Food: Chili-Rubbed Steak Tacos with Cucumber-Avocado Salsa

It's football season...and the end of summer. So what could be better than some warm, spicy, steak tacos with a hit of tart, citrusy lime, and cooling avocado and cucumber? This meal is a reminder that the warm weather isn't quite gone yet -and- it's a more grown up and tangy tailgating treat than blah, blah, boringly simple burgers and brats. The "salsa" has quite a bit of lime juice in it...so it keeps quite well when stored in the refrigerator overnight. In fact, if you have leftovers, feel free to lose the corn tortilla and make a simple salad out of the salsa and shredded cabbage...add a little bit of crumbled feta and you have a refreshing lunchtime treat. And (can you keep a secret), did I mention this meal as a whole is pretty darn healthy? Bonus! This is definitely a recipe to add into your monthly rotation.


Chili-Rubbed Steak Tacos with Cucumber-Avocado Salsa
Adapted from Ellie Krieger - Food Network

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• A pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 1/2 pound top sirloin steaks cut 1-inch thick
• 12 small corn tortillas (5 to 6 inches in diameter)
• 3 cups shredded red cabbage (MM Tip: Buy a pre-shredded bag from the salad section)
  
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 2 cups Avocado Lime Salsa, recipe follows

DIRECTIONS

In a small bowl stir together chili powder, garlic, cinnamon, salt and cayenne pepper. Rub spice mixture on both sides of steaks.

Grill or broil steaks for 8-10 minutes on each side for medium-to-medium-well, turning once. Remove from grill and let meat sit for 10 to 15 minutes. Carve into thin slices.

Warm tortillas by placing them on the grill, for about 30 seconds, turning once. Wrap in foil to keep warm/steamed. Place the carved steak, warm tortillas, cabbage, cilantro, lime and Avocado Lime Salsa in serving dishes and let diners make their own tacos at the table.

Cucumber-Avocado Salsa:

• 1 large English cucumber, cut into chunks (about 2 cups)
• 2 avocados, cut into chunks
• 2 limes, juiced
  
• Salt
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 hot Anaheim chile, seeded and chopped
  

Place cucumber and avocado in a large bowl and add lime juice and salt. Add cilantro and chiles and toss gently.

Food: Soba Noodles

Now that we've seen some 80 degree temps here in Detroit (OK...so not 80 degrees consistently, just scattered here and there like the tree pollen all over my driveway), I've started thinking about summer foods. For example, burgers (or rather anything) on the grill, fresh seafood, salads... So today I've decided to share with you one of my favorite, one-dish, "salad" recipes for the warm weather - Peanut Soba Noodles.

This is one of my standard summer staples. It's fresh, super easy and quick, tastes of wonderful Asian flavors, has hearty and good-for-you Soba (Japanese buckwheat) noodles, and is scattered with veggies galore. Just thinking about crunchy and slightly spicy, thinly sliced radishes, sweet and crisp sugar snap peas, and cilantro (yes, those of you who think this tastes like soap can leave it out but you really don't know what you're missing) is enough to get my mouth watering. It also has one super special ingredient that I'm sure you won't mind using on a sandwich or some crackers later - gooey but super tasty natural peanut butter (yes, the stuff that you have to stir and put in the fridge afterwards).

I know you're going to enjoy this one because not only is it fast, tasty, and fresh, it's one of those things that after you make it once you don't really follow a recipe any more...you just begin to throw in whatever strikes your fancy - shredded carrots, golden raisins, green onion, diced apple, water chestnuts, bok choy, etc. - you get the picture. It also keeps very well in a container to throw in your lunch box - in case you want to take some to work for your lunch (eating them with chopsticks, of course). But pack a napkin and a Tide pen just in case you're a little sloppy with the noodles :)

I think I'll have a second helping.

Asian Peanut Soba Noodles

MM

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz of soba noodles (or one package), cooked per instructions, drained, and rinsed well (use your fingers to help you get each individual noodle rinsed)
• 3 T fresh peanut butter
• Juice and zest from 1 lime
• 1 T low sodium soy sauce
• 1 T rice vinegar
• 1/2 T sriracha (you can always add more on top once you serve it)
• 1 T honey
• 1/4 c fresh, chopped cilantro
• 4 radishes, thinly sliced
• 1 handful of sugar snap peas
• 1/4 c roasted peanuts

DIRECTIONS

• In a bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, soy, lime, vinegar, sriracha, and honey
• Toss together with the cooked/drained/rinsed soba noodles, cilantro, radishes, sugar snap peas, and peanuts
• Serve in bowls and slurp up with chop sticks (or twirl around a fork like you're eating pasta)!

Food: Shrimp Cakes with Spicy Sour Cream and Bok Choy

We're headed to the Carolinas on vacation in a few weeks and I've already started thinking about burying my toes in warm sand, finally being able to snuggle up with a book and read it cover-to-cover in one sitting, and spending time with family. I'm even looking forward to that salty crust the ocean water leaves on your skin and sunglasses and getting up entirely too early in the morning just to walk on the beach at sunrise. As a result of all of this, I've been craving food that reminds me of the sand and sunshine and relaxation.

For many of us, when we think of food from the East Coast, fresh crab and crab cakes come to mind. But, unless we live in that region, fresh, lump crabmeat isn't exactly easy to find at your local market/grocery store. As a result, when I saw a recipe for seafood cakes using shrimp, I was instantly intrigued. Maybe it's a fairly common thing for all of you in coastal towns, but being a mid-westerner, I can't say I've ever seen let alone tasted a shrimp cake before. I suppose I shouldn't feel too guilty about it though since even Bubba from the film "Forest Gump" left out shrimp cakes in his famous shrimp-this, shrimp-that spiel. Anyway, with that said, I decided to try out this recipe. The end result was a warm, fresh-tasting, lightly seasoned, crispy on the outside cake with a spicy, kick-in-the-mouth of a dip on the side. Saute up a little bit of baby bok choy with some freshly grated ginger and you'll have a perfect little meal. The cakes make great left-overs and can be either eaten alone or on a sandwich - but make sure you consume them within a day or two.

Shrimp Cakes
Adapted from a recipe by Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar (Maui) featured in Bon Appétit, September 2005

Ingredients

• 2 bags, frozen uncooked, peeled, deveined large shrimp (~2lbs), thawed, rinsed, and patted dry
• 2 large eggs
• 1 shallot, diced
• Juice from 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons stone ground mustard
• 3-4 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 3 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 2 tablespoons (or more) vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 t hot sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

• Coarsely chop shrimp in processor.
• Add eggs, shallot, lemon juice, mustard, cilantro, hot pepper sauce. Blend in using on/off turns.
• Add 2 cups panko and blend in using on/off turns.
• Form mixture into 3-to-4-inch-diameter cakes. Roll cakes in remaining 1 cup panko; transfer to waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 20 minutes. (Can be made up to 4 hours ahead).
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry cakes until cooked through and golden brown on both sides, adding more oil to skillet as needed, about 6 minutes.
• Spoon Spicy Sour Cream on to each cake or serve alongside for dipping.
  

Spicy Sour Cream
MM Original

Ingredients

• 8 oz container Light Sour Cream
• 4 Tb Chili Garlic Sauce (found in the Asian Foods Section)
• Zest from 1 Lime
• 1 t freshly grated ginger

Directions

• Combine all four ingredients together in bowl. Stir to combine.