The fridge is pretty bare today, but I want to avoid a grocery run since tomorrow is Farmers' Market Day when I stock up for the week.
During my morning kitchen check-in, I found steak and peas in the freezer and some fruit and lettuce in the fridge. The dinner plan is simple: thaw the steak and peas, make a mixed green salad for the first course, and serve fruit salad for dessert and a piece of chocolate—also, a nice Barolo sounds divine. I'll decide how to cook the steak and peas later.
Tonight, there's time to make a special sauce for the steak. Taking inventory of what's on hand, I find shallots, garlic, beef stock, and Marsala wine. Here is a simple sauce you can whip up in minutes:
Sauté shallots in a pat or two of butter until they soften. Add a clove of minced garlic and cook for a minute. Pour in some Marsala wine and let it simmer for about two or three minutes, then add the stock and let the sauce reduce by about half until it thickens. You can also experiment and use onion instead of shallots, swap dry white or red wine for the Marsala, skip the stock or cream, or add some fresh herbs, like tarragon, parley, or chives. Play around with this basic way to make a quick sauce, and surely, you'll discover something delicious.
For the peas, I use my go-to recipe because even picky eaters love it. Mince an onion and sauté it in a bit of butter until the onion is softened. Add the peas and cook until you desire doneness. I often add another pat of butter, Celtic salt, and freshly ground pepper and cook until slightly caramelized for a richer flavor.
You could easily modify this menu to accommodate your schedule on a busy weeknight. Pan-sear the steak and skip the sauce -it's divine with just Celtic or sea salt and pepper or top it with a pat of butter and some fresh parsley or tarragon.
To save more time, skip chopping the onions and fruit. Just warm the peas in a pan and serve fresh fruit like cherries, apples, or clementines for dessert. And why not add a small piece of good dark chocolate?
To make a meal like this, all you need to do is have some steak and peas in your freezer and remember to take them out to thaw. With good ingredients on hand, you can easily prepare delicious dinners. One fun addition to keep on hand is orange or rose water. You can learn more about them here.
You’ll find many more tips on how to shop and stock your kitchen in my other blogs and Dinner Stories. I also dedicate an entire chapter to this topic in my upcoming book, set to be published in the fall of 2024. If you ever have any questions, please write to me.
