How to Prepare a Steak Dinner

1. Forget everything you’ve ever learned about healthy eating (temporarily) before proceeding. Otherwise, you’re just wasting your time.

2. Buy a couple of lovely red steaks (I chose sirloin), organic, if possible (OK, maybe don’t forget everything you’ve ever learned about healthy eating). Rub them down with Montreal steak spice.
3. Come up with some kind of a potato side—you need to have potatoes with steak. Almost anything will do: French fries, roasted wedges, or good old-fashioned baked potatoes with sour cream and butter. I did twice-baked potatoes from here: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Twice-Baked-Potato-Cups-with-Caramelized-Shallots-107319
4. Come up with some kind of vegetable side. Yes, vegetables are necessary, but preferably covered in butter and/or cheese. Green beans and peas are both good options. I did roasted asparagus, tossed with garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then covered in Parmesan.5. Decide on a cooking method: an outdoor grill is always preferable for steak, but if you’re like me and you don’t have one, a cast-iron skillet is the next best thing. Drizzle some vegetable oil in there and get it really hot—just shy of smoking. Then, your steaks go on there for about three to four minutes per side for ¾”-thick steaks for medium doneness. They will smoke—just turn on the fan, open the window, and let it do its thing.

6. Serve up each steak with a generous helping of vegetables and potatoes. Don’t be shy—your diners will thank you for it.
7. Pour glasses of a nice Cabernet Sauvignon, and dig in!

8. If the high fat, carbohydrate, and red meat content of the meal cause feelings of guilt, please refer to rule #1.