Asian Pasta Salad

8 oz. cooked thin spaghetti (I used Barilla Plus)
1 c frozen baby peas, thawed
1/3 c sliced peeled carrot
1/4 c chopped red bell pepper (other colors will do, too)
3 green onions, sliced

Dressing:
1/3 c light soy sauce
2 T canola oil
2 T rice vinegar
2 t sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 T brown sugar
1 t grated fresh ginger
1/4 t red pepper flakes

Put salad ingredients in a large bowl. Whisk together dressing ingredients in a small bowl and pour over salad. Toss to combine. Chill. Serves 4-6.

Grilled Chicken Sandwiches With Onions and Peppers

1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1/4 c olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t dried rosemary, crumbled
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halvescut in 1”-thick strips
1 medium red onion, sliced
1 green bell pepper,
2-4 crusty sandwich rolls
mayonnaise
romaine lettuce leaves

In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, oil, garlic and rosemary. Marinate chicken in this mixture at least 30 minutes. Prepare grill by covering part of it with aluminum foil. Pierce foil in numerous places and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Grill vegetables on the foil, and chicken on uncovered part of grill over medium heat until cooked through. Serve chicken and vegetables on a crusty sandwich roll along with mayonnaise and lettuce. Makes 2 or 4.

Spicy Grilled Flank Steak

1 1-pound flank steak
1 T canola or vegetable oil
2 t ground cumin
2 t chili powder
1/2 t salt
3/4 t ground black pepper
1/2 t red pepper flakes
1/4 t cinnamon
1 t ground coriander

Rub both sides of flank steak with oil. Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl, and rub over both sides of meat. Grill over medium heat till done (we like ours medium–still slightly pink in the middle), and slice across the grain.

Smoky Burgers

3/4 lb. lean ground beef
2/3 c shredded smoked gouda
1 t Montreal Steak Seasoning
1/2 t Wrights Liquid Smoke Seasoning

Mix all ingredients and shape into two large burgers. (Or you could make smaller burgers, but I was having a beef craving) Grill until done. Serves 2 or 3.

Mahi Mahi w/Lemon-Caper Sauce

2 T butter
2 mahi mahi fillets
1 T capers
2 T half & half or cream
1 t lemon zest
2 t lemon juice

Melt butter in a medium skillet. Sauté fish until golden on each side and it flakes easily with a fork. Remove from pan and place on serving plates. Add capers, cream, lemon zest, and lemon juice to remaining butter in pan. Stir; ladle over fish. Serves 2.

Pork & Napa Cabbage

1 c water
3 T soy sauce
3 T chunky peanut butter
1 t ginger (I used the fresh grated in a jar)
1/2 t browning sauce (Kitchen Bouquet)
3/4 t crushed red pepper flakes
2 T cornstarch + 1/4 c water
1 pork tenderloin (1 lb.), cut into 1-inch cubes (you could use boneless pork loin, too)
5 t canola oil, divided
1 med. onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
5 c thinly sliced Napa or Chinese cabbage
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 c thiny sliced cabbage

In a small bowl, combine the 1 cup watter, soy sauce, peanut butter, ginger, browning sauce, and red pepper flakes; set aside (The peanut butter does NOT blend in). In another bowl, combine the cornstarch and 1/4 cup water until smooth; set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry pork in 2 t oil until well browned. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, sauté onion and garlic in remaining oil for 2 minutes. Add cabbage, water chestnuts, and carrots; stir-fry 3-4 minutes longer or until crisp-tender. Return pork to the pan. Stir in water-soy sauce-peanut butter mixture; blend well. Stir cornstarch-water mixture and gradually stir into pork mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over rice. Makes about 5 servings.

Cauliflower & Mushroom Soup

2 c cauliflower (about half of a medium head)
3 t butter
2 T minced onion
2 c sliced mushrooms
2 T flour
1/2 t salt
1/4 t white pepper
2 beef bouillon cubes or 2 t beef soup base
3 1/2 c milk
2 T chopped parsley (optional)


Wash and drain cauliflowerets. Slice the larger ones. Cook in boiling salted water 8 minutes or until barely tender. Drain and mashl slighlty. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onion and mushrooms. Cook until onion is tender but not browned. Stir in flour, cook 1 minute. Add salt, white pepper, bouillon cubes and milk. Cook and stir until hot and slightly thickened. Add cauliflowerets. Cook until heated through. Serve at once. Serves 4

Macadamia-Coconut Mahi Mahi with Pineapple Beurre Blanc

1 6-oz. can pineapple juice
1 T butter
3 T heavy cream
1/4 c flour
1 t lemon juice
1/4 c milk
1/4 c unsweetened flaked coconut
1/3 c macadamias
2 Mahi Mahi fillets
2 T butter

Start the sauce, since it takes the longest time, and can cook while you're preparing the fish. Put the pineapple juice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and continue to cook over medium heat (not boiling but more than simmering) for 15-20 minutes. Add butter and continue cooking until reduced by over a half. It will appear syrupy. Turn off heat and add cream.

Prepare three dredging plates: in the first, put the flour. In the second, stir together the milk and lemon juice. Chop the coconut and macadamias very finely, and combine in the third bowl. Coat the fish fillets with flour, then dip in milk, and then in coconut-macadamia mixture. Sauté in butter over medium heat until browned on both sides and fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve with sauce. Makes two servings.