The Perfect Dinner For Two

Al and I had the most perfect dinner tonight :) It's something fun and delicious, and something that you and your boyfriend or girlfriend can make together. Al grilled the steaks on our trusty charcoal grill while I made the potatoes and vegetables. He drank Yuengling (which also happens to be my favorite beer, especially with something as hearty and full-flavored as steak) and I drank 2011 Steeple Jack Moscato wine-a fruity but smooth wine, not too sweet, but not as olive-tasting and tart as a lot of white wines. So here it is, the perfect date night dinner on the porch as the sun goes down: Rib-Eye Steaks (or any quality steak, really), Herbed Baked Potatoes, and Snow Peas with Red Peppers.

To make the potatoes:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1/2 TBSP paprika, 1/2 TBSP rosemary, and 1/2 TBSP thyme. Take your first potato and coat it with the oil-herb mixture. Wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and place in a baking dish or on a small pan. Do the same with your second potato. Bake for about 1 hour, or until fork-tender (soft to the touch, but still a bit firm).


To make the steak:

Steaks are always best done on a grill, and they're something everyone should know how to cook well. Fire up your charcoal grill. Once it reaches about 250 degrees, rub the steaks with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place them on the grill and cook for about 30 minutes, flipping occasionally. You should always check steaks to make sure they're done, with rare steaks reaching a temperature of 125, as grill temps vary according to what kind of grill you have and the type of steak you're cooking.

If you don't have a grill, just rub down the steaks with the oil, salt, and pepper and take out your cast-iron frying pan. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Pour 1 TBSP of olive oil in the pan and heat the pan until the oil shimmers. Cook the steaks for about 3 minutes on each side, until the outside is nice and brown. After browning, place the pan in the oven for about seven minutes, then check the temperature. Remember: for rare, you want 125; for medium rare, you want 135; for medium, you want about 145; and for well done, your steak should be at least 160. The best steaks I've had have been medium rare, but it's all about personal preference.

To make the vegetables:

Pour 1 TBSP of oil into a wok or saute pan. Heat on medium heat. Add 1 cup of snow peas and 1 sliced red pepper. Sprinkle 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and 1 TBSP sesame seeds on top. Saute vegetables until soft enough to eat, about 5 minutes.

And since it's summer time, instead of making a dessert, you can make a quick ice cream run to the local parlor or enjoy an ice-cream cone at home on the hammock. Happy date night and happy summer!