The Pioneer Woman Cooks (55 page)

12. For medium rare, cook for 2 minutes on each side for a thin steak, or 3 to 4 minutes on each side for a thick steak. Place the steak on a plate and keep warm. Repeat with the other steak.

(Feel free to cook both steaks at once in the same skillet, if you prefer.)

13. Spoon the sauce over the steak…and don’t skimp! You want to taste the deliciousness.

14. Mmmmm. It doesn’t get much better than this.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t eat the leftover sauce by the spoonful.

I’m just being honest here.

HOMEMADE RANCH WITH ICEBERG WEDGE

Makes 8 servings

Which came first? Do cowboys and country kids love ranch dressing because it’s called “ranch dressing”? Or did the name arise from the fact that cowboys and country kids love it? This is a question I shall ponder till the end of my days.

I’m not above making ranch dressing from the classic powdered mix packet. But a few years ago, stranded at our home on the ranch with a flat tire and fresh out of packets, I was forced to make do with ingredients I had in my pantry…and my herb garden. I love this homemade version of the classic salad dressing—it’s tangy, slightly spicy, and oh so good.

¼ teaspoon kosher salt1 garlic clove, chopped1 cup real mayonnaise½ cup sour cream¼ to ½ cup milk or buttermilk, depending on how thick you want the dressing¼ cup chopped flatleaf parsley1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill½ teaspoon distilled white vinegar½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
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teaspoon cayenne pepper¼ teaspoon paprika½ teaspoon black pepperDash of hot sauce (optional)2 heads iceberg lettuce

1. Sprinkle the salt over the garlic.

2. With a fork, mash the garlic and salt together to make a paste. The finer the better, as the garlic is very strong in the finished dressing.

3. Add all the dressing ingredients to a bowl.

4. Stir together gently, adjusting the seasonings as needed. Make the ranch dressing all yours—add in more of what you like.

Chill the dressing for at least 2 hours before serving. Thin with milk if needed.

5. Wash and dry the iceberg lettuce and cut into wedges. Arrange the wedges on a platter and drizzle the ranch dressing over the top.

6. Be generous with the dressing, since it needs to reach all the lettuce in the wedge.

HELPFUL HINTS: Other uses for homemade ranch dressing:

• Serve as a dip for carrot and celery sticks.
  
• Mix in crumbled blue cheese and serve with Buffalo wings.
  
• Drizzle on a submarine sandwich.
  
• Pour into a hollowed-out red cabbage and serve on a fancy crudité platter.
  

• 

  Mmmmm…salad.
  It does a body good!
  

  

  Real Cowboys
  

  Let’s hear it for being comfortable with one’s masculinity!
  

  

  

  WEAR PINK!
  

  (Marlboro Man says it’s a red shirt that faded in the wash.)