Spur-Of-The-Minute Meal

Plans change. We had talked about going out for dinner tonight, but by 6:15 PM I realized that I needed to cook. Thankfully there was a flank steak in the refrigerator. And using the power of the internet, I quickly found an easy marinade recipe. Easy enough that by 7:30 PM we were sitting down to eat. And the weather just right for dining on the porch. It's been quite some time since we've been able to do that. (My husband might say that it's been quite some time since I've cooked supper.)

The marinade only takes a few minutes to prepare. I still had time to sit down and read my email and check out a couple of knitting patterns while the steak was in the refrigerator for a half hour. Then as the meat was grilling I steamed the vegetables. This is truly an easy dinner.

Grilled Flank Steak with Onions

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground

1-1/2 lb flank steak

1 large red onion, cut into 1/4-inch slices

1 teaspoon olive oil

In a shallow glass dish (or ziploc bag), mix vinegar, oil, oregano, garlic and pepper. Add steak and turn to coat. Make sure that steak is well coated with vinegar mixture. Cover dish (or seal bag) and marinate in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Heat grill. Remove steak from marinade and discard the marinade. Rub onion slices with 1 tsp. of olive oil. Grill steak, turning once, until medium rare, about 15 minutes, (or longer for desired degree of doneness.) Let steak rest for 10 minutes. 

While steak is resting, grill onions, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and tender, about 7 to 9 minutes.

Thinly slice steak across the grain. Top with grilled onions to serve.

Serves 6

It's nice to have a few quick recipes on hand for this nights like this. When it was all done and we were sitting in the cool of the evening with the candle lit, the radio turned low, enjoying our dinner, we both commented that we would not have had a better meal or a more pleasant evening anywhere.

And now we have leftovers for tomorrow night. Think it will be turned into another easy meal we've made before--Chopped Steak Salad. I KNOW we will be eating at home tomorrow night. The Gamecocks will be playing Georgia on television and dear husband will have a front row seat--right in our den.