Ginger Soy Marinated Flank Steak

Author Notes

I'll fill you in on a secret. Kids will eat meat that isn't cooked until it screams for mercy. In fact, I've found many prefer their burgers and steak prepared on the medium-rare side. When I first started making them for Isabella, I followed the recommendations in most every parenting book and served it to her well-done. As she pushed it aside and looked at me tight-lipped, I just figured she might be exercising an early vegetarian preference.

Then I looked at the twice-killed steak and didn't blame her. Who would want this charred piece of meat? I decided to trust my motherly instinct and started serving it medium-rare, just the way I like it.

She still raises an eyebrow every time I make it, though, so those early well-done memories obviously left a lasting impression. When she asked what was for dinner recently and I told her steak, her prompt response was "you know I'm not going to like that".

Honestly, I figured she was right because I'd decided to give it an Asian flair with some soy sauce and fresh ginger, but since my policy is to make one meal and hope there's at least a few things she'll eat, it didn't matter to me.

The rest of the meal was a buttery polenta, arugula salad with strawberries and and a cheese platter—she'd surely find something there to please her palate.

Wondering how dinner turned out that night? I love a surprise twist, so the fact that there were no leftovers, was fine. Isabella went back for seconds, and even thirds. Imagine a lion who'd gone vegetarian for years and suddenly remembered she was a full-on carnivore. It was one small victory for mom, and while I did resist the temptation to do one of those "in your face dances", I did tell her I was really proud that she tried it. The fact that she loved it had me dancing on the inside. —Jennifer Perillo