What's for Dinner?: Marinated Steak Tips and Tomato Salad

Congratulations to the 2011 Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Champions!!  What a game!!!  What better way to celebrate the Championship than no other, STEAK! That’s what’s for dinner!  

I really like to prepare the night before or the day before, especially for steak tips. Marinated Steak Tips is one of my son’s favorites. Grilled veggie kabob’s, rice pilav,tomato salad and corn on the cob.  I have had this marinade since I moved into my house in 1992.  

A neighbor, who has since moved, had given me this recipe and was a huge hit at her backyard BBQ. Thank you, Jan.  Every time I make these tips for a crowd, someone usually goes home with the recipe.

Steak Marinade:  (Makes 3 cups for 2lbs or more of meat)

• 1 Cup Soy Sauce, 
• 1 Cup Ketchup, 
• ½ Cup sugar, 
• 2Tbsp Hoisin Sauce, 
• 1 Tbsp Sherry (can be omitted if you don’t have it), 
• 1 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar, 
• 4 Cloves garlic chopped, 
• 1 Slice fresh ginger chopped,(if you don’t have fresh ginger, substitute dry ginger about 1 tsp),  
• Ground Black Pepper. 

Stir ingredients together, pour over meat in a Large Gallon Size Freezer Bag or any airtight container.  Place in the refrigerator and marinate for 24-36 hours. I usually do it overnight.  Grill as usual.

Tip for Grilling:  Before you turn your grill on spray with cooking spray, keeps food from sticking. 

Tip for Ginger: I buy a huge finger of ginger and use a spoon to peel it, gets in all the crevices and nobs easily, then chop it into chunks and freeze.   Ever have ginger in your fridge only to find it shriveled up and moldy, well this keeps longer by freezing it. Always handy and fresh and grates nicely with a microplane grater into your dish. 

I usually like to serve grilled vegetables like chunks of Zucchini, Whole Mushrooms, Sliced Onions and Cherry Tomatoes and green peppers onto skewers and brush with olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper. Or brush with Italian Salad dressing if you wish too. 

Tomato Salad: Slice fresh tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil chopped, sprinkle with kosher salt, cracked black pepper, olive oil drizzle and balsamic vinegar, cover and chill. What's nice about this salad you can make it first thing in the morning and refrigerate till dinenr time and also prep your veggie skewers at the same time. So prepping ahead, free's up your day to do other things. 

 I always have fresh pita bread to serve with the steak tips, along with the Rice Pilav, corn on the cob and Tomato salad. 

That’s what’s for Dinner and I hope you it.  Enjoy!   WAY TO GO BRUINS!!!!!