Creamy Cucumber Salad

Sides and salads can be challenging in the sense of keeping them fresh, new, and interesting. We get stuck in what is quick and familiar. But I'd encourage you to begin this year with a resolution to not only cook more, but also, branch out and try new flavors, new cuisines and new recipes with new ingredients!

Check out this Creamy Cucumber-Dill Salad and add it to tonight's dinner like The Chicken Souvlaki Skewers or Asian Flank Steak or plain ol' hamburgers! This is a great addition and tasty alternative to same old salad!

(Adapted from Cook's Illustrated The Science of Good Cooking)

Equipment:
Mixing Bowl
Knife
Peeler
Cutting Board
Collander

Ingredients:
3 cucumbers, peeled, halved, and seeded
1 small red onion, sliced very thin
1 Tbls salt
1 cup sour cream
3 Tbls Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tsp sugar
1/8-1/4 cup fresh minced dill

Instructions:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Peel your cucumbers and slice lengthwise in half.

3. Use a spoon-tip to remove the seeds.
4. Slice the cucumber into 1/4" slices

5. Add the cucumber slices and thinly sliced onion to a colander.

6. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for at least 1hr, max 3 hrs. Rinse with cold water and pat dry.

7. Combine sour cream, vinegar, sugar, and dill in medium mixing bowl.

8. Add the cucumber / red onion mixture. Stir until combined.

9. That's it! Get a fork.
10. Easily made ahead a chilled in the fridge while you make the rest of dinner.

Sweet Potato Fries with Lime Mayo Dipping Sauce

Great games coming up this weekend: Alabama vs Texas A & M.  Notre Dame vs Purdue.  I could go on and on.  Probably your school is having a party even if they are playing in the SEC or Big10, but whatever, you do, I know you don't want to slaving over the stovetop preparing food.

Make it simple this weekend:  Try the Marinated Flank Steak or Bandilicious Chicken Marinade.  Make your own salad or stop by Homemade Pizza for one of their seasonal salads.  And throw these in the oven.  Then...step away.  Enjoy the game!

Found this recipe in one of Epicurious magazines--delicious.  Approx cost: $3-4.

Equipment:
Large Baking Sheet
Aluminum Foil
Mixing bowl
Grater with a fine tooth side

Ingredients:
2-3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into wedges
1-2 Tbls of vegetable oil (do not add excessive oil--potatoes won't crisp)
Salt & Pepper

Dipping Sauce:
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 tsp lime zest
1/8 tsp cayenne
1-2 tsp of lime juice

Instructions:
1. Wash your hands.
2. Preheat oven to 450F degrees.
3. Cover baking sheet in foil and spray with PAM

4. Toss the sweet potato wedges with vegetable oil on the baking sheet and spread out on sheet

5. Salt & Pepper potato wedges.

6. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes.  Turn wedges once, and finish baking 15 minutes longer.

7. Combine mayo thru lime juice in a bowl.

8. Potato wedges should be golden and crisp.  Get your platter out and serve with dipping sauce.

9. Awesome.
10. Enjoy the compliments.

Grilling For Flavor

Somewhere a grill is being fired up. And why settle for processed links called hot dogs and brats? (They have their place in life, no doubt, but if possible, why not have better?)

I'm not talking about filet mignon or beef tenderloin--I'm talking about affordable flank steak, marinated with all the flavor, and grilled to perfection.

Not as cheap as a pack of dogs, but so much more versatile and delicious--and that's what friends are for: dessert, fruit, chips and salsa, condiments, drinks, paper plates, etc--no need to pay for this alone.

None of us want to be in the kitchen on sunny days, so let's stick to 'simple':  Marinate.   You can head to the gym, play ultimate frisbee, sit at the pool, read a book--all while the marinade does its' magic on the steak.

And I promise you that your friends won't care if you need to borrow their grill as long as they get a few slices of this marinated flank steak. 

Note: if you don't have a charcoal grill or friends with grills, (or, you simply don't want to share) you can use a grill pan on your stove top.

Equipment:

Grill or grill pan (these are usually square skillets with ridges)
Pyrex Dish / Large Freezer bag
Ginger grater (optional. see device below or use fine-toothed side of cheese grater)
Stove Top, if you are using a grill pan

Ingredients:
1-2 lbs flank steak (should run you about $5.99-$7.99 / lb)

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/3-1/2 cup vegetable oil (have some to brush the grill with as well)
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbls horseradish
1 Tbls ginger, grated or thinly sliced (grated oozes more flavor)
1-2 Tbls honey
Black pepper
1-2 tsp of toasted sesame oil (optional)

Instructions:
1. Wash your hands, especially if you have been playing frisbee, football, or anything else outdoors.
2. Mix all of the ingredients together.
3. Pour over the steak.  Cover pyrex with clear wrap.  Set aside for at least 30 minutes.  Or, put everything in a large zip-lock freezer bag, and seal for 30 minutes.

4. Get the grill ready.  Clean the grates. Ensure it is working or that you have charcoal and starter.
5. Brush the grill grates with oil.
6. Grate should be placed about 4-6 inches above flame.

7. Once meat is marinated, remove from sauce and pat dry.
8. Place on hot grill for 5-6 minutes for each side.  Cook less if you want RARER, more if you want your meat DONE.  Whatever you do, just don't forget it--you will be out about $15 with no alternative.

9. ALWAYS LET MEAT REST AFTER COOKING!  5 Minutes, at least!
10. Cut against the grain of the meat into thin (approx 1/4") slices.
11. ENJOY!

Happy Mother's Day!

To Moms Everywhere

Age 17

 Age 82