Asian Steak Lettuce Wraps

This is the epitame of balance to me...Great protien with vegetables in something that ISN'T a stir fry. Warning, I'm not putting exact measurements on these recipes because I think it's good to cook what you need and want.

Ingredients: flank steak, red peppers, onions, sliced carrots, asian dressing, romaine lettuce

Directions: Grill steak flipping after 2 minutes (it cooks quick since it's thin). Slice red peppers, onions and carrots and steam in a pan over medium heat with a few tbsps on water until cooked (I like them a little crunchy so I don't cook all the way through). Clean lettuce, break off white ends, add steak and veggies and top with a drizzle of an asian dressing (my favorite is a lite soy ginger).

Variation: Add mango for a sweet twist!

Pomegranate Frozen Yogurt Cake with Oreo Crust

I couldn't even get a picture of this before it was almost gone and melted! This is a ridiculously easy recipe taking 2 pre-made ingredients and putting then together to create a summer favorite.

Ingredients: Your favorite frozen yogurt, a pre-made store bought oreo cookie pie crust. I love fruit and chocolate so that's the combo I went with but you can use strawberry cheesecake frozen yogurt and graham cracker crust, mint chocolate chip and oreo crust, oreo and oreo, maple walnut and graham cracker crust...the possibilities are truly endless.

Directions: Put frozen yogurt in a bowl and mix until soft and soupy. Pour into pie crust and freeze for at least 4 hours.

Wild Rice with Dried Pomegranates and Cashews

This is embarrassing to post as a recipe, but it's a good alternative to a simple, healthy, side dish.
Ingredients: wild rice (in box or bag), 1/3 c. of dried pomegranates, 1/3 c. of cashews
Directions: Cook wild rice according to instructions. Add dried fruit and nuts. Done and done!

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad

Not your ordinary potato salad! This is what I love about cooking...taking a recipe that I've seen a million times, especially as a child in the summer, and adding something different to make it a whole new world.

Ingredients: 6-7 red bliss potatoes, 1/2 c. mayonnaise, 1/2 c. light/no fat sour cream, 1/3 c. blue cheese crumbles, squirt of lemon juice, scallions. The real "red" in the name comes from chopped bacon pieces so add if you like, but you can't call low fat anymore.

Directions: Wash potatoes thoroughly (you can keep skin on or not). Boil water and cut potatoes into small cubes. Boil until cooked soft (about 7 minutes). Drain and rinse in cold water for a few minutes. Mix in sour cream and mayonnaise, a squirt of lemon, chopped scallions, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Adjust ingredients according to taste- I prefer less "dressing" but others prefer adding a little cayenne pepper or tabasco for some kick.

Curry Chicken Salad

Spice up your typical chicken salad with this flavorful variation.

Ingredients:1 1/2 c. chopped chicken breasts cooked, 1/3 c. of your favorite nuts (almonds and walnuts work best), 1/3 c. of your favorite dried fruit (I love dried cherries), 3 tbsp low fat mayonnaise, 1/2 stp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp curry powder, sprinkle of salt and pepper.

Directions: Cook chicken in sauce pan with 2 tbsp of water and cover on over medium heat until cooked all the way through. Chop chicken into small cubes. Once cooled, mix in nuts and fruit. In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and curry powder. The mix into chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve over spinach as a salad or in a sandwich. Also good over (whole wheat) English Muffins as an open faced sandwich.