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Delicious, Home-Cooked Steak Dinner

May 9, 2014 by Allison

Sunday is Mother’s Day, and I hope you have big plans for pampering the mother’s in your lives.  Maybe you’ll do a little breakfast in bed, beautiful spring flowers, some chocolates maybe or how about a nice dinner to say thank you.

Growing up it was my mom that pulled together those nice holiday meals that added just the right touch to the day.  Not to say that dad couldn’t, but it was mom’s forte.  That usually meant that when it came to Mother’s Day we were already starting without our MVP.  I don’t want you to fall short this Mother’s Day, so here is a SUPER easy, delicuious and easy meal to show the mom’s in your life just how much you care!

At our house you can never go wrong with a nice steak dinner.  And when you cook them on the grill, its minimal mess which means minimal clean up (for you… because momma isn’t doing dishes on Mother’s Day, remember?).

The most important step in making this isn’t going to be at home- its at the grocery store.  A good steak isn’t made with the rubs, seasonings, or marinades (although they do make for some awesome added flavor!).  Its how that calf was grown (ok, so really its starts on the ranch, but you don’t have much control over that!).  At the meat counter, take the time to choose a steak with good color and good marbling- the little flecks of fat that are in the meat.  This is where you get your flavor and what makes a steak tender.  Factor in the cut, or the type of steak, that you are getting.  Choose one that is from the rib area.  Steaks that come from places like the shoulder tend to be a less tender.  Personally, my favorite is a T-bone… yep… I love T-bone steak.

Once you get your steak home the stage is set for some incredible eating with only a little bit of work.  Get the grill hot and ready to go and when its hot, its time to get cooking.

After putting the steaks on the grill, add a little salt.  Partially for flavor, but also because that helps to keep the juicy flavor in the steak.  A LONG time ago you learned about how water follows salt in some science class, right?  This is when you are finally gonna use what you learned!

Let it cook for a good 1-2 minutes and then turn in 45 degrees to give it that criss-cross look.  Besides looking so professional (which is what we’re going for, right?!), those lines are seared, which sort of caramelizes the surface and locks in more of that delicious flavor!

Once you rotate your steak, let it grill for another 2-3 minutes and then flip and repeat.  A little more salt for flavor AND to keep your steak moist.  This time we like to add a little more seasonings- just some pepper and good ol’ seasoning salt (at this house, sometimes less is more!).  After its cooked for a minute or two, rotate.  Give it another good couple of minutes and then you’re done!

Unless you’re going for a well-done cooked steak.  Then you’re not done.  Keep cooking…

Timing is important to cooking steaks.  You don’t want to under cook your meat, pull it off and then have to start over.  Ideally, you only want to flip your steak once.  But the opposite is possible- over cooking.  I’m not a fan of burnt steak… or a dry steak.  I don’t know about you, but pink in the middle is perfect.

But however your momma likes it, is what we’re going for.  And no matter how that is, she is gonna love your delicious, home-cooked steak dinner.  Add some steamed veggies and some fresh watermelon and you will rule the day!

Because really, don’t all the mom’s in your life deserve nothing but your best?

Happy Mother’s Day! (early…)

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Cooking for Cowboys, Rancher's Wife Stripes, Ranching Generations, Recipes, The Rancher's Wife

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Comments

  1. NewMrsAdventures says

    May 14, 2014 at 2:19 am

    This looks delicious! I would love for you share it on my Tasty Tuesday recipe link up here! Everything gets pinned and I would love to have you!

  2. NewMrsAdventures says

    May 17, 2014 at 4:00 am

    Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again next week!

  3. Filipino Store says

    July 15, 2014 at 5:53 am

    Very scrumptious. Amazing post

Hello! I'm Allison, The Rancher's Wife! There's nothing I love more than being out on the ranch with my husband and kids. Join me for a look at what goes on here at the ranch and the life being a rancher's wife!

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Hello! I'm Allison, The Rancher's Wife! There's nothing I love more than being out on the ranch with my husband and kids. Join me for a look at what goes on here at the ranch and the life being a rancher's wife!

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theidahorancherswife

Idaho ranch wife + mama 🐮🤠
Living on cattle, cocoa & kids running wild.
Daily ranch life, western style all with a side of dirt.

