don't want to move, I can pop one in the microwave, top it with a little smart balance, and the world is right again. I'm sure you low-carbists cringe at this but, I care not.

Last weekend I bought a package of what I thought was one giant steak, but it turned out to be two giant steaks. We grilled one for fajitas then, and froze the other. Foreseeing a busy weekend full of lovely customers and oh-so-lovable co-workers :) , I put the other steak in the fridge to thaw on Saturday.

Steak is awesome and delicious, but grilling on a night like this is just not in the cards. I watch a good bit of Food Network before work and I've seen them do steak in the oven so I figured I could do it too. And well, I did! One big steak and one big potato was more than enough for the two of us who are, on a normal basis, not gigantic eaters.

This is how I did it:

EVOO a skillet and get it pretty hot

Cover both sides of steak in sea salt and cracked pepper
Toss the steak in the hot oil and let it sizzle for about 1-2 minutes on each side

Pop in the broiler for oh, I'd say 10 minutes.
And- Viola!

The Potato, that is easy enough for the cat.
Wrap in Press n' seal.
Poke holes with fork
Microwave for 5-6 minutes.

It's just meat and potatoes- nothing fancy. No sauteed or scalloped this and no herb crusted that. But, it is tasty. It is filling. It is crazy easy. (And really, it's crazy cheap.)

After serving people expensive and complex concoctions all day, there's something about a meal like this that hits the spot