I know I’ve said this is a thousand times but Sundays in our home doesn’t look like the picture-perfect reels or the “slow living” posts. They look like real life — boys wandering in and out, David working, Gerald waiting on my sister, dogs pacing, and me upstairs trying to work while life happens around me.
But one thing we DO try to hold onto is Sunday dinner — not lunch, because we do Church at home over the computer with Mikalya, and not everyone is awake, home, or in the same mood at the same time.
Dinner is our anchor. Dinner is where we reset. Dinner is where we breathe. Dinner is where we say, “Okay, we made it through another week.”
And tonight’s dinner is one of our favorites:
Steak, Potatoes, and Green Beans — cooked on our Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill 🔥
Our Coleman Tailgating Grill: The Little Clearance Grill That Could
We bought our Coleman Tailgating Grill at Ollie’s on clearance a couple years ago for C’s birthday — one of those “we don’t have the money but we’re going to make this happen anyway” moments.
And let me tell you…
This little grill has become:
- A family tradition
- A budget saver
- A Guys’ Corner staple
- A homeschool tool
- A fire safety lesson
- A neighborhood conversation starter
We live in an apartment/townhome, and if you know anything about apartment rules, you know:
- No charcoal
- No smokers
- No open flames
- No “my cousin built this in the garage” contraptions
But THIS grill? Propane. Portable. Safe. Allowed on the front or back porch.
The neighbors borrow it. They ask about it. They teach their kids fire safety with it. They ask if it’s allowed in apartments. They ask if it’s worth it.
And the answer is YES.
This grill is the reason we can cook:
- Steak
- Chicken
- Burgers
- Hot dogs
- Veggies
- Kabobs
- Corn on the Cob
- Baked Potato’s
It’s the reason we can do down‑home meals even when we’re living in a place with rules.
🔥 Apartment Grilling Safety Tips (Family-Friendly)
- Use propane, not charcoal always
- Keep grill away from siding, flowers or anything flammable
- Never grill indoors
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby
- Teach kids how to turn propane on/off
- Teach kids how to check for leaks
- Teach kids how to clean the grill and hubby to
Homeschool families — this is a built‑in life skills lesson.
🍽️ COOK ONCE, EAT TWICE: STEAK, POTATOES & GREEN BEANS
Sunday Dinner + Monday Lunch for Under $5
⭐ Ingredients
For Sunday Dinner
- 2–3 steaks
- 4–6 potatoes
- 1–2 cans or bags of green beans
- Olive oil or butter
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Hidden Valley Ranch (our go‑to)
- Aldi Tuscan Garden Ranch (budget option)
- Walmart Great Value Ranch (middle ground)
For Monday Lunch ($5 or less)
- Leftover steak
- Leftover potatoes
- Lettuce or mixed greens
- Ranch dressing
- Shredded cheese
- Optional: tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons
⭐ Step‑By‑Step Instructions
1. Prep the Potatoes
- Wash and cube
- Toss with oil, salt, pepper, garlic
- Spread on a sheet pan
- Roast at 400° for 30–40 minutes
- Stir halfway through
2. Cook the Green Beans
Southern Style:
- Add green beans to a pot
- Add butter, salt, pepper, and a splash of broth
- Simmer 20–30 minutes
Quick Style:
- Microwave with butter and seasoning
- Done in 5 minutes
3. Cook the Steak on the Coleman Grill
- Preheat grill
- Pat steak dry
- Season with salt, pepper, garlic
- Grill 3–4 minutes per side
- Let rest 5 minutes
- Slice thin
4. Add the Ranch (The Comparison Test!)
- Drizzle Hidden Valley Ranch over one portion
- Drizzle Aldi Ranch over another
- Drizzle Walmart Ranch over another
Let the boys vote. Let David vote. Let YOU vote. Let the neighbors vote if they wander over.
In our home hands down the winner was drumroll…. Hidden Valley Ranch
If you make this meal leave me a comment and let me know which Ranch your family likes and why.
This is a family review moment.
🥗 Monday Lunch: $5 Steak Salad
- Chop leftover steak
- Add leftover potatoes
- Add lettuce
- Add cheese
- Add ranch
- Add any veggies you have
- Toss
Feeds 3–4 kids for under $5.
📚 Homeschool Tie‑In
Homeschool families you can turn this meal into a lesson:
- Fractions (cutting steak)
- Budgeting (cost per meal)
- Nutrition
- Cooking skills
- Taste testing
- Writing a review
- Comparing brands
- Fire safety
- Responsibility
⭐ Guys’ Corner: David’s Grill Tips
- Keep the grill clean and this is the products Scrub Daddy Household Cleaning + BBQ Bundle – BBQ Daddy Bristle Free Grill Brush – 2 Microfiber Cleaning Towels – All Purpose Cleaner PowerPaste Cleaning Paste + Scrub Mommy Sponge David swears by, and you will find inside our Father’s Day Gift Guide
- Don’t flip steak too much
- Let it rest
- Use a meat thermometer
- Don’t rush the heat
- Always check propane
⭐ Call to Action
If your family is trying to stretch the budget, feed a crowd, and still enjoy a down‑home Sunday dinner, try this Cook Once, Eat Twice recipe — and let us know which ranch won in your house. And don’t forget — C’s Gaming & Streaming Learning Series launches tomorrow.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
