Steak Dinner for Two for $20

There's no reason you can't live large on a budget. It's all about picking and choosing the moments to indulge yourself.

With the help of some savvy shopping you can have
a Friday night steak dinner for two with all the fixings for $20.

Twenty dollars and only two stores.

Here's the menu:

Grilled New York Strip Steak

Sauteed Potatoes with Carmelized Onions

Steamed Broccoli Florettes with Garlic Butter

Fresh Corn on the Cob

Toasted Garlic Bread with Parsley

.

2007 Pepperwood Grove Pinot Noir

How do you bring all that in for 20 dollars.

Here's how:

Follow the deals and know where to look. Once the Wednesday grocery circulars come out start your menu planning.

First stop was Stanley's Fruit Market at 1558 N. Elston (the SW corner of North & Elston).

Stanley's is an amazing resource for produce. Their prices are beyond reasonable, I would highly recommend a weekly visit to their store for all your veggie and fruit needs.

They also have a great bread selection. Several local bakeries sell their goods there and Stanley's gets fresh deliveries from Cuisine de France. If you show up at the right time you can get bagettes hot off the truck.

In addition to fruits, veggies and bread, Stanley's has a small grocery selection with among other things, dried herbs and spices, their own brand of olive oil, chips, nuts and organic coffee.

Coffee isn't the only organic item. Stanley's has a large area set aside for organic produce.


The next stop is Jewel-Osco for the meat and wine.

My recommendation for shopping at Jewel would be to watch the sales.

If you see they are having a killer deal on something, get it. Get two if storage and expiration dates aren't an issue.

Some things can be kept for a later date, either in dry storage, the refridgerator or freezer, i.e. steaks and olive oil.

While some things are best not to load up on unless you can use them sooner than later, i.e. eggs and lettuce.

In this case Jewel was offering a deal on New York Strip steaks. I picked up two for just under 10 dollars. The wine was also on sale and with the purchase of two bottles there was an in-store coupon for 3 dollars off, bringing the cost to just $5.50 per bottle.


The rest of the herbs, spices and dairy come from home, don't worry they are all included in the final price. No sneaky hidden extras. It's all accounted for in the twenty dollars.

Here's the price break down:

2 New York Strip Steaks - $10
1 lb. small white potatoes - $ .70
1/2 lb. broccoli - $ .45
2 ears of corn - $ .40
onion/garlic - $.15
1/2 stick of butter - $.25
1 loaf of sourdough bread - $1.95
oil/herbs/spices - $.60
1 bottle of pinot noir - $5.50

Throw some nice linens on the table. Dust off the good plates and glasses. Light a couple of candles. Heck, put on your going out clothes for a swank night in.

Pull out all the stops. Just because it only cost twenty dollars doesn't mean it has to feel like it.

Do it up, even on a buttoned down budget, we can all live it up.