Cool Summer Recipes

Now that summer is here and the Southern California weather is feelin' muggy and humid like over in the East Coast, we could do some cooling especially with FOOD. Yum. So while some of these entrees are not all"cooling", they are typically consumed and prepared during the summer season where grilling, BBQing and lightly tossed salads are commonplace and complimentary!

The following recipes are all compiled and/or modified from ideas from friends' friends and simple and easy recipe cookbooks found on the top shelf of our kitchen cupboard. So enjoy and stay cool!

Shrimp Avocado Salad

As soon as I heard the word "avocado" my ears tuned in quickly. Here is a modified recipe I will actually try tonite!


ingredients:

1) 1 bag of frozen cooked shrimp (Trader's Joe's usually has this with tail or without tail and they sell salad shrimp which is generally smaller)

2) 1 ripe avocado

3) olive oil (garlic roasted or regular)

4) Italian herbs such as oregano, thyme

5) lemon juice (from lemon or bottle)

6) white wine vinegar

7) fresh cilantro or basil

8) 2 Roma tomatoes

9) 1 mango diced in cubes

10) Spring Mix Salad or Romaine lettuce

toss the salad!

Peel and dice the avocado, put the shrimp on top. Add the prepared vinaigrette, mix lightly and cover. Vinaigrette1/3 cup roasted garlic olive oil1/2 cup cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil1/4 cup white wine vinegar (or substitute lemon juice) 2 teaspoons mixed dried herbs or 2 tablespoons finelly chopped fresh herbs. Mix all the ingredients in a jar. Give it a shake before using. I usually use dry oregano and thyme or fresh lemon thyme and basil. Add chopped basil leaves, cilantro, tomatoes and diced mango cubes and then toss.

Sticky Pork Steaks

ingredients:

1) 4 lean pork steaks

2) 1/4 cup plum, hoisin, sweet & sour, or duck sauce

3) 1/3 cup honey

4) 1 tbsp ketchup

5) 1 tsp. dark brown sugar

6) 2 tbsp. dark soy sauce

7) 1 garlic clove finely chopped

8) 1 tbsp. finely chopped ginger

9) 1/4 cup sesame oil

10) dry sherry to taste

grillin' time!

Combine the sauce and mix well together. Preheat grill pan over high heat. Arrange the pork steaks in a single layer and brush tops with sauce then place steaks, sauce side down on the grill for 5 min. Brush the upper sides of steaks with sauce, turn, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.

Reduce heat to medium and cook steaks for about 10 more minutes or until they are firm and juices run clear when pierced with a toothpick or fork. Serve with rice or pasta.

steak sandwich

ingredients:

1) 1 lb. flank steak

2) 1 clove garlic finely chopped

3) cooking wine to taste

4) soy sauce to taste

5) Kosher salt ( a pinch or 2)

6) sugar sprinkle to taste

7) black pepper

8) french bread

9) sliced mushroom

10) sliced brown onion

11) lettuce, tomatoes

preparation time!

1) Turn on broiler on oven

2) Marinate steak with seasonings above. Place flank steak and broil for 3 minutes and turn over for another 3 minutes until desired quality (rare, medium well, well done). When turning, brush rest of sauce on top.

3) After cool down, slice flank steak into bite size pieces (remember to cut against the grain or perpendicular to direction)

4) Stir fry onions and mushroom..Salt to desired taste and sprinkle brown sugar

5) Slice tomatoes and peel lettuce and place in french bread with the steak.

More summer recipes to come! Keep checkin' Or you can submit your favorite recipes please!!