Is that not a gorgeous cut of beef?

Oh, the colors! The marbling! The thickness!

But all steaks are not created equal. Just because a steak is a steak does not mean it’s a GREAT steak.

Our friend-in-beef Greg Henry over at SippitySup.com gives us a nice, solid primer on what makes a tasty steak — and what does not.

Oh, and that photo you see here? It’s his. I’m jealous because that means he probably got to eat it after he took the picture.

And since he loves us so much, he gives us his recipe for Pan-Seared Ribeye with Glazed Shallots.

My mouth is watering.

Just go here to check it all out!

Photo courtesy of SippitySup.com.

Cold weather brings out the snugglebunny in me. And a must is warm food to take the chill off.

Isn’t this steak sandwich/tomato soup combo to die for?

Winter weather means lots of homemade meals and sharing good food with people you love.

Oh, and it means lots and lots of leftovers. This sandwich makes great use of your steaky leftovers — and creates a whole new meal!

Grilled Steak Sandwich

2 tsps vegetable oil

1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin

salt to taste (optional)

2 slices bread, buttered on one side (I like the sourdough)

1-2 slices cheese (I like the Swiss)

leftover steak, sliced thin

In a medium sauté pan, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until translucent and golden (about 5-10 minutes depending on the heat and how impatient you are). Add a little salt if desired. Remove from heat and set aside. You can either use the same pan (cleared of onions) or another flat-bottomed pan and place a slice of bread, buttered-side down on medium heat. Layer the cheese evenly on the non-buttered side of the bread. Then layer the steak over the cheese. Top with onions and set the second slice of bread non-buttered side down on the sandwich. The cheese will begin to melt in a few minutes. Watch that the base bread doesn’t burn during the cheese-melting phase. When the bread is crisp and golden, flip the sandwich to brown the other side and then serve. Makes one great sandwich.

Photo and recipe courtesy of UseRealButter.com.

This one is filed under “Eerie Entrees” over at MyRecipes.com. But, really, there’s nothing scary about this scrumptious grilled steak on a homemade pizza — except for the fact that if you cook this for your Halloween dinner and little ghosts and goblins come to your door and smell it, they will never leave your house.

Now THAT’S scary.

Grilled Pizza With Steak, Pear and Arugula

Prep: 10 min., Grill: 30 min., Stand: 10 min.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

Vegetable cooking spray

1/2  pound  flank steak

Salt and pepper

1  tablespoon  olive oil

1 1/2  teaspoons  white balsamic vinegar

1  (12-inch) prebaked pizza crust

1  red Bartlett pear, peeled and sliced

1 1/2  cups  fresh arugula, divided

1/4  cup  crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Freshly cracked pepper

Preparation

1. Coat cold cooking grate of grill with cooking spray, and place on grill. Preheat grill to 350° (medium heat).

2. Season flank steak with salt and pepper.

3. Grill steak, covered with grill lid, at 350° (medium heat) 8 to 10 minutes on each side or to desired degree of doneness. Cover and let stand 10 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, whisk together oil and vinegar in a small bowl.

5. Cut steak diagonally across grain into thin strips. Cut strips into bite-size pieces (about 1 cup).

6. Place pizza crust directly on hot cooking grate. Brush top of crust with oil mixture; layer with pear slices, 1 cup arugula, cheese, and beef strips.

7. Grill, covered with grill lid, 4 minutes. Rotate pizza one-quarter turn; grill, covered with grill lid, 5 to 6 more minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove pizza from grill, and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup arugula and freshly cracked pepper.

Note: For testing purposes only, we used 1/2 (16-oz.) package Mama Mary’s Thin & Crispy Pizza Crusts.

Oven-Baked Pizza With Steak, Pear, and Arugula: Assemble pizza as directed, and bake according to package directions for pizza crust.

Southern Living, OCTOBER 2007

Photo and recipe courtesy of MyRecipes.com.