Steak, Mushroom & Blue Cheese Salad

Lately, I've really, really been trying to be healthier. It's insanely difficult when you have a recurring urge to keep making cupcakes. The beautiful little Easter chocolates sitting around are also not helping - but, who else is gonna eat them?? Needless to say, I was very excited to try this recipe! It's from an amazing cookbook, The Best Simple Recipes, that is absolutely necessary for anyone who is hell-bent on teaching themselves to cook. The recipes are easy to follow, delicious and little write-ups tell you exactly which products to buy at the store. As for this recipe: it is a great man salad (you're welcome, Jeff), but is light enough to leave you feeling pleasantly full. A perfect busy weeknight meal. Hope you enjoy it, too :)

Steak, Mushroom & Blue Cheese Salad 

Yield: 2 salads Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 12 minutes

Ingredients
2 chuck steaks (8 oz.) or 2 strip steaks (8 oz.), about 1 inch thick 
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt 
1/2 cup olive oil 
1/4 cup red wine vinegar 
1 medium shallot, minced
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 
10 ounces white mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 (6 oz.) bag baby spinach 
2 tablespoons capers, drained and minced 
3/4 cup crumbled blue cheese 

Directions
1. Pat steaks dry with paper towels. Combine garlic salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper and sea salt in a small bowl then season the steaks. 

2. Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook steaks until well browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Pour off the fat but do not wipe out the pan. 

3. As steak is cooking, whisk together remaining olive oil, red wine vinegar, shallot and mustard in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. 

4. Return skillet to medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and 3 tablespoons of dressing. Cook until mushrooms are golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Set aside and allow mushrooms to cool for 5 minutes. 

5. Toss spinach, capers, mushrooms and remaining dressing in a large bowl. Slice steak into strips, about 1/2 inch thick, and arrange over salad. Sprinkle with blue cheese and enjoy!

Adapted from The Best Simple Recipes