Balsamic Glazed Skirt Steak

I'll say it now and I'll say it forever... TGIF!  I've only got to work until 8:30 tonight and I've got the weekend off, so all is well in the world!  It's definitely been one of those, "I need a drink" kind of weeks.  So that is why this week's poll is a mixed drink one!  Especially after gorging myself on desserts from yesterday's Dessert's First, I need a break from the sweets!  And don't worry, for those of you who don't drink alcohol, I'll be making a "virgin" version of whatever wins, as well!  So it's win-win for us all!

And now to this steak.  Seriously, best. steak. ever.  I'm not even joking.  I mean, look at it... don't you carnivores out there just want to reach through your screen and have a bite?  Simple steak and vegetables are all a girl needs to get her through the week.  Well, this week, anyway. =)

Ingredients:
Adapted from Blissfully Delicious's recipe

1 lb. skirt steak (I love it because it's cheap and a little goes a long way!)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 & 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 shallot, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sake

To make marinade, melt butter in a medium saucepan under medium high heat.  Add shallots and garlic and saute until they soften, about 3 to 5 minutes or so.  

Add balsamic vinegar to saucepan and bring to a slow boil.  When at a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and let reduce for about 15 minutes.  The sauce will be slightly thickened.  Add sugar, chicken stock, soy sauce, and sake.  Bring to another boil.

Let mixture cool to room temperature and reserve a 1/4 cup of the liquid for finished steak.

Place skirt steak into large glass baking dish and cover with remaining marinade liquid.  Cover dish with plastic wrap and let marinate in the fridge for about 2 hours.  Also place the reserved marinade in the fridge while the meat is marinating.

Prior to cooking steak, drain marinade and pat steak dry.  Cut skirt steak into desired size.

Heat large skillet under medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  When oil is shimmering, add 2 steaks at a time and cook to your liking (I had a nice medium rare, at about 4-5 minutes per side).  Let steaks rest on cutting board for about 5-7 minutes before slicing against the grain.  While the steak is resting, you can heat up the reserved marinade.  Just bring to a simmer until mixture is heated through.

Serve with a bed of fresh vegetables (we had some zucchini and carrots that really made the dish quite colorful!) and top with reserved marinade (that you didn't marinate the meat in).

 Seriously.  Best. Dinner. In. A. While.  This made me mouth rejoice because it was just perfect and simple.  The balsamic really let the meat flavor shine and added the perfect touch.  I'm drooling as I'm typing this because I want it again!  Good thing I have the other half of that skirt steak still in the freezer!  Don't forget to vote in the poll below!!  Have a great weekend guys!

Can you tell I might want a Toddy??

Grilled Salmon w/ Black Beans

Oh mother nature. I've been a really big mother nature rant lately, but it's just been such bizarre weather. Take for instance today. It rained bloody murder all morning. For once, I was glad to be inside and at work. (Raining cats and dogs = less customers wanting to come in = less stress for me) But now, as I'm about to head out to my volleyball game, it's sunshine and roses. Which is a good thing because our volleyball league plays, regardless of the weather, unless it's a threat to our lives. Meaning it was must be the Great Flood, or Zeus striking us dead with lightning, for our games to stop. So I guess in this case, I'm grateful for the sunshine... but c'mon already, make up your mind mother nature!


Ingredients:
Adapted from Bon Appetit's May 2010 Issue: Grilled Salmon w/ Black Beans & Piment D'Espelette Mayonnaise

1/3 cup olive oil
5 garlic cloves, 2 pressed, 3 minced
freshly grated lime peel
1 tablespoon dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste
2 7 oz. salmon fillets, skin on
1 onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
1 roma tomato, chopped
1 jalapeno chile, chopped
2 15 oz. cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon cumin
small handful cilantro, chopped

Whisk the olive oil, pressed garlic, lime peel, thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small baking dish. Place the salmon, skin-side down, in the dish. Brush the marinade over the top and sides of fish. Let chill in fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, tomatoes, jalapenos, and minced garlic. Cook until vegetables are starting to soften, about 5 minutes.

Stir in black beans and cumin. Reduce heat and cook for about 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in cilantro and set aside.

Spray grill with nonstick spray and heat to medium high. Arrange the salmon on the grill, skin side up and spray skin with nonstick spray. Grill salmon for about 4-5 minutes. Carefully flip over and grill for about 3 more minutes, or until opaque all the way through.

Serve fish with black beans and dig on in!

This was pretty delicious. Aside from the small mishap of my charcoal grill going crazy. You wanna watch the salmon closely. Since you marinated it in olive oil, it's kinda really flammable if you're grill is sensitive... like mine was. It pretty much charred my skin (and that's my favorite part!), but the salmon itself was nice and smokey and delicious. Enjoy!

Simple Seabass w/ Grape Tomato "Salsa"

Ok, so the NCAA Championship game is tonight. Butler vs. Duke. This is somewhat of a double-edged sword here. #1. I hate Duke. I think they're like the Yankees of baseball. Yeah, they're good, but who wants to watch the same team win and win and win? Unless you're a Duke or a Yankees fan, I don't think anyone enjoys the same old monotony. And Butler... yeah, Cinderella schminderella. I'm tired of hearing about them. And trust me, living in Nothern Kentucky, bordering Southern Indiana, and working with many Butler grads... I have to hear about it. And it makes me want to vomit. So, yeah, I want them to lose... but I don't want Duke to win... so it looks like I'm just s.o.l. there. My bet is on Duke mauling right over the little bulldogs though... we'll see.


Ingredients:
Adapted from Food & Wine's March 2010 issue - "Sea Bass w/ Tomato & Black Olive Salsa"

2 5 oz. Chilean sea bass fillets
juice from 1 lemon, with 1 tablespoon reserved
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and fresh black pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1 tablespoon basil puree (it comes in a tube and it keeps longer than fresh basil, with the same taste)
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
1 cubanelle pepper, seeded and diced

In a shallow dish, rub the sea bass with lemon juice and 1 tablespoon, each, of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and let sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes. This will really allow the simple flavors of the lemon to enter the fish and make it truly fantastic.

Heat a large skillet under medium high heat.

In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onions, basil, dill, and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and mix well. Add remaining tablespoon of lemon juice and give it a quick toss. Add mixture to hot skillet and saute until onions and tomatoes start to soften, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Wipe down skillet and return to heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat until shimmering.

With a paper towel, pat dry the fillets and add to skillet, skin side down. Cook under medium high to high heat until skin is browned, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook until fish is white throughout, about another 4 minutes.

Transfer the fish to plates and immediately top with tomato mixture and a nice piece of crunchy bread.

This was absolutely delicious. The simple flavors of the tomatoes pair so well with the buttery taste of the sea bass. The fish had so much natural flavor that excessive seasoning was not necessarily. The lemon, salt, and pepper was enough to allow it to shine and the crispy texture of the skin was just phenomenal. Definitely a must try! Enjoy!