Friday, August 10, 2012

We're Grillin' and Chillin'

Missy, here. It's time for a late summer cookout. And we're splurging on steaks (with apologies to our vegan/vegetarian friends!).




Actually, we're not really splurging. I got a great deal on steaks! I usually buy my meat when it's marked down.


I also buy the cheaper cuts (usually get chuck, although this wasn't), so I start out by rubbing the meat with olive oil. Then I sprinkle on Adolph's Tenderizer.  Sprinkle generously, but not too generously or it'll be too salty. Then I shake on a healthy coating of Montreal Steak seasoning. My family loves it!

I let the steaks sit for about 15-30 minutes, which lets the tenderizer work and also lets the meat come closer to room temp.


Then I bribe my husband to do the grilling. I tell him if he doesn't want his steak too done (and tough), he better do it himself! I won't even try to tell you how long to cook it. I never seem to get the timing right. I'd rather recruit help. :)


Here they are cooking on our gas grill. I love charcoal grills, but I'm too lazy to mess with them. I love the ease of cooking with gas.

Serve with fried okra and fresh corn-on-the-cob, or maybe a baked potato or baked sweet potato instead of the corn, and you're all set with a fantastic dinner!

What do you like to grill? Any favorite tips?

29 comments:

  1. I love steak on the grill. Just love it. I'm such a carnivore!

    And when we go out, I never get steak or beef because Dave makes it so much better. He can cook us an $8-9 dollar steak and we're the happiest ever and have a meal it would cost us $50 to eat out.

    So when we go out we try to get the stuff we don't have time to make at home. Fish fries... (labor intensive!) Veal Parm...(sorry, little cows!)... eggplant for me because no one in my family likes it. Silly peeps!

    Missy, Terry's adorable. Reason enough to read this blog right there!

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  2. Ruthy, you just made his day! :)

    I actually enjoy the Longhorn Flo's Filet better than anything we could ever make at home. Maybe because I buy the cheap cuts! LOL

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  3. Oh, grilling!!!

    I'm about ready to break down and buy a new gas grill. We haven't used our charcoal grill since June!

    Yes, we're still on that pesky fire ban...but I try not complain. Last Sunday one of our neighbors was landscaping and happened to strike a metal tool against a rock. One spark was all it took to burn 475 acres of the hill just north of our house (yes, the hills here are big!) (and the picture from last Sunday is on my facebook page if you want to see it).

    I love to do anything on the grill - steak, burgers, brats, veggies (especially zucchini!) - you name it.

    I love charcoal grills because of the smoke and fire - it adds flavor to the food gas can't match, even if you use those fancy wood chips.

    I love gas grills because they're so easy to use. Turn 'em on, turn 'em off. No open flame, no risk of setting the neighborhood on fire.

    Maybe I'll go shopping this afternoon...

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  4. Jan, I missed your photos on FB! I'm so sorry to hear about the fire. Very scary.

    I bought a new grill last summer. Got one that's stainless so it should last longer. We love it!

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  5. Okay, so son #1 just read the post and told me I said we weren't actually "slurging" on steaks! So I corrected my typo. LOL

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    1. haha, slurging!! It sounds... interesting! I'm terrible with typos. I never learned to type so hunting and pecking and bad eyesight gives some really good mistakes.

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  6. I want a grill but I'm scared of using them. my dad was with me last time I used a small charcoal grill - all I can say is make sure you start long before you're hungry if you're using one of those :-( I'm also a fan of steak/burgers on the grill - and I LOVE grilled onions and zucchini and squash - yep my brother grilled onions once and I was hooked(I cook mine in the skillet now LOL!)

    Susanna

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    1. We used those when I was little and there's nothing like the taste of the small charcoal grillers! YUM....

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    2. Susanna, lighting the gas grill still makes me a little nervous. Especially if it makes a loud whooshing sound! I'm always afraid it's going to blow up. :)

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  7. There's nothing like a grilled veggie burger at a barbeque party!!!! Alas (not) the weather isn't condusive to bbqing right now. Not because of the drought like Jan though. (scary story, Jan!!) But because it's raining!!!! And has been for three days!!! And will be raining for two more. Lovely, cool, steady rain. Sheer bliss!!!!!!

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    1. Oh, rain! I remember rain!

      When we moved to northern Indiana from west Texas (read from arid to humid) in 1993, I would stand on our front porch and just watch while it rained. I had missed it so much...

