How to Pick a Steak Based on Your Party Size

(BPT) – Love to entertain, but never too sure about the best options to delight and satisfy your dinner guests? Here is an easy guide, courtesy of Organic Prairie — an independent co-op of organic family farms — to help you pick the perfect cuts of steak to prepare, and which ones are best suited for exactly the kind of gathering you’re planning — using the highest quality organic meat.1. For an intimate gatheringIf you’ve invited one other couple or just a friend or two over for a holiday dinner, tender, melt-in-your-mouth Filet Mignon is the perfect choice. It’s delicious and elegant, and you can serve each person their own filet, so everyone can choose exactly how they want their meat cooked. A little herbed butter is all you need to bring out the best flavor of this cut!This type of steak usually steals the show, so you can prepare a simple side or two to accompany this dish. One suggestion is to warm up a crusty baguette and toss a festive salad with a few garnishes like toasted nuts, plus pomegranate arils, mandarin oranges or dried cranberries for a colorful, seasonal touch.2. Now it’s a partyFor a larger dinner party, such as 8–10 people, Ribeye Steaks are a great option to serve. Because this cut of meat has a higher fat content, ribeye steaks tend to have a little more flavor and can be easily seasoned using salt and pepper. Just be sure to rest the meat for about five minutes after cooking, so the steaks will retain their flavorful juices when you’re ready to serve. These steaks are easy to prepare and will be sure to impress with their rich flavor!3. A New York state of mindSimilar to the ribeye, Premium New York Strip Steaks are a fantastic option to satisfy larger gatherings of 8–10 people, it just depends on which cut of meat you prefer. A New York Strip is a leaner cut of meat with less fat, and can be a bit tougher in texture than Ribeye. However, strip steaks are a delicious and popular cut of meat that pair well with sides such as baked potatoes and green salad for a classic meal everyone will love!Pro tip: If you want to up your steak game, strip steaks are a great choice if you want to grill. Snow grilling, anyone? Firing up the grill — even in the winter — will bring a little extra “wow” to your next dinner party.4. Steak for appetizers? Yes, please!If you have a larger crowd and are looking for hearty and tasty appetizers for your next holiday gathering, Tenderloin Steak Tips are an easy, bite-sized offering to prepare. You can even use them to create steak kabobs: Alternate steak tips on skewers with colorful veggies — onions, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts and even pineapple! — to delight your guests.Or you can slice up top sirloin steaks to make this delicious and easy recipe:Garlic Steak CrostiniServings: 20 pieces. Prep time: 25 minutes. Cook time: 15 minutes.Ingredients16 ounces Organic Prairie Top Sirloin SteaksJuice of 1 lemon1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce1 to 2 baguettes, depending on size4 tablespoons Organic Valley Salted Butter, softened2 cloves garlic, minced2 teaspoons organic extra virgin olive oilSea saltBlack pepper1/2 cup spinach leaves2 ounces Organic Valley Blue Cheese CrumblesChives, dicedDirections1. Pat steak dry with a paper towel and add to a shallow dish.2. In small bowl, add lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce, and mix together. Pour over the top of the steaks.3. Let rest for 15-20 minutes, until steaks are at room temperature.4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.6. Cut baguette into 1/2-inch slices on a diagonal. You’ll need 20 pieces total. Place on the prepared baking sheet.7. In small bowl, add butter and garlic and stir to combine completely. Using butter knife, spread garlic butter onto each piece of bread and place back on baking sheet.8. Heat olive oil in cast iron skillet over high heat.9. Generously salt and pepper the steaks on each side.10. Cook steaks in skillet about 2 minutes each side, searing them until brown on each side and red in the middle. Immediately transfer the skillet to the oven and bake 6-8 minutes, until the steak is 130-140 F for medium-rare (or cooked to your liking).11. Add garlic bread to the oven and bake 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.12. Remove steak from oven and let rest 5 minutes before cutting. Slice steak into 1/2-inch-thick strips.13. Place 1-2 spinach leaves on top of garlic bread, add steak strip on top, top with crumbled blue cheese and chopped chives. Serve immediately.5. For a fancier occasion Finally, if you’re serving steak for a celebration — like a New Year’s Eve dinner — Beef Tenderloin Steak is known as one of the most tender cuts of beef, perfect for a fancier occasion. This juicy and flavorful steak lends well to pan searing and finishing in the oven. Pro tip: Plan on 6–8 ounces of meat per person when you’re planning to serve up steak as the main course. Depending on the number of sides, you can adjust the amount of steak per person. Serve with roasted vegetables, winter squash and comforting mashed or scalloped potatoes for a hearty celebration at year’s end.Looking for recipe ideas and flavorful organic products to serve at your next party? Visit OrganicPrairie.com.