Cast Iron Skillet Seared Rib-Eye

 

Many people have trouble when preparing a steak. Usually the problem lies with their cooking technique more than anything else.

While many people grill this time of year, you can make a delicious, mouth-watering one by searing on the stove top in a cast iron skillet.

First, let your cut of beef (this one being a rib-eye) set at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to cooking. The only two items I season with are kosher salt and cracked black pepper! Sounds crazy, but it's awesome!!

In the meantime , preheat the skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil or butter. The biggest error you can make is not heating the skillet high enough. How can you tell when its ready? The oil or butter will start to sizzle. Medium-high at first until the steak is placed then medium from there.

DO NOT turn or pierce the meat!! Do not press down on the meat. It drains it of the scrumptious juices! Allow it cook at least 7-8 minutes before turning. You'll know it's ready to be turned if it looks caramelized. Peek under and turn if it is. You only turn it  ONCE!

Beautiful!! Now, the second biggest error ... over cooking or under cooking.... this depends on whether you want well-done or medium or rare steak.  A tip I learned years ago involves our best cooking tool ...our hand! 

Hold up your hand. If you prefer your steak on the rare side, it should feel like area directly beside your thumb.

Taking your index finger and moving it along to the center of your palm will gradually allow you to feel it getting firmer and firmer. The center of your palm would indicate what a well done steak feels like. Test it out. It's never failed for me! Now, take your tongs to use as your guide while the meat continues to cook until you feel where you want it to be.

 

Take the steak out of skillet ands allow it to sit approximately 5 minutes before slicing. The juices should be pooling at the top!

I prefer mine to be medium. Don't confuse the juices for being rare!!! It's not!!  Slice into sections (if you are sharing)

Yummy! Perfect!!!!  Now all you need are veggies and a glass of wine or a cold beer!

By way of review: 1.) Have the steak sit at room temperature 30 minutes prior to searing. 2.) Preheat the  skillet. 3.) Do not pierce or press the meat while cooking. 4.)Do not turn prematurely. It should only be turned ONCE! 5.) Allow the steak to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

 

This is an easy, simple way to prepare a great steak. You can use other seasonings or top it with steak sauce. Make it your own, but these are the basics! Let me know how it turns out for you!

 

Summer In Maine

I haven't been blogging very much this summer for one simple reason, who wants to take pictures of food and sit at a computer to write about it while you can be at the beach??? 

Summer has finally arrived in Maine after one of the longest, hardest winters on record!  Don't get me wrong, Mainers love their winters, but we are just as passionate about summer.  What is more, summer in Maine is a much shorter season than winter! 

Since my last post, we've been blessed with many visitors from far and away.  Our son, Sam, serves in Nicaragua as a minister approximately 9 months out of the year.  While there, he's met some wonderful friends that came to visit Maine in July.  Jefte, is a Nicaraguan native.  Zach is from Australia.  Sweet young men who make their parents proud.

Needless to say, when foreigners visit Maine, they want to try a LOBSTAH!!  We decided to make a traditional lobster dinner which there is no need to write details over how to do it.  It's easy, one huge pot of boiling water, salt, lobster, and fresh corn on the cob!!  Throw it all together and boil for 8-10 minutes and it's done!!  Serve with melted butter along with salt and pepper.  Seriously, if you can boil water, you can do this!!

The part I always enjoy is watching everyone try to eat it for the first time!! Juices fly, shells are cracked and a huge mess incurs!  For me, it's too much work for too little meat!! I refuse to work that hard for food!!  

We also frequented our favorite ice cream shop, Fielder's Choice, several times before the guys packed up to leave. Homemade treats for all!  If you are ever in central Maine, Fielder's has two locations:  Route 202 in Manchester and Route 126 in Sabattus.  Worth every single, licking calorie!!

The visitors departure was bittersweet for us. We met some great new friends, but Sam departed with them and will return to us in April 2015!!  I think Jefte and Zach may return some day as well.

Finally, I have been trying to hit the beach as often as possible.  My goal is to grab a grandchild or two on my day off and enjoy the waves.  Scarborough Beach is my happy place ! I spent many summer days there in my youth and am thrilled to be able to experience it all over with my children and grandchildren.  I think Dave and Jaylin share my sentiment!!

I hope everyone is taking advantage of the awesome weather and spending time with family and friends. I'm thankful and appreciative that I live in such a gorgeous area of the country.  It certainly lives up to the slogan,  'The Way Life Should Be' !