      We're supposed to get rain this weekend - I'd gladly miss the Perseid meteor showers for a good soaker :)

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    2. Kav, I lvoe those Morning Star chicken burgers. DELICIOUS!! (I mean, they're not chicken. vegan chicken patties. But the seasoning is so perfect!)

      And we've been plannign the Perseids for months. We have two birthdays this weekend so we always head out camping to catch the stars.

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    3. Thanks for letting me know about the meteor shower! I didn't realize another good one was coming.

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  8. OH YUM!!!!!!! I haven't ahd steaks in YEARS! My dad used to grill steaks every weekend.

    OH, man.... And my husband cooks everything to shoe leather so I try to watch the burgers. Coming from a childhood without refrigeration, he thinks it needs to be cooked to death before eating!

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  9. P.S. Hubby's totally cute! That smile! That spatula! And a snappy dresser!

    And is that up on a deck? Look at that view!!!

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    1. Yes, Virginia. Our deck is up on the second story (we have a basement). We love eating outside on the deck! And we have gorgeous woods around us. :)

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  10. Missy, we grill at least 2-3 times a week year round. Beef, pork, chicken, fish, pizza.... You name it. It's just so much easier than cleaning a pan after cooking in the house. Just grill and go.

    We have a Holland Grill where no flame gets to the meat. You don't have to monitor it constantly. Just close the lid and cook by time. Believe it or not, we've had the same grill for 19 years. We've replaced a few parts along the way, but that's all. Love it.

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    1. Oh, wow, Mindy! I've never heard of that kind of grill. Will definitely check it out. We've been lucky to get 3 or 4 years out of a grill.

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  11. Can I come for lunch I could tackle a grilled steak. Acutally a grilled Lamb chop would go down well. Ok I would settle for a properly grilled sausage. Just as long as someone else does it cos I dont tend to get timing right. (I can do sizzle steak this is thin and takes about a minute)
    Can you tell I am over getting my own meals! Oh and steak has lots of iron which someone has to eat lots off!

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    1. Jenny, it sounds like maybe you're feeling better! Getting some appetite back. :)

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  12. Oh Missy had the appetite for awhile I am just so sick of thinking of food to eat with iron in it. I am thinking of having a hotdog for lunch as have to go shopping. I am feeling way better than I did. I still tire easy. like going to see mum tires me out. by 7pm I am ready for bed but I can at least read for around 20 mins at night now. Still takes ages to read a book.
    but I know I am doing better. I know my iron levels are really low which is why I am so tired but considering where I was 6 weeks ago to today I see a huge difference. (just dont ask me what happened in July cos I think I lost it). I cant wait for warmer weather to eat more salads. its easier than winter.

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    1. I forgot I did go to McDonalds on Tuesday but what use to be a real treat wasn't really. I didn't enjoy it like I use to although the thick shake was nice. I think it all tasted so much better when we didn't have on in our town!

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    2. Well, I hope you keep doing better. Be sure to try greens! They're high in iron--especially kale. :) I have a recipe on here for kale chips. YUM!

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    3. Kale is like spinach right? I dont like them sorry Im fuzzy. but am eating lots of dried appricots they are high in iron as are currents.
      a steak would really go down well now (be it a small one). The suns out so hope to do some reading outside if its warm enough (i see sun I think its warm, I go out and know its cold)

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    4. Yes, Jenny. It's similar.

      I hope you get a little warm sunshine! I really dread winter.

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  13. We had grilled steaks for dinner tonight. I didn't burn them for a change. Hubby was working late or he would have manned the grill. I turned on the left and right burner but not the middle and put the steaks in the middle.
    I miss cooking on a charcoal grill, they just take too long.

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  14. Donna, sounds good! Do you do anything in particular to season them?

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  15. Isn't it nice when our good lookin' guys take on the cooking chores?

    I love a relatively rare steak and my hubby does a fabulous job of barbecuing mine exactly right -- grill on one side until the juices just begin to release on the surface, then flip it over and repeat. Yum!

    We like to barbecue corn-on-the-cob, too. We leave the husks on except for any loose pieces, cut the tip off to remove the silk, and then pop them right onto the grill. (Ours is a gas barbecue.) We turn the cobs frequently until the husks are beginning to char... about 15 minutes... then peel the husks away and enjoy THE best tasting corn... not watery as it is when boiled.

    Now you've got my taste buds going!!

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  16. Carol, I love grilled corn, too! I've done the same thing before--right in the husks. :)

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