Black Pepper Steak: Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton
Those who are closest to me know that when I love something, my love is deep and it borders on obsessive. I can't ever just "like" something - the nature of my personality tends to fixate, obsess, and isolate the object of my love. When I'm into something, it's full blown, and it consumes me - often to the detriment and annoyance of others around me. And when it happens, be prepared to hear about my obsession, my passion, my current focus at all times; you either get on the boat with me or plug your ears and nod like you're paying attention. Most of the time my friends are not feeling my passion; they only pretend to because they know they can't stop it.
If you're currently around me, you know that I've been obsessing about Hamilton, The Musical for the past five months or so. (And those of you who are close to me, if you're wondering whom to thank for this particular flavor of obsession, blame two students PS and AC who got me started.) The musical chronicles the life and achievements of one Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the United States Treasury, founding father, and Washington's Aide-de-Camp during the American Revolution. And if that doesn't sound like the best musical ever - go listen to the soundtrack and follow the lyrics. (You can do that here.) Do me a favor and start from the BEGINNING and listen to the entire thing in one sitting. Carve that time out for yourself. Listen, learn, and be amazed. And if you too, become obsessed, the better I'll like you for it.
There are a multitude of reasons to be obsessed with this musical - the genius of Lin Manuel Miranda. I won't go into how clever he is with words, lyrics, rhythm, how poignant some of the melodies are that tug at your heart strings, and I won't belabor the fact that he worked so hard to bring this thing to life, with a passion unparalleled; such passion is rare, beautiful and otherworldly. The subject of his musical, a formerly much maligned person in history, is portrayed from a new perspective - a new light, with new information, with some definite embellishments and stretches of the truth, but nonetheless a much different character than the dry dude I read about in history. There are many reasons to obsess.
The problem with having an obsession is that you can't understand when others around you do not feel the same way. I found myself talking about the musical until I was blue in the face. I kept bringing it up in random conversation, like all the times my friends would be having a conversation about the weather, or dinner, or grades, and I would unapologetically launch into something that happened in Hamilton. If someone expressed an emotion, I would tie it to something Hamilton felt. (For the record, according to the musical, Hamilton felt a lot of emotions including guilt, regret, grief, vindication, happiness, dissatisfaction, hunger, to name a few.) There was even the day I was dying to for my good friend (SN) to love Hamilton the way I did, and as I plopped myself in her car, over the next hour, proceeded to tell her about the show, play her excerpts, and sob bitterly in one section; I realized I had taken it too far when she exited the car to pump gas and I rolled down the window and continued yelling the story and narrative to her across a car and in front of a gas station of bemused people. (Crazy Asian lady screaming at her friend about some guy named Hamilton.) My brother and his wife and 5 kids (2 of his, 3 of mine) on an hour long drive to LA were forced to listen to me talk and wax on about the musical, and although sister-in-law nodded politely, my brother turned to me and said bluntly, "Sister. You cannot FORCE anyone to like this. SO PLEASE STOP IT ALREADY."
My saving grace came in the form of one student, whom I essentially BEGGED to listen to it. "Please, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to it. I promise you'll like it." One evening she texted me saying that she had begun, and the two of us, over text, listened to things at the same time, and experienced the same wave of emotions and love for the musical at the same time. And in that moment I felt reassured that someone else could share my same love and feel it the same way I did. Our text conversations with one another became one liners from the musical where the other had to respond with the following line. When times were tough, we quoted to each other inspirational speeches from the musical as a source of refreshment.
During the holiday season, as another student had to struggle through college applications, she too, also a Hamilton fan, was subjected to all my encouragement in the form of texts of Hamilton references. I referred to his background, his drive, his university (King's College, now present day Columbia University), his willingness to never give up and to take his shot. With Hamilton, I was able to keep her focused and on time with all deadlines until the completion of applications.
Now it seems my obsession must come to a head - my family heads to NYC, current home of Hamilton, and I'm in the process of trying to get tickets (which are nearly impossible.) I'm considering paying an arm and a leg for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this thing that I am consumed with. I also intend on entering the daily lottery for tickets, because certainly, certainly, I will be blessed with a pair of winning tickets that only cost $10, out of the thousands that enter that lottery daily. (all body parts crossed to see if this can happen)
And one might ask, "What does a musical have to do with this dish?" The answer - nothing at all. The only benefit to this dish is that it is so easy to execute, so perfect with a bowl of rice, and so simple to cook up that it makes it easier for me to think about and dream of Hamilton. I can muse on the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer and visionary; I can think of Alexander Hamilton, as not only a founding father but as a husband, father, and friend. I can think about all these things and not have to think about how to make this dish because once it is marinated, (and it doesn't even need to be marinated long at all), it's all about a quick stir in a hot fry pan. Easy, delicious, and the perfect meal to eat while listening to all the glory that is Hamilton.
Black Pepper Steak Stir Fry
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 lb flank steak, cut into bite-sized cubes
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon crushed garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons grated apple or grated pear
1 tablespoon citrus juice (lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, whatever you have on hand)
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 onion, cut into slices
Vegetable oil for cooking
Method
In a shallow bowl, combine vegetable oil, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce, grated apple, citrus juice, black pepper, sugar, salt. Add steak cubes, coating with marinade thoroughly. Let meat marinate at room temperature for up to 1 hour. If cooking later, cover and refrigerate. (Can be marinated up to 24 hours in advance)
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over high heat. Add beef to pan in batches. Don’t overcrowd the pan if you like a more seared texture without any extra sauce. If you like sauce, go ahead and add meat all at once. Add onion. Cook for about 5 to 7 per batch until meat is cooked through.
Serve with rice and green vegetables.
Printable recipe
Lin Manuel Miranda - I'll cook this for you!
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