Sometimes You Feel Like a ... Tot?

 For dinner tonight, I was originally thinking of thinly slicing some steak, nicely charred on the outside and lightly pink inside (sliced across the grain, of course), whipping up some sauce (ponzu- or balsamic-based) and lovingly spoon it over the artfully arranged fanned-out meat slices on each plate alongside home-made mashed garlic potatoes.

Then YoungerSon said these magic words: "why bother slicing up the steak?"

So I quickly turned on the oven, pulled a bag of the Try-n-Save's brand of Tater-like Tots from the freezer, dumped half the bag on a baking sheet and shoved it into the oven. Hey!  Don't look at me in that tone of voice ...  I bet even Julia Child used some sort of convenience food once or twice in her life.  Sometimes the cook just needs a night off.

Tomorrow will be my usual masterpiece ;) I promise!

Grilled Steak with Tater-ish Tots 
serves 4, with extra for seconds and/or to take to work for lunch the next day

3 pkgs. of strip steaks (2 in each package)
Garlic powder and coarsely ground pepper
1/2 bag of wannabee Tater Tots
1/2 bag of pre-made salad (variety up to you)
Bottled salad dressing, your choice, to taste
Steak sauce, your favorite

Fire up your grill and preheat oven to 450F.

When grill is hot (in about 10 minutes), lightly oil the grill rack and lay the 6 strip steaks across the grill bars (to make pretty grill marks).   Sprinkle liberally with garlic powder and pepper (use more than you usually do, you'll thank me later).

Grill, with cover on, for 4-6 minutes, depending upon your grill, or until the bottom of the steaks have lovely char marks.  Using long tongs, flip the steaks, sprinkle the former bottoms liberally with more garlic and pepper than you usually use,  then continue to grill, covered, for another 5 minutes or so, or until cooked to your liking.

As you can see, I prefer my steak medium-raw.

 

Move steaks to a serving plate.  Cover and let rest until ready to serve.

Meanwhile, pour 1/2 bag of pretend Tots on rimmed baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 8 minutes, remove from oven and carefully flip Tots, then return pan to oven and bake another 8 minutes or until Tots start to brown.

While everything is cooking, divide salad among 4 salad plates.  Pass around bottled dressing.

Plate steaks.  Dump imitation Tots alongside steaks.  Serve with steak sauce.