QUICK AND EASY IMPROMPTU DINNER

What would you do when you run short of time to cook a comforting meal for a friend who's arriving in two hours, got bumped off from her flight, and most likely is so hungry and tired waiting at the airport for her next flight? You would probably panic and just order food from take out. I went to Costco and bought some steaks, asparagus, baby greens, dinner rolls, and crab chowder. I also opened a good wine which I have been keeping for quite sometime.

Here's the dinner menu for 6 people, an impromptu dinner that was quick and very easy to do:

Ingredients
Grilled New York Cut Steaks

Grilled Asparagus

Baby greens with Campari Tomatoes

Dinner Rolls

Red Wine: 2005 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon

As soon as I got home, I set the oven to 400 Degrees F and heated the square steak grill to high, seasoned the steaks with salt and pepper and sliced about 1/2 tablespoon of butter and put one on top of each steak. When the grill was hot enough, I started cooking the steaks. Because it was a 1" steak, I cooked it 1 minute on each side and then 3 minutes on medium heat on each side.

While the steaks were cooking, I washed the asparagus, snapped the ends with my fingers, put them on a baking tray, put salt & pepper, and drizzled olive oil on top generously. After this, I popped them in the oven to cook for about 15 to 20 minutes.

I then worked on the baby greens and Campari tomatoes which I just quartered and garnished on top of the greens. For the dressing, I used ranch.

My daughter set the table and as soon as I heard the door bell ring, I poured the soup on their individual bowls, plated the food, and asked everyone else to sit down. As usual, I told them to enjoy the food.

Bon Appetit!