Making a Steak Dinner

This Instructable has been designed to guide anyone through a “complete cooking experience” of making a balanced and delicious steak dinner. This includes pre cooking prep work, acquiring ingredients and cooking utensils, eating, and final cleaning tasks. Enjoy this dinner by yourself or serve it up for some people!

Created by: Monique Alexander, Ahmad Abu-Rashed, Farah Mirie, Louis Francis, Ayah Elhady, and Joseph Jacob Veillon

Sources

Images:

• Author generated

Recipes:

• Steak- 

Natasha Kravchuk. (2020, April 14). Pan Seared Steak + Steak Meal Prep Ideas. Natasha’sKitchen. https://natashaskitchen.com/pan-seared-steak/

• Pomegranate Mojito-

[bevsbybeverly]. (2022, January 16). Non-Alcoholic Pomegranate Mojito   #dryjanuary2022 #mocktails #nonalchoholic #beverages #mojitos #pomegranatejuice #noalcohol #mocktailrecipe #drinkrecipes #nonalcoholcocktail [Video]. Tiktok. vm.tiktok.com/TTPdBcwSUW

• Asparagus- 

Adrian Morris. [Morris Time Cooking]. (2020, July 11). STOP BOILING YOUR ASPARAGUS | DO THIS INSTEAD FOR BEST JUICY RESULTS | HOW TO COOK ASPARAGUS [Video]. Youtube. youtu.be/ps6YfiQh02U

• Mashed Potatoes-

Louis Francis (author) family recipe

• General Items
• Salt
• Pepper
• Butter
• Milk
• Olive oil
• Parsley

• Main Ingredients
• Steak
• Potatoes
• Asparagus

• Drink Components
• Lime juice
• Mint leaves
• Pomegranate juice
• Simple Syrup
• Sparkling water

• Kitchenware and Random Accessories
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Pots and pans
• Tongs
• Spatula
• Hand mixer
• Vegetable peeler
• Colander
• Brush
• Cups and plates
• Silverware and knives
• Muddler
• Liquid cleaning products
• Clean towels and rags

• Clean any dishes in the kitchen and serving area that may have accumulated from previous cooking sessions that didn’t fully finish a “complete cooking experience”
• Details on cleaning dishes can be found in the final section “Clean up”
• Remove any items that don’t belong in the kitchen or serving area
• Spray all surfaces that will be used for prep work, cooking, and serving with warm soapy water
• Cleaning rags can be sprayed directly to avoid getting cleaning product on other surfaces, animals, or plants
• Wipe prep work, cooking, and service surfaces with the cleaning rag until they are free from debris and foreign objects and liquids
• Dry these now clean surfaces with a fresh towel
• Place used rags and towels in the laundry

• Go to the grocery store
• Look for needed items
• Check and compare cost per ounce to find the best deals on items
• Buy selected items

• Gather ingredients
• Potatoes, salt, pepper, butter, and milk
• Peel potatoes
• Cut into ¾ inch slices
• Put potato slices into a pot then add enough water to cover potatoes
• Add ¾ teaspoon of salt to the pot 
• Heat using high temperature
• After this step, the “Make the Steak” section can be started and worked on while the potatoes cook
• Reduce heat to medium temperature when the water starts to boil
• Cook for about 15 minutes 
• Remove the pot from stove once the potatoes are soft and can easily be broken with a fork
• Drain water from the pot using a colander 
• Place potatoes back in the pot and mash potatoes with a hand mixer
• Use a different utensil if hand mixer is unavailable
• Add salt and pepper to taste, ¼ stick butter, and a half cup of milk to the pot
• Continue to mix until the consistency is smooth and creamy 
• Garnish with Parsley
• Turn heat to low to keep the food heated for serving

• Gather ingredients
• Steak, salt, pepper, olive oil, butter
• Allow steak to sit at room temperature for 20 min prior to prepping
• Cut steak horizontally to 1 inch thickness
• Slightly thicker or thinner steaks are ok too
• Brush steak with melted butter
• Add salt and pepper on steak to taste
• Heat pan to medium-high heat
• Add just enough oil to pan until it is completely covered
• Add steak to pan and allow to cook for 6-7 minutes on each side
• Steak may need to cook for more or less time depending on thickness and preference
• Steak that is very red in the center may not be cooked enough!
• Move pan to a different burner on low heat
• This is to keep food heated for serving
• Garnish with parsley

• Gather ingredients
• Asparagus, olive oil, salt, pepper
• Cut and discard the unwanted part of the asparagus
• The bottom white part of the asparagus is hard to chew
• Clean the asparagus with water
• Dry the asparagus thoroughly with a clean towel
• Heat pan to medium temperature with a teaspoon of olive oil
• Place asparagus into pan
• Drizzle olive oil onto asparagus
• Season with a half teaspoon of sea salt and pepper
• More or less seasoning can be used depending on preference
• Cook for about 3 minutes, tossing the asparagus periodically
• You are waiting for the asparagus to start to darken to a golden brown color
• Cover the pan with lid and to steam them for about 1 minute after they start to darken
• Move cooking pan to another burner on low heat to keep the food heated for serving

• Gather ingredients
• Lime juice, mint leaves, pomegranate juice, simple syrup, ice, sparkling water
• Begin by adding 0.5oz of lime juice to a glass
• Add mint leaves
• More or less can be used, depending on preference
• Gently press with a muddler
• Use a different utensil if a muddler is unavailable
• Add 3oz of pomegranate juice
• Add 0.5oz of simple syrup
• Add ice
• Stir contents
• Top off with sparkling water

• Plate food with cooked items
• Portion items so that there is slightly more veggies than starch (potatoes), and meat (steak)
• The ratio found in the included picture is a good representation of a balanced and healthy dinner serving
• Serve one drink per person

• Eat the delicious meal you’ve prepared!
• Enjoy the time to yourself, with others, watching the tv, or reading something. You’ve earned it!

• Wrap unfinished plates tightly with plastic wrap
• Unfinished food can be discard if it won’t be eaten
• Gather enough containers to store extra food
• Empty leftover food into the containers
• Seal containers
• Put the leftovers in the fridge
• Let hot food cool for at least an hour. Hot items placed in the fridge can spoil other food.

• Take all dirty dishes and utensils to the sink
• Soak any stuck food with hot water and soap
• Spray preparation and cooking areas with kitchen cleaning product
• Wipe sprayed areas thoroughly
• Clean dishes using hot water, soap, and a sponge
• Rinse soap off dishes with hot water
• Shake excess water into the sink and dry with a towel
• Place cleaned and dried pots, pans, dishes, and utensils back into their designated spots
• Squeeze cleaning sponge over sink to remove excess water and let dry
• Wipe and disinfect all cooking, serving, and cleaning surfaces with a clean rag
• Details on how to accomplish this can be found in the “Prepare the Kitchen and Dining Area” section
• Place drying and cleaning towels and rags into laundry