Thanks for the Advice, ASM, and Deej... I think I'll skip the spice rub because I know that neither of the ladies are too keen on heat.... but I think I'm gonna try the herb butter idea... I have a few fresh herbs getting close to the 3 month-mark...
Since you asked, We're serving the steaks with a couple of simple recipes...
Balsamic green beans:
{
wash and cut 4 servings of fresh green beans into 1 1/2" lengths.
melt half a stick of butter over med-high heat... drop in 2 tablespoons of balasamic vinegar, and then add green beans.
immediately top with 1 teaspoon of rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and let simmer for 10-or so minutes...
drain excess liquid, and serve garnished with fresh parmesean cheese
}
My Mom's Buttered Potatoes:
{
Wash, peel, and cut potatoes into inch-and-a-half chunks.
Bring water to a boil, add potatoes.
Cook approximately 10 minutes or until "fork-soft" (just at the point that a fork can easily pierce them, but before they turn into mush... about a 1 minute window there)
Drain, add 1/4 - 1/2 a stick of butter, salt, and pepper into pot on top of potatoes.
Cover pot for 1 minute.
Remove lid, and gently mix ingredients. Serve.
}
A light salad w/ vinegarette before the main course, and ciabatta rolls throughout the meal.
I also picked up a baquette and some crabmeat/artichoke dip at Whole foods for a starter.
For dessert, my girlfriend's trying a new creation... kinda like an apple tart, or sorts... not totally sure... I just know she needed green apples from the farmer's market, brown sugar, whole cloves, whipped cream, and apple cider from the store.. along with a few other ingredients we already had... and she plans to use the oven.... should be fun.