What's for Dinner?

It's been a while since I posted a foodie blog. I have a ton of pictures of dinners I've been making that I keep meaning to share on here, but life has been busy - as I'm sure you can all relate to - and cataloging recipes has been at the bottom of my to-do list.

Once upon a time I used to love taking my time in the kitchen and getting lost in cooking while I sipped leisurely on a glass of wine and listened to Edith Piaf on my iTunes. Then I had kids. Gone were the days of making Beef Bourignon for three hours or savoring a glass of wine while waltzing around the kitchen to French music. These days I'm lucky if my kids don't barge into the kitchen, run through the galley, or throw a projectile from the playroom at me while I'm trying to get dinner together. I listen to old school rock or alternative licks because the beat keeps me up-tempo while I throw my thirty minute delicacy together.

So I went back through my pics and figured I would start with a recipe that is super easy and delicious, surprisingly quick (don't let the list of ingredients fool you!), and totally filling:

Carne Asada with Beans, Rice and Greens

Marinade & Steak:

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup lime juice

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

3 cloves garlic minced (or 1 big tbsp. of jarred minced garlic)

1 tbsp. cumin

1 tbsp. chile powder

1 tbsp. Goya Recaito (culantro cooking base) - in the international food aisle

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp cracked pepper

2 lbs flank or sirloin steak (pounded to 1/4 in thickness)

Place steak in a shallow rimmed dish. Combine liquids together and then add all dry herbs and recaito. Whisk together and pour over steak. Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate. Marinate at least 6 hours, preferably overnight, turning once halfway through marinating.

When ready to cook, lightly oil outside grill and heat to medium-high. Cook steak for about 5 minutes on each side for medium rare. 

Black Beans:

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup pico de gallo

1 tbsp. hot sauce (I prefer Cholula or Franks)

Salt to taste

Combine all ingredients in a medium pot and bring to a simmer on the stove over medium heat. 

Plate:

1 cup cooked white rice (I prefer Basmati)

1 bag mixed green salad of choice 

1 cup guacamole

1 cup pico de gallo

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 lime, wedged

Carne Asada 

Black Beans

Chop up steak into bite size pieces and portion the carne asada, black beans, rice, salad, guacamole and pico de gallo on plate or bowl. Garnish with cilantro and lime (lots of lime!). Eat each section separately, or mix it all together for pure, unadulterated, heavenly deliciousness!

Serves 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 small children :)

Bon apetit!