Day 1 - Red-Potato/Tomato Salad - Steak Marinade

Today was the start of my 'Freezer and Pantry Cooking Challenge'.  I  inventoried my freezers and pantry this weekend and found so many yummy treats!  (hint... Ben and Jerry's ICE CREAM that I wrapped up so my kids didn't know that I had my own little stash.  The problem...I forgot I stashed it!!...but I'm not upset about it at the moment.  I sorta feel like I found a gold nugget!)    My stock was varied and consisted of the many sale items I purchased in bulk.  I think from now on, as I add stuff to the freezer I'm going to inventory it right from the get go, so I can keep a tab on what is at the bottom of the freezers and meal-plan accordingly.  I'll hang one inventory right above the 'extended' freezer that is downstairs (which is about a 4x3 chest) and post one inside the cabinet for the upstairs kitchen freezer.   As for now, I must, according to the mental contract I made with myself, create as many meals as I can, based on what I already have in stock.  REMEMBER....NO GROCERY SHOPPING UNTIL I GET THROUGH EVERYTHING I HAVE!!...(that was me...reminding me NOT venture into any food establishment where I can so easily be sucked into the vortex of sale shopping).   You can do this! (once again, me...telling me)


Our first meal consisted of Asian marinated beef tenderloin steaks, red potato/grape tomato salad and canned corn (I prefer fresh veggies but have a small pantry of canned goods and some frozen veggies as well).

The meal was quite tasty.  The steak, a grass fed beef, was tender and juicy.  I didn't add any extra sauce...I didn't need it.  The potato salad was so yummy that I would have been satisfied to eat just that!  The corn a nice side.


Red-Potato / Grape-Tomato Salad

7 med sized red potatoes
1 handful of grape tomatoes, halved
3 celery stalks, finely diced
1-1/2 tsp. onion powder (because my kids don't like raw onions)
Mayo to preference (the best practice is to add a little at a time until you get the consistency you want)
3 tbls. apple cider vinegar
salt (*about the size of a quarter in your hand)...sorry, that's the way mom taught me
pepper (your preference)

*Boil potatoes in salted (*see above note) water until tender.  Drain water when done and add vinegar while the potatoes are still hot. Stir.  Add the celery, tomatoes, onion powder, and pepper to the potatoes.  Stir to blend, then stir in mayo.  Refrigerate.

Steak Marinade

1-1/2 cups of soy sauce
3 cloves of garlic - minced
1 tbls of sesame oil
juice from one lime (or 2 tbls. of pre-packaged lime juice)
two shakes of pepper
1 tbls. grated fresh ginger (or prepared ginger...find at the international isle of your grocery store)

Stir all ingredients together, pour over steaks, marinate for one or two hours before grilling (but can marinate overnight).  Grill to your preference.  Note, reserve about 1/2 cup of the marinade before you pour over the raw beef.  You can use this as a sauce over the grilled beef if you desire.  However, *take note*, after your raw beef has been sitting in the marinade mixture, discard it.  Do not use it as the sauce!!!