dinner in 20 minutes

It's Thursday and I'm tired. It's been a very long week and it's still not over. Dinner tonight had to be quick, nutritious, sweet, spicy and crunchy. This sweet and spicy steak sandwich fit those desires. An ice cold beer to wash it down helped to make the day's craziness just melt away. Wholesome food doesn't have to be boring or laborious to make. This little gem took me 20 minutes, even if I was grilling in the rain. It's also a great recipe for one or two people because not everyone is feeding a tribe.

sweet and spicy steak sandwich

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons peanut (or canola) oil

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon siracha sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

8 to 12 oz (250 to 375g) New York strip loin steak, thinly sliced against the grain

1 small carrot, peeled into strips

6 long thin cucumber slices

4 red onion slices, separated

cilantro (coriander) sprigs

1 baguette

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

Combine sugar, peanut oil, vinegar, water, siracha sauce, sesame oil and soy sauce in a small bowl. Transfer half of mixture to a separate small bowl; stir in steak. Cook steak slices on hot grill pan 1 minute per side or until cooked to your liking; set aside.

Add carrot, cucumber, onion and cilantro to reserved sauce; stir to combine. Cut baguette in half crossways. Split each half almost all the way through. Spread with mayonnaise. Fill will steak and carrot salad. Serves 2.