You Can't Please All Of The People All Of The Time....

May 24, 2013

You Can't Please All Of The People All Of The Time....

Cook's Country Grilled Steak Tips
with Red Potato Skewers

Or at least, so I have heard. I looked up who said this phrase (gotta give credit where credit is due) and apparently, it was Lincoln(ish). He has been misquoted all this time. So, probably he's not even pleased. Which furthers my argument and title...Or maybe he just doesn't even care. If he was going to care about being misrepresented, I would think it was when some people made a movie about him being a vampire hunter...but, I digress.

I made out my meal plan for the week and thank goodness there were some yummy 30 minute meals in Cooks Country because, I just don't have the energy to make 4 hour meals some days. Most days. I noticed that I had an inordinate amount of chicken recipes and that's when I came across "Grilled Steak Tips with Red Potato Skewers". And it was a 30 minute meal....sold.

Note the Rain at a Slight
Angle...this was with no wind.

I should probably check the weather before I pick a lot of food that has to be grilled outside. I normally wouldn't mind a little rain because we have a covered area where I can cook. However, when you add the element of strong gusts of wind to the downpour...that screened in patio area doesn't really cut it. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have a plan B for this day. But thank God, I had a ponytail holder to pull the frizzy, dreadlocked, wet, afro back into something that could pass for normal hair. Enter the exhibit 1 of someone not being pleased. And unfortunately, its the cook.

Wonky Potatoes

Also, I'm not sure who though skewering red potatoes would be in any way easy or a good idea...or that it would only take a few minutes...but they should be drawn and quartered. It took me 15 minutes just to get the potatoes on the skewers and lived in fear of stabbing myself the entire time. Not to mention, wherever I wanted the skewer to end up out the other end...it most certainly did not. Exhibit 2.

Just a couple of other things to be on the lookout for while making this dish...1) when you heat the olive oil in the microwave for 2 minutes and then add the rosemary after, just know that the oil is very hot and it sort of fries the rosemary, which can pop hot oil on you and everything within a 3 mile radius. Maybe let it cool a minute before adding the rosemary. 2) The infused olive oil will drip on the grates on the grill...which will probably make the fire flare up. This wouldn't be a big deal if the skewers weren't made of wood which will more than likely catch fire. However, it did give the meal a nice smokey flavor. And finally 3) When it says to salt the potatoes 'liberally'....try to show a little restraint. Or at least more than I did. For the love of God, Cooks Country...give a girl some parameters. Exhibits 3-5

My husband was quick to say something about the salt. (I'm rolling my eyes and shaking my head as I type this and Exhibit 6) I don't know how he possible say anything negative about this dinner to a drenched woman with slicked back ratted frizzy hair and several burns on her hands and arms that has the destinct smell of a campfire. He's brave, I'll give him that. To his credit, his only critique was the salt factor. That could be because of the dagger eyes I threw at him at the first critique...but I doubt it. He did ask how I got the steak so tender...it was absolutely fantastic. And Ryan didn't prefer the cut of steak (the kid is crazy and Exhibit 7). So, he and Mark traded steak for potatoes...quitely and without drawing any attention to the crazy wet lady.

All in all, this was a great meal. There are a couple of tweaks to be made, but I would definitely do it again....after checking the weather.