The Diced Tomato and Chili Marinated Steak with Black Quinoa

This recipe was improvised using ingredients with which I wasn't that familiar. The result was tasty, but not as good as it could be, so my recipe below is adjusted from what I used to create what you see in the photo.

Diced Tomato and Chili Marinated Steak
- 1 12 ounce can of Ro*Tel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
- 1 8 ounce shell steak
- 1 cup black quinoa
- 1 teaspoon salt

Drain most of the liquid from the diced tomatoes. Put steak in a bowl and cover entirely in diced tomatoes and chilis. Let marinate for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare black quinoa according to instructions on the box. Ensure that the liquid is completely absorbed!

When the steak is done marinating, remove from tomatoes and place in a pre-heated skillet over high heat. Prepare rare or you're an uncouth lowlife.

Sautée the diced tomatoes and chilis in a separate pan until hot.

Serve with a swagger.

Your soundtrack for this entry: The Birthday Massacre - Always. 

The Mushroom Asparagus Tarts

If this recipe looks familiar, it's because you read Epicurious and it was a featured spring recipe this week. Far be it from me to ignore what the marketing team of a web site I like tells me to do. Originally I picked this to serve ahead of The Pasta Primavera, but I had a lot of food already that night in the main course and didn't feel like going through the making of this. 

Instead I invited Ali over for dinner with me and the Thrifty Sifter the other night and we got to eating. Ali reports that her leftover tarts that I gave her made an excellent breakfast, whilst mine made an excellent lunch.

Flattened puff pastry shells. My grocery didn't have the sheets the day I went. 

This here is a makeshift rolling pin. 

Mostly square pastries. 

Mushrooms they are a satuéing. 

Everyone's ready to bake!

Some pretty awesome salad. This had red lollo, cucumber, apple, tomato, carrot, endive, and celery. The dressing used three tablespoons of Coleman's dry mustard, white wine vinegar, fresh thyme (about a tablespoon), salt, pepper, and olive oil.
 

Ms. Yum Veggie Burger and Ms. Thrifty Sifter. 

Mr. Cooks Dinner

Mr. Cooks Dinner cooks dinner. 

Tartlets complete!

We ate this all up!

A nice, Spring snowy view. 

Ali's dessert fondue!

Your soundtrack for this entry: The Birthday Massacre - In the Dark