Rocky Mountain Oysters… The delicacy of branding Rocky Mountain Oysters… 

The delicacy of branding day that no one partakes in, usually. 

There’s always a few castrated bits grilling on the top of the branding box and, I’ll admit that they smell delicious. In order to feel like a true cowgirl, I once indulged and it wasn’t bad. But I just can’t really wrap my brain around eating more than just a taste. 

Tell me, would eat them? Have you? I want to know!

#lifeonacattleranch 
#marriedtoarancher 
#brandingday 
#rockymountainoysters 
#outontherange
I’m playing catchup on the website but photos from I’m playing catchup on the website but photos from branding over the last weekend have started dropping! 

Let’s just say keeping up with the actual work, the laundry it makes, feeding my people after, and chasing the other activities makes editing and posting photos challenging sometimes 🤪🤣. 

Stay tuned to TheIdahoRanchersWife.com this week for daily photo drops. You won’t want to miss anything from the ropers dragging calves in to the kids adding a little extra chaos. 
#lifeonacattleranch 
#marriedtoarancher
#daysofbranding 
#outontherange
#branding26
What a crew! This posse willingly signed up for th What a crew! This posse willingly signed up for the cold, dust, wind, bruises and hard work all for a chance to rope and a full belly. 

If we would have told them there was 100 more they would have happily gotten back to work. In this day and age are, that kind of attitude feels a little rare. 

We would never be able to do this work without them. And the best part is that these friends make it feel more like play than work. 

Peterson Place 2026 branding in the books. Thank you, to everyone that saddled up, dished up, and chatted it up.  See you next year!

#Brandingontherange
#lifeonacattleranch 
#marriedtoarancher 
#branding2026 
#cowboysatwork
Dust? What dust? 🤣 If there is one thing you can Dust? What dust? 🤣

If there is one thing you can guarantee out here on the range is plenty of dust. We keep praying for rain and have had little bits here and there, but not really much to amount to. 

Until the rains come we will keep doing our work the best we know how, which will mean eating a little more dust. 

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#cattleontherange 
#dustandmoredust
#cowboylife
I’ve loved ranching for as long as I can remember— I’ve loved ranching for as long as I can remember—though marrying my husband proved I still had a lot to learn about their way of doing things.

It’s been about 10 years since I got serious about roping, and only in the last 5 that it’s really started to click. And now I’m hooked!

Still learning, still improving—but fair warning: if I don’t get to rope, I will absolutely be in a mood about it… but I’ll do my best to keep it to myself.

#marriedtoarancher 
#lifeonacattleranch 
#BrandingDay 
#RanchLife 
#WomenWhoRope
Did you know we have been running cattle on this r Did you know we have been running cattle on this range for over 100 years? Even before these public lands were claimed as BLM, my husband’s great-great-grandpa raised cattle through these same hills. In fact, this large herd of cows still carries some of those same genetics. Of course there have changes through the years, but we try to do the same they did five generations ago- raise great cattle. 

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher 
#branding
#cattle
#ontherange
Rancher’s wife tip- consult calendar dates for any Rancher’s wife tip- consult calendar dates for any and ALL possible events, including your child’s birth day. 

On this day 16 years ago, my husband left our little college-town home to drive the 3 hours down to the family desert piece to brand. I instead went to my OB appointment where I was told to go directly to the hospital to deliver my baby. 

Nothing scary or concerning- both baby and I were perfectly healthy. But of course it had to happen on branding day.  I heard the sorted calves loud and clear in the background. And if I remember right, there was a small hesitation where I’m sure he considered staying to brand the first set of calves before coming to the hospital. 

Moral of the story- don’t have babies in branding season. It’s best to consult his calendar. On the other hand, birthing little cowboys into such chaos might be the key to them growing into strong, kind, and capable young men. 

Tell me I’m not the only one who has to plan life around ranch work

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#ranchlife
#brandingseason
#cowboylife
Photos from our first of many brandings are coming Photos from our first of many brandings are coming off the camera and hopping on my website. There are too many fun moments captured to claim a favorite, but here are a few. 

