BLT Steak

I sort of posted this recipe last year.  I had made it for a friend's birthday dinner and included it, among other things, in one of my very first posts, but the pictures were awful.  I'm a visual person, so thought I'd try to get some better ones this time around.  For whatever reason, tomatoes, meat, and bacon are a tough thing to photograph for me, but I think they turned out better than the dungeon-like photos in the first post.  And this meal is too good to pass up just because bad pictures aren't sellin' it.

I've had this recipe forever.  I have no idea where it originally came from, but I've been making it for years.  It isn't really even a recipe, just a combo you can throw together for somethin' different on steak night.  You could even slice up the meat and make it a big salad, rather than making the sides to go with it.  Although, it's kinda hard to pass up an excuse to eat garlic mashed potatoes smothered in a balsamic reduction.  For me anyway.

Here's what you need:

Steak
Tomatoes
Bacon
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Mixed Greens

Here's what you do:

Season the steaks the way you like 'em.  I always use McCormick's Steak Seasoning and garlic powder.

Grill 'em up, or cook them however you normally would.

Meanwhile, fry up enough bacon for however many people you're serving.  I like two pieces per person.  I prefer to par cook it ahead of time, that way when the steaks go on the grill, I know the rest of the dish is only a few minutes out.

Reserve a tablespoon or two of the bacon grease and dump in 1/2 cup of balsamic vinaigrette per two servings.  Let it thicken up just a bit.  It goes fast, so if it's too thick, just pull it off the heat and add a bit more to thin it out.

To serve, pile up some mixed greens on your plate.  I added some arugula this time 'cause I had it.  Set your steak on top and pile on sliced tomatoes and bacon.  If I have it, I use fresh basil leaves too.  I picked some purple from the garden this time around.  I've also added avocado before, as well.  Once you've got everything on the plate, drizzle that yummy balsamic goodness all over everything and dig in.

We had ours with garlic mashed potatoes and naan bread.

Here's dinner on my plate:

Even The Dad thought we should try it as a salad next time around.  

And suggested the addition of blue cheese.

Who am I to argue with adding cheese?!

The little peanut was wishin' she had some more teeth to tear into mom's steak too.

Is anyone watching the show NY MED?

Tuesday and Wenesday nights at 10:00 on ABC in my neck of the woods.

Every episode makes you thankful.