French Onion Steaks

Do you live in the moment-to-moment or do you find yourself "zapping" from one destination to the next without recalling the drive to get there?  Do you feel as if you are losing yourself?  There are days I go through the day and crawl into bed and realize I hadn't stopped to smell the rosemary's.  Lately, I have told myself to take a moment and look around my world.  Get out of my bubble I put myself in and notice the daddy holding his baby on his way out of the grocery store and smothering him with kisses.  Notice the smile this puts on the babies face as his big blue eyes light up with the satisfaction that only the human touch can give.  The girl standing in line at Bread Co. waiting to order and the Grateful Dead hobo bag she has thrown over her shoulder.  Taking note of the Grateful Dead music that is playing in the restaurant I am dining in with great friends.  Kisses stolen from the young couple in the car in front of me while sitting at the red light.  The older couple walking hand in hand through the park.

The smile a peanut butter and jelly brings my 12 year old son as he loses himself and gives me that occasional look I remember from when he was younger and not trying so hard to be "cool".  The way my 10 year old daughter runs around on all fours because she's trying to "perfect" her wolverine run.  Yes, she watches Animal Planet and happened to catch the show on wolverines and they described in detail the exact way they run so she has taken to run around like a wolverine.  This is very disturbing when we have house guests and they catch her running 20 miles per hour past them on all fours.  It's quite the sight.  The smiles a warm and hearty meal puts on my families face on stormy dark night when I serve them these French Onion Steaks.  Take a moment for yourself and take a look around at "everyday" life and the love and enthusiasm that our world is filled with.  If you're feeling lonely know that you only need to look around and realize that there are people all around you and there is no need to feel lonely.  Participate in life, go out and talk to people and smile at someone today.  You may change someones life just because you put on your smile!

French Onion Steaks
Yield: 4 servings

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Ingredients for the Steak:

• 1 1/4 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
• 2 T. minced scallions
• 1 t. kosher salt
• 1/2 t. black pepper
• 2 T. all-purpose unbleached flour

Ingredients for the Sauce:

• 1 T. olive oil
• 2 cups sliced onions
• 1 t. sugar
• 1 T. minced garlic
• 1 T. tomato paste
• 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1/4 cup dry red wine
• 1/4 t. kosher salt
• 1/2 t. dried thyme
• Cheese toasts - recipe below
• Minced fresh parsley
• Shredded Parmesan

For the Cheese Toasts:

• 4 slices Italian baguette, cut diagonally (1/2-inch thick)
• 2 T. unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/2 t. minced garlic
• Pinch of paprika
• 1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese1 t. shredded Parmesan

Instructions for the Steaks:

1. Combine ground chuck, 1/4 cup parley, scallions, salt and pepper. Divide evenly into four portions and shape each into 1/4 to 1- inch thick oval patties. Place 2 Tbsp. flour in a shallow dish, dredge each patty in flour. Reserve 1 tsp. flour.
2. Heat oil in a saute pan over medium-high. Add patties and saute about 2 minutes on each side, or until browned. Remove from pan.
3. Add onions and sugar to pan; saute 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and tomato paste; saute until paste begins to brown, about 1 minutes. Sprinkle mixture with reserved flour; cook 1 minute. Stir in broth, wine, salt, and thyme.
4. Return meat to pan; bring sauce to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 10 minutes.
5. Serve steaks on cheese toasts with onion sauce ladled over. Garnish with parsley and Parmesan.

Instructions for the Cheese Toasts:

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Place bread on a baking sheet.
3. Combine butter, garlic, and paprika, spread on one side of each slice of bread. Combine cheeses and sprinkle evenly over butter. Bake until bread is crisp and cheese is bubbly, 10 - 15 minutes.

Adapted from Cuisine at home

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Servings: 1

Calories:  623

Total Fat:  23.5 g

Cholesterol:  148 mg.

Sodium:  1543 mg.

Protein:  54.9 g.

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