This is the story of two newlyweds. Like many recently-married ladies, this gal was excited to try new recipes for her husband.

One day, the new wife found a recipe for Salisbury Steak in a magazine. 

“This’ll be great!” she thought.

The next evening after work, she hurried home with all the ingredients for a wonderful, home-cooked meal.

Little did she know she was about to create a “meal” that would go down in family lore as “the grossest thing ever. . . ”

Okay, so the wife was me.

And I hadn’t quite perfected the art of paring down a recipe for six into a meal for two.

The beef looked like a puffer fish because there were way too many eggs and bread crumbs for the amount of meat.

And the onions I used were not “finely chopped.” They were more like something you might see contestants on “Survivor” eating.

But my husband was sweet about it . . . until he saw that I hated it, too. Then all bets were off.

Now, 10 years later, we still talk about that meal. During cold and flu season I’ll ask my husband how he’s feeling when he’s under the weather.  His answer?

“Like I just ate some Salisbury Steak.”

It’s taken on a new meaning in our house. But I prefer to think it brought us closer. Like one of those traumatic events you live through together and nothing seems that important anymore. Like in a hurricane, a tornado, floods, fires . . .

I’ve grown so much as a cook in 10 years. So I think a decade is enough time to break the spell of the Salisbury Steak. I’m ready to get back on that oniony saddle again, so to speak.

This time it’s personal.

So here’s a much better recipe for Salisbury Steak I found on www.cooks.com.

I know how to follow instructions now and I’m thinking I will use this ground beef so I won’t have to do my own onions at all. They’re already in the meat. 

Try it and see if you have great results you can share!

Behold the beauty of a perfectly-grilled ribeye.

I first seasoned it with Liz Lansing’s seasoning (see post from Jan. 28th) before grilling and then sprinkled a bit of oregano on top right off the grill.

I liked the kick of the oregano. It was a bit unorthodox, but I loved it! Then, I dipped each bite in a bit of Teriyaki.

I just can’t live without it.

The satisfaction of putting together my own flavor creation and its utter, shameless beauty almost made this ribeye too good to eat.

Almost.

(Headline sung to tune of “Summer Nights” from Grease.)

Now that’s a well-used grill.

Wintertime does not mean you have to close up shop and let the grill collect cobwebs.

Just put on your coat and gloves (no mittens, please) and get on out there!

That’s what my dedicated husband is demonstrating here. This was our project last Friday evening. We live by the post office motto of “Neither rain nor sleet nor snow . . .” around our house.

Nothing will stop me from getting my fix of tender, mouth-watering steak. Ribeye to be exact. Not even 29-degree weather and snow flurries.

What’s a little pain when the payoff is so great?

Tomorrow, the fruits of our labor . . .