I love steaks, and I appreciate a good standalone piece of beef grilled to perfection, but I also love a good marinated steak too! lol
Here is a marinade I put together for some steaks I grilled on my new CG Super Pro:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (I crush the garlic with the side of a strong knife and chop that)
1 small onion or half a large onion, finely chopped
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 tbsp prepared dijon mustard
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
Whisk all of the ingredients together until mixed well. I let mine sit in a washed out salad dressing bottle overnight to mingle the flavors, but I doubt it's neccessary, just something I felt might make it better. Then you put your steaks in a gallon zip-lock bag (I used 3 lbs of meat), and let it sit in the fridge for about 5 or so hours, turning over every so often (I turned mine once an hour). Then I seared both sides over glowing hot coals with the grate as close to the grill as possible, lowered the grate and moved the steaks to cook indirectly until they're as done as you want them. I like rare~medium rare, so mine didn't take long. The wife likes well done, so hers were on a bit longer until no pink was inside. She made the comment that they were the best steaks she's had, as normally well done steaks are hard and tough, but these were so moist, juicy, and easy to eat that she'd love to have steak more often! lol I gave the neighbor an extra steak I had cooked and a potato, and he loved it too. So all in all, the CG and the marinade seem to be some definate winners!
I also baked some good sized potatoes on the grill, and made some asparagus on the stove for sides.
I also did some great fajitas for fajita taco salads using the above marinade, just changing a few things:
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup worchestershire sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped (I crush the garlic with the side of a strong knife and chop that)
1 small onion or half a large onion, finely chopped
1 tsp parsley (I would have used cilantro but it makes the wife ill)
1 package Taco Bell taco seasoning I had in the pantry
ground red pepper to taste
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
Prepare and cook the meat the same as the above and cut into strips when it's done. This time I think I had about two pounds of meat. Then deep fry large burrito sized flour tortillas (I don't remember the brand I buy, I think it's Tia Rosa or something to that nature. Mission makes them too.) for the shell. I form the tortillas into a bowl inside of by frying basket, cut an x in the bottom so it won't swell and try to float, and use a largish, flat metal spoon to hold the bottom of the tortilla down as it fries. With 350~ 400 degree oil it doesn't take long at all. Let the bowls drain while you shred some lettuce, chop tomatoes, green onions, and whatever else you like in your taco salads. I also cut fajita sized tortillas into quarters, fry them until crisp, line a 9 x 13 baking pan with them, and layer refried beans (I used canned with a small can of green chiles mixed in), a fajita per chip, cover with grated cheese, chopped tomato, black olives, and green onions. Then bake at 350 until the cheese is good and gooey. I get about 16 nachos out of it. This all makes for some very good eats, and since it's only me and the wife, we had some good leftovers for lunch the next day!
I think something I may get soon will be a taco salad shell frying basket, that has two baskets that sandwich the shell. That would make things quite a bit easier. lol