Meat & Potatoes

When I was in high school I had a Spanish teacher who would describe the days that we would be doing hard work as "Meat & Potatoes" days, because we would be learning the foundations of the language.
Well since I've started working it has been a little harder to create great meals at the end of the day. I have been coming home very tired, throwing something together, then watching a movie or going to sleep. So today I decided I would make a real meal, and I got back to the basics. Meat & Potatoes.

I had a london broil skirt steak and four red potatoes already. I had Rob grill the meat to medium upstairs on the grill, while I made garlic mashed potatoes.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes:
4 red potatoes
4 TBSP butter
1/2 cup milk
1 TSP Garlic Powder
1/4 cup cheese. (I prefer Romano, but Parmesan works well too)

Boil Potatoes then blend all ingredients together. I usually leave mine a little chunky, and I always leave the skins on with red potatoes.

I also made edamame. I had frozen edamame, which needs boiled for 5 minutes. I then drain and saute in a pan with hot Olive Oil, Salt, and Pepper for another five minutes.

Beef & Broccoli Stir-Fry

Today, like most good days, started out with Top Pot Doughnuts. I love Top Pot, and I love that they have their own cookbook so you can make all of their different varieties of doughnuts at home. I don't have the cookbook, but I hope to get it soon.
Then Rob and I walked downtown to the Central Library, which is amazing. We explored the building a little more today, and there are still things I want to see!
Finally we went to Kress IGA for groceries. I really like Kress. It's small, but it has everything you need! Including fresh-baked bread and a deli for fresh meats. It also has a good produce section. I picked the vegetables I needed to make Stir-Fry for dinner tonight. It turned out very well.

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. thin sliced beef, cubed.
1 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup sliced zucchini
1/4 cup chopped white onion
1 cup water/ corn starch mix
1 Beef Bouillon cube
Soy Sauce

Everything should be cut and prepared before you begin, as this comes together very quickly. After I Cube my meat I put it in a bowl with salt, pepper, and 1 TSP soy sauce while I cut my vegetables. Meat can also be marinated in Teriyaki.

Heat a olive oil or Wok oil in a pan or Wok. Add beef and onions until beef is no longer pink.

Stir in broccoli and zucchini, let simmer for 1-2 minutes.

Add water/corn starch mix and bouillon cube. Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring.

Once everything is set and the sauce is thick, add approx 2 TBSP Soy Sauce to mix and stir for 30 seconds.

Makes two servings, serve over 1 cup white rice, split.

This can also be made with chicken, the only difference being the chicken, and chicken bouillon instead of beef.