CAJUN BLACKENED STEAK WITH SUGAR SNAP PEAS

Steps:

• Marinate the steaks in root beer for 24 hours. Remove the steaks from the root beer and pat dry.
• In a small bowl mix the pepper, hot paprika, sweet paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, ground thyme, file powder, and mustard powder together for the Cajun Spice Mix.
• Put the Cajun spice mix on a tray and heat a cast iron pan over medium heat. Season the steaks with salt and press the steaks into the Cajun spice mix on both sides. Put the steaks, one at a time, in the hot cast iron pan, sear for approximately 2 to 3 minutes on each side for a medium-rare steak, allow to rest before serving.
• Spoon the Sugar Snap Peas, recipe follows, over the steak, garnish with flaked salt and serve with Potato Gumbo, recipe follows.
• To make the sugar snap peas:
• Blanch the trimmed sugar snap peas in salted boiling water. Drain the peas and season with flaked salt.
• For the potato gumbo:
• Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large high-sided saute pan over medium heat.
• Add the onions and saute until golden brown. Add the garlic and smoked bacon and continue to saute.
• Once the bacon has cooked and becomes crisp, add the celery, Swiss chard stems, and green pepper, saute until tender. Remove the bacon mixture from the pan, put in a bowl and set aside.
• Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the same saute pan, add the flour and bay leaves.
• Stir with a wooden spoon incorporating the flour and oil to form a paste. Cook until the flour becomes brown and nutty in color. Add the chicken stock, water, and cayenne, stir.
• Add the potatoes and reserved bacon mixture to the liquid. Cook over medium heat until the potatoes are tender and the liquid reduces, achieving a thick consistency, approximately 30 minutes.
• Add the Swiss chard leaves, season with salt, and pepper, and allow to cook until the leaves are wilted, serve.