Easy Cucumber Salad™

This is perfect as a side dish or anytime.

2 cucumbers, chopped

1/2 - 1 T.  low sodium soy sauce

1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper, fresh lime juice

1 - 2 T.  sesame oil

Pinch each: turmeric, red pepper flakes, diced ginger root

1 clove garlic crushed and chopped

Rinse, cut cucumbers in half lengthwise and chop.

Place cucumbers in a bowl.

Combine remaining ingredients in a cup. Stir with a fork to mix.

Pour mixture over cucumbers. Cover bowl and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Serves 4.

Easy Korean Steak

This is perfect for watching the Winter Olympics, an easy dinner or anytime.

1 - 1 1/2 sliced beef

1 - 2 T. oil

1-/8 - 1/4 tsp. each: salt, pepper

Pinch red pepper flakes

1 T. brown sugar

1/4 tsp diced fresh ginger

2 - 3 T. low sodium soy sauce

1 - 2 T. each: sesame oil, sake

1 clove garlic crushed, chopped

1/2 c. sliced green onions.

In a bowl combine: sliced beef, salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, ginger, sake, oil, garlic, sugar, soy sauce. 

Stir to coat beef and let marinate in refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.

Preheat saute pan over medium high heat, reduce heat to medium and add oil.

 Add beef to pan and stir fry for 6 -10 min or until done.

Remove beef from pan and place into a serving bowl. 

Add onions to pan and cook for 1 - 2 min. Turn off burner and sprinkle cooked onion over beef. 

Serve with cooked rice or noodles. 

Serves 4. 

Big Game Meatball Hoagies™

This is perfect for watching the big game, dinner, for company or anytime.

16 pre-made meatballs
1/8 - 1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
2 - 3 c. prepared pasta sauce
1 - 2 cloves chopped and crushed garlic
1/2 tsp each: parsley, oregano, basil
2 - 6 T. oil (enough to coat pan)
4 submarine sandwich rolls
4 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese

Preheat skillet to medium high heat. lower heat to medium, add some of the oil. Place meatballs in pan and brown on 1 side for 7 - 10 min approx.  

Turn meatballs over and brown on other side for 7 - 10 min. more. 

Remove meatballs from pan and drain excess fat from pan if needed.  

Return meatballs to pan and pour pasta sauce over meatballs. Cook meatballs and sauce for 10 minutes more or until done.

While meatballs are cooking, combine rest of oil, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic and herbs in a measuring cup. Mix well with a fork.

Use a pastry brush to brush 1 side of the sub rolls with the oil mixture

Heat a grill pan to medium-high heat, lower heat to medium.

Place buns oiled side down on grill pan. Grill bun for 1 - 2 min. to warm them up.

Remove buns from grill pan and set aside.

To assemble sandwiches: with a serving spoon, scoop 4 of the meatballs on 4 of the buns.

Drizzle some of the sauce over the meatballs.

Top meatballs with one slice of cheese.

Top meatballs with the other part of the bun.

Repeat process with remaining meatballs and buns.

Put sandwiches on grill pan for a few minutes until the cheese melts.

You can even put the sandwiches on a cookie sheet and put in them oven for a few minutes to broil until the cheese melts.

Serves 4.