Saturday, July 31, 2010

Homegrown...and Thrifty!

Rain put a damper on our "surf & turf", so dinner was a little improvised...and the whole dinner was not only inexpensive, but homegrown!

We kept the "turf", sirloin steaks of the Grandpa variety. If you have never experienced the wonders of homegrown, grain-fed beef, you have never lived! I have the advantage of having farmers in the family, but what you get from my grandfather is far more tender and lean than anything I could buy at the grocery. We purchased a half-side of beef (enough to stock the freezer), and the initial investment was a bit of a hit, but the cost was FAR less than what it would have cost at the grocery.

Roasted red potatoes! Mmm... This recipe was originally intended for cauliflower, but I gave it a try with potatoes, and instantly became a family hit! I picked up these potatoes at the farmers market last weekend, and not only were they inexpensive, but we were doing our part to stimulate the local economy (especially in an area that is already hard-hit for employment).

Cantaloupe! Can never go wrong with this as a side! Also purchased this at the farm market. And as a side note, this was a REALLY good melon.

All in all, our steak dinner with the trimmings cost about $2 per person!

Hmm...now to come up with dessert. I think I still have a jar of baked apples from the fruit trees in my yard. I think hot apples and ice cream (sorry, the ice cream isn't homemade) would hit the spot!

Here are the recipes I used tonight:

Dry rub put on the steak:
All-American Barbeque Rub (courtesy of Weight Watchers)
2 tablespoons mild paprika
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon chile powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Roasted red potatoes:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Dice red potatoes (eyeball the serving size) into bite-sized pieces and place in a bowl. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Add 1 clove of finely chopped fresh garlic or sprinkle (we prefer generously) with minced garlic. Empty content onto a cookie sheet. Roast in oven for 30 minutes or until potatoes are done and turning a golden brown.