Okay, I hate the name. Slapping anyone’s granny sounds like a horrible idea to me. But that’s what it’s called so we’ll go with that.

This steak is apparently “so good you’ll wanna slap your granny.” You marinate your steaks in a yummy Worcestershire/soy concoction inside a bag until it’s good and infused with flavor. Then you grill them.

Hold onto your Hoverround chair, cuz this stuff is good!

Don’t those look brimming with flavor???

Here’s the skinny on this recipe from “Stay At Home Dad” over at Hubpages.com.  Enjoy! (And please, don’t really slap your granny. She’s a nice lady.)

Slap Your Grandma Good!

I am not an advocate of violence and I have never actually slapped my grandmother, but this steak recipe is so good I wanted to make sure the title would get your attention.

This recipe is a variation of the one my mom taught me. I have spent years perfecting it and my wife loves it. I have designated it my ‘go to recipe’ when I have done something to upset her. It is quick and easy and guaranteed to produce the best steak you’ve ever had!

Prep time: 5 minutes

Marinate time: 1-3 hours (depending on the cut of beef)

Cook time: 10-15 minutes (depending on the cut of beef and thickness)

The Marinade

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce (I think Lea & Perrin’s is best)

1/3 cup soy sauce ( I use Kikkoman’s)

1/2 cup A-1 steak sauce

3 Tbls. McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak seasoning

*A little fresh minced garlic is optional- but also very good!

I should say that I NEVER measure anything when I put this together. The measurements here are merely suggestions. My only advice is to go a little lighter on the soy than the Worcestershire. I use the soy to take a little of the ‘sweetness’ out of the Worcestershire.

Marinating in the Bag

The Steak

If you don’t have a favorite steak, I highly recommend the Ribeye. It isn’t the most expensive cut, but you cannot beat the flavor. This recipe is for two ribeye steaks- adjust accordingly if you are cooking more.

How to put it all Together

In a large zip lock bag combine all the ingredients and slosh around a bit to mix thoroughly. Add the steaks and zip the bag closed. Slosh around a bit more and be sure to coat each steak completely and refrigerate. For ribeyes, it is best not to marinate for more than two hours. I have marinated for 30 minutes if I am in a hurry, but a 1-2 hours is best.

You may need to experiment a little with the marinade times on other steaks. The following times are what I use when I splurge for more expensive cuts:

1-3 hours are best for strips

1-2 hours for Porterhouse and T-bones

30 minutes or less for Filets

I normally turn the bag over 2 or 3 times while they marinate, but it isn’t necessary. About 20 minutes before you put them on the grill, remove the steaks from the refrigerator and allow them to warm to room temperature.

Time to Light the Grill

I use a Weber charcoal grill when I cook steaks. After you light the grill and allow the coals to begin to ash on each corner, push all the coals to the outside edge of the grill. I have found the best results when I cook the steaks over the center of the grill, not directly above the coals. I have heard this referred to as ‘indirect’ cooking. If you use a gas grill, preheat on highest setting, then reduce to low heat. You may need to adjust your cook times on a gas grill.

*I never cook steaks without baked potatoes. I recommend using large russets and I have a great way to prepare them while the steaks are cooking. I’ll let you in on my secret at the bottom of this post…

Grill set up

Cooking Tips and Times

After many years of trial and error, I broke down and bought a meat thermometer. It was the best $10 I ever spent.

For best flavor, do not remove any fat prior to cooking. Place steaks in the middle of the grill. We prefer our ribeyes cooked medium rare. For steaks cut ¾ inches thick, do not cook more than 5 minutes per side. I try to only turn my steaks once during cooking. ALWAYS use tongs to handle steaks. To insure juiciness, never pierce the steaks while cooking. Keep the lid on the grill as much as possible. After approximately 8 minutes, I use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. Steaks will heat up to an additional 10 degrees after you remove them from the grill, so for medium rare remove the meat from the grill when the temperature at the thickest section reaches 135F. If you do not have a meat thermometer, DO NOT cook more than 10 minutes. You can always put them back on if they are not cooked enough.

On the grill

Suggested Temperatures for Doneness

145F for medium rare

160F for medium

170F for well done

Serve with your favorite sides and enjoy!

Baked Potato Secret

For two large baked potatoes:

Pierce each potato through with a knife in 2-3 places

Microwave two potatoes for 5 minutes on each side (10 minutes total)

Wrap with aluminum foil and place directly on the coals about 10 minutes before the steaks go on

Turn the potatoes once about the same time you turn the steaks

There is no set amount of time to leave the potatoes on the coals, but a minimum of 20 minutes is what I recommend. Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Hubpages.com.

We’ve all ordered a steak the way we want it and then found out the chef had a different idea of what “medium rare” means.

Here’s a guide from “bis” at www.Everything2.com on what the doneness labels mean . . .

So, you’ve gone through life ordering your steak “medium“, because you didn’t know what “rare” or “medium well” meant, have you? Well, you need not do this anymore, for here is your guide to the doneness of steak:

• rare: 140°F (60°C), center of the steak is very red and cool
• medium rare: 150°F (65°C), center of the steak is red and warm
• medium: 160°F (71°C), center of the steak is pink and hot
• medium well: 165°F (74°C), center of the steak is pinkish and hot
• well done: 170+°F (77+°C), steak is thoroughly cooked

Of course, you might still order medium (*cough*wuss!*cough*) after all of that, but hey, at least now you’re educated, eh?

You can check out Everything2.com for even more ideas on steak doneness. May the fork be with you!

Photo courtesy of NoSaladAsAMeal.com.

This weekend, the hubby and I got to go out and feel what it’s like to be people for just a little while again. You know, instead of slaves to a 7- and 5-year-old. (Whom we adore, but must escape from sometimes to realize that.)

We dropped the kids at my parents’ house and they never even looked back. The prospect of the rapt attention of Grandpa was just too overwhelming for them. And with a wink from Nana, we were off.

We briefly discussed heading for the U.S./Mexico border but decided by the time we got there we’d miss ’em again.

So we settled for a steakhouse.

Now, we usually like to cook our own steaks at home. But it was time to get out of the house so we decided we’d let someone else try to live up to our standards.

Good luck.

The ambiance was nice, and there was live piano music — something that doesn’t happen at my house unless I want to play with my feet while I cook dinner.

The wine was flowing and we got to talk about how we’re going to achieve all the goals we’ve set for ourselves and our family. Not an easy feat. But with a plan, we’re on our way.

When the food came, it was, I’ll admit, delightful. But it was missing the one ingredient I always use at home — Teriyaki sauce.

I know it’s weird, but that’s the way I like it.

How do you like yours? Can a steakhouse ever deliver what YOU’RE looking for?

Photo courtesy of parkcitiesprime.com.