GIRS can GRILL too!

In my 24 years on this Earth, tonight was the very first time that I grilled, and I grilled a big steak at that! I put two, two-pound steaks on the fire, and felt the carnal power of the grill overtake me. I now understand why men enjoy it so much, but I am here to say that girls can grill too!

All I did was a little Google-ing, and my steaks came out near perfect. After reading a few Yahoo Answers, I realized that the trick to grilling a great (thick) steak is to sear it first on the grill, and finish it in the oven. I heated the grill up to about 700 degrees. (Make sure your grill is well oiled.) Sear the steaks for about two minutes, before rotating them 45 degrees. After rotation, sear for another minute, and flip. Do the same thing to the other side, and put the steaks on a sheet tray. 

Heat your oven to 250 degrees. I tried 200 degrees at first, and it was just too low. Cook between five and 10 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 140 degrees, which is medium rare. (That's how I like my steaks cooked). Let your steaks rest for another five minutes or so. By letting the steak rest, locks all the flavorful juices inside. You don't want them to be left behind in the pan.

Now, add some veggies and potatoes to your dish, and you've got yourself a grand slam! If you'd like to know what I marinated my steaks in, send me a comment below, and I'd love to share my secrets with you. Do you have a special steak marinade that you use? Do you use a dry rub instead? What are your tips to cooking a perfect steak? 

30 Minute Pizza

So, the last few days before grocery day can be pretty painful, and "slim pickings" might be an understatement for some of you. I have a recipe straight from the inner workings of my brain that will solve those cutting-corners blues...PIZZA!

Pizza is delicious and simple, and everyone loves it, but nobody enjoys waiting forever for it to cook. This recipe, from start to finish, takes 30 minutes, and the ingredients can be found in just about anybody's fridge at just about any time. 

You'll need:

• 1 wheat pita
• 1 tbsp of blue cheese
• 1/2 a white onion, sliced
• 4-5 slices of deli ham, chopped 
• about 4 or 5 broccoli florets, cut into smaller pieces
• a handful of mozzarella cheese
• oregano, to taste

Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees. Put a tablespoon of margarine in a skillet on medium high heat. Toss in the onion, and add some salt and pepper. It will take about 10 minutes for the onions to caramelize. Add in the broccoli, and cook for another 5 minutes.

Heat the pita in the oven for just a minute or so. Just enough for it to be warm. Take it out and spread the blue cheese over the pita. Add the ham, veggie mixture, and mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of oregano to the pita. (Most pizzas are sprinkled with oregano, so that is why I included it in the recipe. Plus it tastes great!)

Heat in the oven for 5-10 minutes, and Voila! You'll have a simple and very flavorful pizza in 30 minutes or less. Rachel Ray would be very proud. 

What are your favorite pizza toppings? Do you prefer red sauce or white sauce on your pizza?