Two Towers and Fried Steak

I came back from visiting Alise's family and found my beloved (hated) can opener hanged by the tines until dead.  Apparently, Jasper too has grown tired of its treachery, and replaced it with a superior product.

This morning's breakfast was eggs and toast.  Nothing fancy, but certainly good hearty eats.  For dinner, I am preparing a ginger garlic pepper steak.


Step 1:  Gather your materials.

For this meal, you will need:

One (1) 9-10 oz steak
Rough granulated black pepper
Granulated garlic
Yellow squeeze mustard
Whole oregano
Ground ginger
Ground nutmeg
1/2 oz scotch whisky (I used Johnny Walker Red)
Salt
Single-serving amount of broccoli florets

One (1) frying pan (I used 8" cast iron) with lid

One (1) pie dish (I used 8")
Microwave-safe bowl

While this is going on, I am watching The Two Towers, sequel to that wonderful film The Fellowship of the Ring.  I personally like this movie the best out of the three, largely because of the Smeagol-Gollum relationship and siege of Helm's Deep.

Did you ever notice how they designed the fortress so it looks under repair?

Step 2:  Spice your steak.

Spicy!

Pepper the steak first.  Sprinkle it liberally with the crushed black pepper, and press it into the meat with your fingers.  Flip the steak and repeat.  Do the same with the garlic.  Oregano is a strong spice, so use a little less when you do this.  Nutmeg and ginger are even more powerful, so use them to your taste; personally, I used just enough to spread thin over each side.  Also, the fact that they are powder instead of grain means they will stick to your fingers more and press into the meat less.  Leave the scotch aside for now.  Leave the meat to sit and soak up the flavor for a couple minutes.

Frodo and Sam pick up an unwilling and surprising guide through Mordor (Gollum), and the torn feelings between Sam and Gollum start immediately.  This divide also begins to separate Frodo and Sam as the Ringbearer begins to shift his attention and favor to the fallen Smeagol.

Reliability tested... and proven.

3:  Heat your frying pan.

This is pretty self-explanatory.  Turn your frying pan to a low-medium heat, add just a touch of oil, and let it set until it warms.  One thing I do differently is I salt the pan with the oil in it rather than salting the steak.  This means the salt only gets to hit the surface rather than sinking into the meat.

There's this one spot right before Faramir captures the hobbits where Sam and Smeagol have a little conversation - a bit of lightheartnedness amidst all the chaos.  This scene shows that, given the proper situation, the two of them can get along, and perhaps if Frodo had not been captured and then not betrayed Smeagol, the little greasy creature may have developed a friendship with the hobbits.

Sam can keep his nasty "chips."

4:  Cook the steak!

Place the steak in the frying pan.  It should start sizzling immediately.  Now you can use that scotch.  Pour it into the pie pan, swirl like you're panning for gold to collect the remaining spices, and pour it gently around the steak in the pan.

Place the lid and let it sit for about 8 minutes, or until the steak turns totally brown.  Then drizzle the mustard on lightly and turn the steak.  Replace the lid.

I mustard the Rohirrim!  Or, at least, the steak.   ...sorry about that.

 After a couple more minutes, take off the lid, flip the steak, and raise the temperature to medium-high to get that nice final sear.  You want to keep the lid on this long to keep the meat moist and tender; if you leave it off for the entire process, the steak will dry out and turn into peppered shoe leather.

Kiss me, you fool!

Aragorn survived falling from the battle with the Warg riders, and his last unconscious vision is of Arwen kissing him gently on the lips to give him strength.  He wakes to find his trusty steed doing the same.  Now, the real question here is whether Arwen actually gave him strength from afar, or did his concussed mind translate "horse-lips" as "dainty elf?"  We may never know...

5:  Cook the broccoli!

Once you turn the steak, pop the broccoli into the microwave in a little water and hit it for about four (4) minutes, depending on how strong your machine is.  By the time it is done cooking, your steak will be, too.  Take it out, fork the veggies onto a plate, and add the steak.


6:  Eat like it's delicious... because it is!
 

Now have a seat and take a bite!  The steak is tender and juicy (mine was just a little overdone, but still excellent) and the broccoli goes well with the meat.  I suggest orange juice for your accompanying  beverage; the tart sweetness goes well with the spice and heat of the protein.

For dessert, I suggest some soft gingerbread cookies, but that's because what's available to me right now.  Merry soon-to-be Christmas, and a happy new meal!


7:  Finish your movie.

Can't... hold... on... forever.  Must scratch my itchy ear!

 I always liked this old man.  The Uruk-hai were standing to attention, pounding spears to the ground and spreading fear within the walls, and his shaky old hands slipped and, Oops!  One orc down with a bolt through his neck.  Everbody freaks out, not the least of whom is himself.

Well, damn.

The elves, with Haldir at their fore, arrive to aid the battle.  Again purists scream in despair, and again moviegoers appreciate a clever directorial decision.  Haldir gave up his immortal life to honor the ancient alliance between Elves and Men, and his death is an emotional moment in the film.

I always thought the Uruk who sacrificed himself to take down the Deeping Wall looked like an Olympic torch-bearer, in a creepy, toothy sort of way.  Also, what idiot didn't put a grate on the outside of the storm drain?  Were the Rohan ancestors really so lazy they couldn't take one off to clean it out every now and then?

Take my picture, guys; this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

 While this is all going on, Frodo and Sam must deal with Faramir's men and the Ringwraiths.  After Frodo goes mad and nearly kills his best friend, Sam gives a stirring monologue on faith, responsibility, and despair.

Good old Sam.  He's really the nicest guy in the entire trilogy.

 It's such a good speech even Smeagol/Gollom is touched by it.

How could you not trust this sad little face?

 My last comment is on Faramir, brother of Boromir.  Here is another man with whom I sympathize.  He intends to bring Frodo and the Ring to his father to help his people, and who can blame him?  It is only after he sees Frodo almost succumb to its power that he lets them go, leaving us with two lessons learned.  One is that Faramir understands the burden Frodo must bear, and the power it has over the mind.  The other is that Frodo now understands the terrible danger Gondor is under, and the opportunity Faramir gave up by releasing him.

He hasn't just had a bad day; it's been a rough couple generations.

I know I didn't mention the Ents.  I'm sorry.

Once again, it's been a pleasure cooking food and watching movies.  Tune in again some time!