There are times in my life when I feel a little more grown up…which is strange because I think you’re considered a grown up once you’re supporting yourself. So in that way, I’ve been an adult for awhile. But for me, I always feel a bit more adult like when I want to do home improvements. We’re renting right now, so I can’t go to crazy but there is an area of my place that needs some TLC. Our patio.
One Sunday, I went to Home Depot (grown up store!), World Market and H0meGoods to get some inspiration. I was on a patio mission. I didn’t even give much of a glance to kitchen stuff at World Market or HomeGoods, which is HUGE for me. I could easily loose hours of my life going through entertaining and dining stuff.
Trust me, I did wander for hours but I felt like I was getting someplace. I decided there are 3 areas I can improve our patio. We have a cast iron gate door which is rusting. It’s a total eye sore, so I want to remove the rust and paint it. Right out front of the back door, we have a small space which would be a cute seating area. We have two cast iron chairs already, so I bought orange and white seat cushions and then I’m going to get a tourqouise stool which I’d use as a drink/end table. Then in the main patio area, we have a table and chairs. I’m looking to get a tourqouise umbrella and stand. I should look into getting cushions for those chairs but since they came with the place, it’s not a high priority. If you follow me on Pinterest, you can see the items I’m eyeing.
In case you’re wondering where this sudden inspiration is coming from — it’s all from my grill. I spend a lot of time grilling and cooking outside. I think it would be nice to have an area where I can cook, entertain and not feel a sweaty hot pig.
Back to the idea of feeling grown up, cooking for myself used to make me feel I was more like an adult. One of the first things I made on a grill was this Grilled Cumin Flank Steak with Tomato Lime Salsa. Flank steak is a pretty cheap cut of meat and it’s really flavorful. The meat is marinaded in toasted cumin, garlic and lime juice. I love the smokey flavor of the cumin and the freshness from the lime juice. Grilling flank steak is really easy, just 5 minutes per side. The flank steak cooked to about medium and is really juicy.
After letting the meat rest, top this flank steak with a tomato lime salsa. It’s a light and pairs perfectly with the smokey flank steak! To round out this meal, serve it with some black beans & rice. It’s a sophisticated Mexican meal at home!
Whenever I make this Grilled Cumin Flank Steak with Tomato Lime Salsa, it always makes me smile. I can’t believe I used to think making dinner for myself was such a big deal. Cooking is more than just some hobby to me now; it’s a huge part of my life. But one thing that’s still the same to me is how I have to be excited about what I eat. This flank steak recipe still does that for me. I’m sure you will love this easy and tasty recipe, too!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 beef flank steak or top round steak (1 1/4 pounds), trimmed of all visible fat
- 1 large tomato, finely chopped
- 1 can (4 1/2 ounces) chopped mild green chiles, drained
- 3 scallions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Spray grill with cooking spray. Preheat the grill.
- Place the cumin in a small skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes, or until fragrant and darker in color. Place in a small bowl and let cool.
- Remove 1 teaspoon toasted cumin and place in a medium bowl. To the small bowl, add the garlic, 2 tablespoons of the lime juice, the black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and mix well. Place the steak on the prepared rack and rub the cumin mixture over both sides of the steak. Let stand at room temperature.
- In the medium bowl with the reserved cumin, combine the tomato, chiles, scallions, the remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let stand at room temperature.
- Grill steak for 5 minutes per side, or until a thermometer inserted in the center registers to at least 145°F for medium-rare.
- Place the steak on a cutting board and let stand for 5 minutes. Cut the steak into thin slices and serve with the salsa. Black beans and rice make a nice side item.
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