Zesty Philly Cheesesteak Skillet -- The Right Food, From the Right Person

Thirty-four weeks. September and I have finished my last week at the daycare for a while. It was a normal day and then at four I said goodbye to the kids going home and I cried a little in the parking lot and called Tyler and he said do you want me to bring food. I said yes. He brought the good kind of fast food, the place I like, not his usual place, and we ate it in the duplex and I put my feet up and he sat next to me and that was sufficient for the transition.

I am nesting in a way that has surprised me. I thought nesting was a metaphor and it turns out it is a physical state. I have reorganized three cabinets. I have washed everything that can be washed. I have arranged the baby room three times, which is not large enough for the arrangement to vary significantly but it varies enough that I keep trying. The mobile above the crib makes a sound when you touch it and every time Destiny visits she touches it and then we both stand there listening to it.

Tyler has been steady all the way through this. I do not know how to describe him in any way that is adequate. He is steady. He shows up. He adjusts the fans. He brings the right food. He talks to the baby at night. He is entirely present for this enormous thing and that presence is the most important thing anyone has ever given me including all the cooking I have done for him and all the biscuits and all the food and all the years. He is here. He is all the way here.

Tyler didn’t bring his usual place — he brought mine, without being asked, because that’s exactly who he is. That cheesesteak flavor, warm and savory and a little indulgent, sitting on the couch with my feet up and him right next to me, is the taste I want to hold onto from this whole strange tender chapter. This Zesty Philly Cheesesteak Skillet captures that same energy: fast enough that someone could make it after a long emotional day, hearty enough to feel genuinely cared for, and the kind of food that says I know what you need without anyone having to say a word.

Zesty Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb ribeye steak or shaved beef, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 oz provolone cheese, sliced
• 2 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons beef broth
• Hoagie rolls or crusty bread, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1. Sear the beef. Heat olive oil in a large cast iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add the sliced beef in a single layer and sear for 2—3 minutes without stirring, then toss and cook another 1—2 minutes until browned. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
2. Cook the vegetables. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add the sliced onion and both bell peppers to the same skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 6—8 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Season and combine. Return the beef to the skillet. Add Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Stir everything together to coat evenly.
4. Make it zesty and creamy. Add the beef broth and cream cheese to the skillet. Stir until the cream cheese melts and coats the mixture in a light sauce, about 2 minutes.
5. Melt the cheese. Lay the provolone slices over the top of the skillet mixture. Cover with a lid or foil for 2—3 minutes until the cheese is fully melted.
6. Serve. Spoon directly from the skillet onto hoagie rolls or crusty bread, or serve as-is for a low-carb option. Eat immediately while warm.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 420 | Protein: 34g | Fat: 26g | Carbs: 10g | Fiber: 2g | Sodium: 620mg