Grilling can mean you need two cooks. Around our house, Bob takes charge of the chicken, steak or other entree-of-the-day in the backyard while I fuss over sides and sweets in the kitchen.
But wouldn't it be nice to have a simple way to get grilled goodness indoors? The folks at T-Fal want to give one lucky reader a chance to do just that. They've joined us to give away their new, portable grilling sensation, OptiGrill. It automatically grills food to the desired degree of doneness, from rare to well-done, so you get perfect results every time. (Check the end of this post for details on how to enter the contest.)
We tried this countertop hero along with T-Fal's recipe for Montreal Grilled Steak and Potatoes last week. But before we talk about that Texas perfect-pairing, I've got to tell you more about our Boomer-licious prize.
Stainless steel with two black, die-cast aluminum grilling plates, OptiGrill is large enough to cook about four sandwiches at once. I know I promised you steak but I normally save my indoor grill for grilled cheese, Paninis and other bread-based delights so that's important.
You could go grill crazy with T-Fal's new OptiGrill. This smart indoor grilling sensation automatically cooks food to the desired degree of doneness, from rare to well done, so you get perfect results every time.
Click "Read More" for details on how you can win this hot freebee ($179.99 value). Contest* ends Sept. 11.
What's different about the OptiGrill? This clever cook's helper monitors grilling and indicates when your dish is done. You just press a button to tell it what you're making: burger, chicken, sandwich, sausage/pork, red meat or fish. Then press OK. OptiGrill automatically uses the best temperature for the selected dish, measures the thickness to help calculate doneness and announces cooking progress by showing a colored light on it's large, front dial.
Purple says "Preheating." A loud "BEEP" signals the grill's ready to begin. Put your food on, close the lid and the light changes to blue then green and another "BEEP" sounds when cooking starts.
Now, you can set the table, start the rolls or play Words with Friends (my weakness!) while OptiGrill keeps you posted. The light turns yellow and there's a "BEEP" when your dish is rare. Orange followed by another "BEEP" means medium and red then a "BEEP" says "Ready for Bob and Charlotte" or well done.
Can't make it to the grill just then? No worries. This smart gadget automatically lowers the heat to keep food warm once it's well-done. Isn't that handy?
In addition to monitoring doneness, OptiGrill's angled, nonstick grilling plates keep things healthier by sending grease away from your food into a large drip tray. There's a manual mode so you can cook veggies and other foods not listed on the pre-set program buttons at a fixed temperature, checking doneness on your own. And, cleanup is no chore because both the grilling plates and drip pan are super easy to remove and dishwasher safe. Yes!
Following one of the 32 recipes (see below) in the included cookbook, I grilled New York strip steaks using the automatic red meat program, removing them when OptiGrill signaled "well done." Then I cooked potatoes on manual mode until tender.
What about taste? Judging from our experience, it's pretty wonderful.
The steak was perfectly charred. Not dry but tender and juicy without a sign of the red that we well-done fans dread. Tossed with Montreal seasoning and canola oil, the potatoes were also very tasty. Both were especially yummy thanks to a ketchup-Worcestershire-Tabasco sauce that gave the meal a little zing. (Guess what attracted a condiment-lovin' girl like me to this dish?)
Great taste plus super easy preparation and a focus on healthier cooking, that's enough to make anyone grill crazy!
4 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, about 2 poundsCook the potatoes in the microwave for 6 minutes or until fork-tender but still firm; cool until easy to handle. Cut each potato in half and then cut into 1/2-inch thick strips down the length of the potato. Toss the potatoes with the oil and half the steak seasoning. Stir the ketchup with the Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce until well combined; set aside.
Meanwhile, pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the remaining steak seasoning over both sides of each steak.
Turn the grill on. Select the Meat program and press OK. Lightly grease the cooking plates with cooking spray. Once the purple indicator light has stopped flashing, place the steaks on the grill and close the lid.
Cook until the indicator light has changed to the color of desired doneness; yellow for rare, orange for medium or red for well done. Transfer the steaks to a plate and tent with foil. Rest for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, select the manual (M) program and press OK . Lightly grease the cooking plates with cooking spray. Once the purple indicator light has stopped flashing, place the potatoes on the grill and close the lid.
Cook the potatoes, in batches, for 5 minutes or until tender and well marked. Serve the steaks with the potatoes and the ketchup mixture on the side.
Tips:
OptiGrill is available for $179.99 at Walmart.com. For more information, check out Optigrill.T-FalUSA.com and Facebook.com/OptiGrill.
We're offering one lucky Boomer the chance to win T-Fal's new OptiGrill ($179.99 value). This smart indoor grilling sensation automatically cooks food to the desired degree of doneness, from rare to well done, so you get perfect results every time. An easy way to cook healthier, it also features angled plates to divert grease away from food and into the included dip tray.We'd like to shout out a big "Thank You" to T-Fal for providing a sample for review and testing.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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and @CharlotteBoomer
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