For our part of the world, school starts back today. And now that we’re back in the swing of things, nighttime gets a little hectic with homework, soccer practice, dinner and bedtime.

So here’s a great time-saving school night dinner to keep you going. Enjoy!

Steak with Garlic Sauce Dinner

Steak with garlic sauce is paired with sesame pea pods and rosemary bread for a memorable dinner. Great for any night of the week since it’s ready in 15 minutes.

How to Do it in 15 Minutes:
Put up water for the pea pods
Broil the steak
Make the garlic sauce while the steak’s cooking
Make the pea pods
Prep the bread
When the steak is finished, toast the bread

Four ingredients never tasted so good (not including oil, salt, and pepper.) You’ll find yourself using the garlic sauce for just about anything – short of drinking it straight from the pan.
Ingredients
1½ pound flank steak
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
2 cloves of garlic, minced
pinch of ground black pepper
½ teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
Cooking Instructions
Heat broiler. Season steak with salt and pepper.
Broil steak about 6-inches from heating element, turning once, about 8 to 10 mintues, or until medium rare.

Sauce: In small saucepan over medium heat melt butter. Add garlic, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and any accumulated steak juices.
Make it Faster
Two teaspoons bottled crushed garlic can be used in place of 2 minced garlic cloves
Tips & Tricks
Smash garlic cloves with the flat side of a large knife to easily remove the cloves’ skin
Nutrition Facts
Servings per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving: 6 ounces Flank Steak and 1 tablespoon Garlic Sauce
Preparation Time: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: About 10 minutes
Ready In: 12 minutes
Servings: 4

Photo courtesy of recipes.kaboose.com.

Check out the entire article here.

Who knew steak could be macho or undeniably feminine?

Well, um, I guess I did cuz in previous posts I’ve mentioned how the filet seems to be a girlie selection while T-bones and Porterhouses are the choice for the man who likes being a man.

But . . . perhaps it’s not the cut of meat that makes a steak macho. Perhaps it’s what you put on it. Or in it.

This recipe calls for KC Strips — a respectable cut for either of the sexes. But you gotta check out some of the ingredients. Jalapeños, garlic, beef broth.

What’s that sound Tim Allen used to make on “Home Improvement?”

Yeah, that one.

That’s the sound that comes to mind when I see this recipe. It makes me feel like a macho man — even though I assure you I am not.

Check it out.

Macho Steak
This recipe is adapted from Mmmiami – Tempting Tropical Tastes for Home Cooks Everywhere to be published by Henry Holt, Fall 1998.

• 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 cup dry white or red wine
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter, cut into 4 pieces
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 8-ounce, 1″-thick KC strip steaks
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Stir the jalapeños, garlic and cumin together in a small bowl and set aside. Set the wine, broth, tomato and a large platter nearby, too; leave the cut butter in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Pat the steaks dry with paper towels to ensure even browning; season with salt and pepper.

Put 2 steaks in the skillet and cook to the desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer the steaks to a platter and cover loosely with foil to keep them warm. Cook the remaining steaks in the same way.

Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of drippings and reduce heat to low. Add the jalapeños, garlic and cumin; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Increase heat to high, stir in the wine and bring to a boil, scraping up browned bits with a wooden spoon. Boil, stirring constantly, until liquid is reduced to 2 tablespoons.

Add the broth, return it to a boil and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, stir in tomato and simmer 1 minute. Pour in any juices that have accumulated around the steaks and simmer 1 minute more. Add the butter, 2 pieces at a time, swirling the pan until it melts.

Remove pan from heat. Stir in the cilantro, and add salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the steaks to dinner plates and spoon on the sauce. Serves 4.

You can see this recipe and others like it here.

We had a trip planned for April to visit Hawaii. I’ve never been, but my husband has. We wanted to see it together to celebrate our 10th anniversary.

Then, life happened. My youngest had a hospital stay and our lives were turned upside down.

Hawaii is again in the distant future for me. And that’s okay. My little guy needs me.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the goodness and flavors of the island while I wait to get there.

Check out this recipe from homeparents.about.com using pineapple and soy sauce. It doesn’t get much Hawaiian-er than that.

(Yeah, I know that’s not a real word.)

Plus, I just like the word “bits.” It makes it sound really cute.

1 cup ketchup

1 one standard can of pineapple bits with the juice

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

1 bell pepper, diced

1 small carrot, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except steak in a bowl or dish. Add steak. Allow to marinate overnight, then drain off the marinade and save it. Cook in a pan until the meat is done, then add the reserved marinade plus one cup water with a tablespoon of cornstarch added. Cook until the sauce is thick. Serve with rice.

For a picnic version, don’t add the veggies and serve with tooth picks. I’ve made 10 pounds for a picnic and not had one bit left to take home!

Here’s a link to the recipe. Enjoy!