Bloody Good Dinner!

In honor of Halloween, I cooked up a festive little dinner with lots of guts (pun, however bad, intended!) that can stand up to the most hearty of meals. Alternately, it makes for a great dish on Valentine's Day or to cook for your significant other. Start with your basic meat and potatoes. Grill a beautiful ribeye steak until medium rare and top with a thick, savory red wine sauce. On the side take mashed potatoes to a new level by substituting sweet potatoes and plenty of fresh garlic and a sprinkle of parmesan to top it off.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

For Mashed Sweet Potatoes:
11oz Sweet potatoes [Trader Joe's - $1.99 for 2lbs, $.68 used here]
2 cloves Garlic, minced [Ralph's - $.50 for one head, $.05 used here]
2tbsp Unsweetened almond milk [Trader Joe's - $1.99 for 1L, $.06 used here]
2tbsp Low-fat cottage cheese [Trader Joe's - $1.99 for a small container, $.25 used here]
2tbsp Shallots, chopped [Ralph's - $.50 for one large shallot, $.20 used here]
2tbsp Parmesan cheese, shredded [Trader Joe's - $3 for a tub, $.20 used here]
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper

For Steak with Red Wine Sauce:
1 Bone-in Ribeye, about 13oz raw, for two 4oz servings [Ralph's - $4.67/lb, $3.79 used here]
4oz Red wine [Trader Joe's - $4 for bottle, $1 used here]
2tbsp Shallots, chopped [Ralph's - $.50 for one large shallot, $.20 used here]
2tsp Olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:


For Mashed Sweet Potatoes:

• Wash potatoes and prick several times with a knife. Steam in microwave until very soft, about 4-5 minutes. Chop into large pieces.

• Put sweet potatoes, garlic, shallots, salt, pepper, cottage cheese, and almond milk in a food processor and whip until smooth.

• Top with parmesan cheese and serve.

Total Cost: $1.44 total, $.72 per serving

Nutrition Facts per serving: 179 calories, 2g fat (1.1g saturated, 0g trans), 5mg cholesterol, 513mg sodium, 34.5g carbohydrates, 4.8g fiber, 7.1g sugar, 6.6g protein, [446% Vit. A, 8% Vit. C, 13% Calcium, 7% Iron].

For Steak with Red Wine Sauce:

• Heat a grill pan over medium high heat and very lightly brush with olive oil. Season both sides of the steak with salt and pepper. Place steak in pan once the grill is heated through. 

• Cook until desired doneness is achieved, about 7 minutes per side for medium rare on a 1/2-3/4" thick ribeye.

• Meanwhile, over medium heat bring olive oil, wine and finely chopped shallots to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thick and almost syrup-like, about 10 minutes.
•  Pour red wine sauce over steak and serve warm.

Total cost:  $4.99 total, $2.50 per serving

Nutrition Facts:  327 calories, 14.7g fat (4.5g saturated, 0g trans) 103mg cholesterol, 3.4g carbohydrates, 0g fiber, 33.1g protein, [2% Vit. A, 1% Vit. C, 3% Calcium, 15% Iron].

(Serving Suggestion.)