Summer is here, and everyone is tired of the eating at the worst McDonald's in the continental 48 states. A novel idea... break out the barby and fire up some steaks. Don't be hesitant, its not so hard and the final product will be much better than the McChicken Deluxe or whatever concoction the golden arches is introducing as the flavor of the month.
Preparation is Key
The first step is to buy quality meat. For beef the best cuts are Ribeye Steak, New York Strip, Porterhouse, and T-Bone. Look for marbeling and bright red coloring to give the meat some flavoring and tenderness. And if you can't figure it out yourself: 1) you're slow, and probably should not be operating gas powered machinery and 2) please ask someone in Fresh Grocer for help.
The next step is to marinate your beef (I am attempting to avoid sexual connotation throughout this piece, but it just isn't happening). While barbeque sauce and complex shallot and rosemary marinades are common (what... you don't marinade in a luscious balsamic-shallot sauce-- where have you been?), a personal favorite is to bathe the meat in simple Italian dressing for a few minutes to add a subtle taste.
Cooking --This is Where You Can Really Mess it up.
The trick is to throw the meat on an already warm grill, and leave it there to cook for about 12 minutes for rare and 15 minutes for medium. Although aggression can best be released by sticking your t-bone with a three pronged fork, use tongs or a spatula to avoid releasing juices from within the steak (damn sexual innuendo). Avoid turning the steaks more than twice, as this also releases those juices. In the end, keep an eye on your steaks, keep the grill covered as much as possible, and do not cut the steak to check for readiness. This too will release those precious juices you wasteful bastard.
So as the summer continues, don't be afraid to do something new and compulsive and throw another "shrimp on the barby." If you buy quality meats, which typically cost between $2 and $5 a cut depending on the quality, your stomach will appreciate the departure from fast food. Just think, no matter how bad it comes out, chances are it's more edible than a Quarter Pounder.