Check out the rest on TheIdahoRanchersWife.com. Direct link can be found in my stories and profile Linktree 

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#brandingontherange
#westernphotography
#cowboysandcowgirls
Headed down to the desert this morning and had the Headed down to the desert this morning and had the best day branding. 

Sunshine ✔️
Roping✔️
Great food✔️
NO wind ✔️
The best people ✔️

We kicked off branding season in the best way and I can’t wait for next week. 

Be ready for a photo dump and stories to come!! (Also, I had a chance to pull out my new telephoto lens for some fun photos today 📸)

#lifeonacattleranch 
#marriedtoarancher
#brandingseason
#brandingontherange
#cownoysandcowgirls
“Hello, Ladies,” said in a low, sultry voice. The “Hello, Ladies,” said in a low, sultry voice. The most subtle pick up line from the Old Spice commercials, of all places. 

We may be in the middle of dropping this years’ calves but that doesn’t mean we aren’t prepping for next year already. 

Bull turnout will be here before we know out which means we need to have enough herd bulls heathy, strong, and range ready to breed cows all summer long. 

For months we have been testing, doctoring, and buying bulls ready. With the last of them being delivered any day now, we will get everything branded, tagged and ready for their final inspection. 

There’s still a little time before turnout, but everything is lining up. Bulls getting ready, cows getting close…
And somewhere in the back of your mind, you can already hear it—
“Hello, ladies.”

#lifeonacattleranch 
#marriedtoarancher 
#bullsofinstagram 
#helloladies 
#ranchlife
You ever feel like you’re being watched while you You ever feel like you’re being watched while you work… ?😅
We had a full panel of judges today, watching every move we made, and I’m sure they were thinking things like “we’re watching you,” “why are you doing that” and “don’t mess this up!”

And honestly… they’re not wrong.

Because whether it’s giving a calf the little extra boost it needs, or raising a boy to step in, work hard, and figure things out—this stuff matters. It’s not always smooth, and we don’t always get it perfect, but it’s worth getting right.

The herd might have a lot more eyes on me, but it’s the eyes from my husband, my kids and the others that are counting on me. Good thing for a lot of love and grace!

Today I’m pretty sure we passed inspection, though. Jury’s still out. 🐄👀

•	#lifeonacattleranch
•	#marriedtoarancher
•	#ranchlife
•	#ranchkids
•	#judgedbycows
Dear Mother Nature, I’ve been skeptical of the we Dear Mother Nature, 
I’ve been skeptical of the weather and your intentions for months now. Could life really be this sunny and warm? 🥰🤔

But now that the calendar has actually flipped to spring, I’m feeling more confident and hopeful that this is here to last. 🥹

Now, that doesn’t mean you should drop snow on us just because I’m relaxing into it, although that still would be part of an Idaho spring. 🤪🤣

We could use a touch rain. The moisture we have had has done so much good but it won’t last long. 🙏🏻

As ranchers we put a lot of faith and trust in you to take care of us. Don’t let us down. Not there’s a lot we can do in revenge or anything 🫩😮‍💨🤣. 

Sincerely, 
A ranch wife pulling out the short sleeves and officially putting away the snow clothes. 

Ps- it seems like you always struggle to know how much wind to share our way. Please error on the side of too little. 

#lifeonacattleranch 
#marriedtoarancher 
#DearMotherNature 
#RanchLife 
#SpringVibes
Please tell me not the only one… I’m starting to Please tell me not the only one… 

I’m starting to realize I live in a constant state of being in the wrong place… while also being exactly where I’m supposed to be.

At a basketball game? Thinking about what’s happening on the ranch.
Out on the ranch? Thinking about the laundry, the schedule, or where I’m supposed to be next.

Turns out nothing on a ranch waits for you. Not the cows, not the weather, not the work.

And unfortunately, the rest of life doesn’t either.

I used to think if I just planned things better, I could keep up with all of it.

Now I’m realizing that was wildly… optimistic. 🤣🤪

So these days I just do my best to show up where I am, try not to think too hard about what I’m missing somewhere else, and trust it’ll all still be there when I get back.

(Some days I’m better at that than others.)

Give me an AMEN IF you’ve ever felt like you’re supposed to be in two places at once 

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#ranchlife
#womeninagriculture
#momlife
“Are you coming out?” Those have to be some of my “Are you coming out?”

