Flank Steak, Tomato, & Mushroom Kebabs with Basmati Rice (Plated Review!)

Last week, I had the opportunity to sample a gourmet meal delivery service, called Plated. A different menu is released every week, members choose which "plates" they would like to order, then the recipes and individually wrapped ingredients are sent right to customers' doorsteps. The front page of the company's website reads: "You choose a chef-designed recipe. We deliver the fresh ingredients. You cook a delicious meal." I had never tried anything like this before, so I was really interested to see how it would all work out.

For my first order, I went with the Flank Steak, Tomato, & Mushroom Kebabs with Basmati Rice. I realized that this could also be an ideal recipe to share for Labor Day Weekend! It's a simple, low-maintenance dish that can be easily enjoyed outdoors...while we're all bidding farewell to Summer with BBQ's, picnics, and beach trips!

Seared Steak with Ponzu Sauce

I was craving steak earlier this week, and so I came up with this quick and easy recipe for Seared Steak with Ponzu Sauce.

Ponzu sauce is a Japanese sauce made with a blend of citrus juice and soy, and it's commonly served with meat or fish that's prepared "tataki" style. Seared tuna is the most popular pairing at many Japanese and sushi restaurants.

But, since I didn't have any tuna steaks to just pull out of my freezer, I decided to use...well...steaks! Since the beef can be prepared medium-rare, like the seared tuna, all of the flavors worked really well together. This is a great, versatile recipe for barbeques, game days, or even for an easy weeknight meal.