-
1
Preheat grill pan to high heat.
-
2
Remove meat from the refrigerator and unwrap.
-
3
Let beef stand a few minutes, to take the chill off.
-
4
Heat a medium skillet over moderate heat.
-
5
Add butter and sliced onions to a hot pan and season with salt.
-
6
Saute onions for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are caramel in color, tender, and sweet.
-
7
Meanwhile, place peppercorns in a heavy-duty food storage bag.
-
8
Hit peppercorns with a small, heavy frying pan to crack them.
-
9
Baste meat with a little Worcestershire sauce on each side using a pastry brush.
-
10
Coat steaks on 1 side with cracked black peppercorns.
-
11
Grill steaks 5 minutes on each side for medium rare.
-
12
Meanwhile, heat leftover mashed potatoes on high in microwave oven for 5 minutes.
-
13
If you are using instant potatoes, prepare to package directions and transfer warm potatoes to a mixing bowl.
-
14
Stir cheese and scallions into the mashed potatoes.
-
15
Heat a nonstick skillet over moderate heat.
-
16
Coat the inside of pan with butter to aid in crusting.
-
17
Spread cheesy potatoes in an even layer in the skillet and allow them to crust and brown on the bottom, 5 to 7 minutes.
-
18
Cut the potato layer in half gently with a butter knife, careful not to scratch your nonstick surface.
-
19
Fold one half over top of the opposite making a half moon shaped potato pie with a crusty outside and a cheesy, soft center.
-
20
While steaks and potatoes cook, brown chopped bacon in the small frying pan you used to crack the peppercorns over high heat.
-
21
Transfer browned bacon bits to a paper towel lined plate to drain.
-
22
Wipe out skillet and return to heat.
-
23
Add 1 /2 cup balsamic vinegar to the pan and bring to a bubble.
-
24
Reduce heat to low and simmer 1 to 2 minutes, until vinegar is reduced by half and thick.
-
25
Turn off heat.
-
26
Pour spinach into salad bowl.
-
27
Top with bacon and mushrooms.
-
28
Whisk extra-virgin olive oil into warm vinegar and pour over salad.
-
29
Toss salad and serve.
-
30
Season the cooked steaks with a little salt and remove to a carving board.
-
31
Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes for the juices to redistribute through the meat evenly.
-
32
If you slice into a hot steak, the juices will run out and the first bite will be the only tasty one.
-
33
Slice steaks thin against the grain of the meat.
-
34
Smother steak slices in onions.
-
35
Cut potato pie into 4 wedges and serve along side steaks with spinach salad.