Those have to be some of my favorite words.
Around here, they translate to I love you, for sure.

In this busy season of life, I feel pulled in so many directions—kids’ activities, service opportunities, community involvement, my dreams, housework… the list never really ends.

I’ll admit, I struggle with the balance of what I should do and what I want to do.
And most days, what I want is to be out ranching.

But because it’s a “want,” it can feel selfish.

But if he wants me out there working alongside him, then that becomes my priority.

He’s making space and time for me…
and I’m not about to overlook that.

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#ranchlife
#womeninagriculture
#ranchwife
“From behind, it’s just three cowboys and a sea of “From behind, it’s just three cowboys and a sea of fuzzy cows—but in that moment, there’s so much more. Cowboys, side by side, talking, laughing, and soaking in the long, dusty day of branding. These days are hard, no doubt, but it’s moments like this that make all the work feel worth it. Somewhere between the dust and the conversation, family happens. This is ranch life: long days, full hearts, and the simple joy of doing it all together.”

.	#LifeOnACattleRanch
.	#MarriedToARancher
.	#FamilyOnTheRange
.	#CattleCrew
.	#BrandingDayVibes
Life is too short to wait for something to happen Life is too short to wait for something to happen to you.  I chose to jump into life with two feet and make it an adventure. 

The only problem is that sometimes life wants to tug on you in two different directions. Missing out on things at the ranch brings on a real case of FOMO. I live for these kind of days and it’s hard when the whole operation can’t revolve around me. 

In these moments, it’s a mental choice to be where my shoes are. Wishing I was somewhere else doesn’t solve anything, it just lets the memories I could be making slip by. Earning a state championship title with my girls was not something worth missing, even for a beautiful day sitting cows in the range. 

#lifeonacattleranch 
#marriedtoarancher 
#bewhereyouare 
#bepresentinthemoment 
#statechamps
Romance doesn’t always come by candlelight. We ha Romance doesn’t always come by candlelight.

We had dinner reservations that night.
The cows had other ideas.

And somewhere between the dust, the frustration, and the manure on my fancy clothes, I was reminded of something.

Love out here isn’t separate from the work.
It’s built inside of it.

It’s built when you both run toward the problem.
When you adjust the plan.
When you show up anyway.

Two hands.
One direction.

There’s a longer version of this story on the blog — but this might be my favorite part of it.

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#ranchlife
#westernmarriage
#builtinthework
Roses are red, Violets are blue, We had Valentine’ Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
We had Valentine’s plans…
But the cows broke through!

Boots polished, hair in place,
Dressed up for our night,
Reservations waiting
Under the city lights.

But then we saw them—
Or maybe we didn’t,
A herd of wild backsides
Slipping out of sight.

Nothing says romance
Like a runaway cow chase,
Down the winding highway,
Our hearts already start to race.

Flying out of the pickup
Before it came to a stop,
I’m fairly certain
The Rancher thought I was hot.

Finally to dinner,
Out in the town,
With a hint of manure
Dusting my cowgirl gown.

Maybe this is romance,
Rough, wild, and true—
A night just for us,
Until the cows break through.

Happy Valentines from The Idaho Ranchers Wife!

#marriedtoarancher 
#lifeonacattleranch 
#ranchlifehumor 
#valentineranchstyle 
#loveandlivestock
Every handle has a purpose. Every hand knows the w Every handle has a purpose. Every hand knows the work

#marriedtoarancher 
#lifeonacattleranch 
#HandsOnTheLand 
#RanchLifeBW 
#BehindTheBrand
Confidence comes early. Experience takes longer. Confidence comes early. Experience takes longer.

Some days, I watch our little rancher ride along and marvel at how certain he is about everything. Which pivot should be on or off, which cows should have moved yesterday… the commentary never stops. And yet, he’s learning something quietly bigger than any instruction: that there isn’t one right way to do this work.

Ranching, like parenting, like life, has room for mistakes, experimentation, and figuring out your right way.

There’s more than one right way — and the best one is the one that works for you.

To read more, find the link in my bio. 

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher 
#confidenceplusexperience 
#therightway 
#ranchlife
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