Udon noodles with Beef and Bok Choy

Noodley stir fries are always a big hit in our house, and when I recently had some bok choy to use up, I came up with this variation. I like beef and bok choy together, and the peanuts and soy/chili sauce really tie it all together. 

One of the best things about this meal is that it's made in ONE skillet. (You do have to cook the noodles in another pot, but if you find fresh or frozen udon noodles you could save that step.) 

After a quick stir fry of the beef, and then the veggies, you sauce up the noodles and then you're all set. This is very quick, very easy, and very delicious. That's my weeknight trifecta!

Udon noodles with Beef and Bok Choy

8 oz. thinly sliced beef (like sirloin steak)

4 oz. baby bella mushrooms, sliced

12 oz. udon noodles or rice noodles

10 oz. baby bok choy, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 green onions, sliced

3 Tbsp. sweet chili sauce

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp. sesame oil

1 Tbsp. rice vinegar

3 Tbsp. roasted salted peanuts, chopped

1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided

Cook the noodles according to the package directions.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and 1 1/2 Tbsp. water. 

Heat 2 tsp. olive oil over medium high heat. Season the beef with salt and pepper, then stir fry until cooked through. Remove to a plate. (Leave the pan as is, don't clean it up!)

Add another teaspoon of oil to the pan, then add in the bok choy (white parts only!), white parts of the green onions, and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the mushrooms and cook for another minute. 

Reduce the heat to medium low. Drain the noodles, then add them to the pan, along with the sauce, and stir well to break up any pieces stuck to the bottom of the pan. Cook and stir until most of the sauce is absorbed, then add the green parts of the bok choy and the beef. 

Garnish with chopped peanuts and the green parts of the onions.  Serves 4

Korean Beef Sloppy Joes

 

At our house, we love Asian flavors and I'm always game for a fusion - combining two different styles into one food. These Korean Beef Sloppy Joes are just the ticket! Similar to a regular sloppy joe in substance, but with a much tangier, kickier flavor.(Kickier is not technically a word, however it is a great descriptor here, so I'm going to go with it.) 

I also liked that these sloppy joes were not as, well, sloppy, as the traditional recipe that I make. And let's be clear, I love sloppy joes. They are often my request at our family birthday dinner! But this year, these Korean Beef Sloppy Joes won the day. And everyone at the party agreed that they are fantastic.

We enjoyed these at home with sweet potato fries and roasted broccoli, and at the birthday party the Asian Coleslaw (or try this one with mangoes!) was the perfect accompaniment. Followed by cake, of course!

So whether you're having a party, or it's just a regular day, these Korean Beef Sloppy Joes are sure to be a hit. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Korean Beef Sloppy Joes

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. sesame oil

1/2 cup ketchup

1/2 cup hoisin sauce

1/4 cup water

2 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp. rice vinegar

1 tsp. chili garlic sauce

2 green onions, thinly sliced

6 hamburger buns, lightly toasted

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it up slightly with a spoon or spatula. Be sure to leave some larger chunks of meat, so don't break it up entirely. Drain any fat.

Add the garlic, sesame oil, ketchup, hoisin sauce, water, soy sauce, vinegar and chili garlic sauce. Stir well to combine, then bring to a light simmer and let simmer for 5 minutes to combine the flavors. If it's not sloppy enough, add up to 1/4 cup more water. 

Spoon the meat mixture onto the bottom half of the buns, and then garnish with green onions. Top with the other half of the buns.  Serves 6. 

Greek Meatballs

I recently found myself with too much feta cheese, so decided to use some of it to try a new meatball recipe. These meatballs have amazing Greek flavors, and we really enjoyed them with a cucumber tzatziki salad and sauteed green beans.

These Greek meatballs are so easy to make, and so quick! You can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes, perfect for a busy night. 

The feta with the herbs and spices really makes these unique.

If you want to up your meatball game, try these beauties!

Greek Meatballs

1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 cup panko
1/4 cup finely diced onion
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 egg
1 tsp.  parsley
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. coriander
2 oz. feta crumbles

Line a large baking sheet with foil. 

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the beef, and mix well. Add in the ground beef and use your hands to incorporate all the ingredients.

Roll the mixture into 1" meatballs and place on the tray. Bake at 450 for 12-15 minutes, depending on if your meatballs are on the smaller or larger size...

Serve with cucumber salad and roasted or sauteed vegetables.  Serves 4.

Balsamic Red Wine Beef Ribs {Instant Pot}

I love using the Instant Pot for cuts of beef that take a long time to braise. It's still not a freaky fast dinner, even in the IP, but a lot faster than the oven. And beef short ribs turn out so tender! I love the combination of red wine and balsamic vinegar, and it turns out to be a winner when used with these ribs.

First, the ribs get a good sear in your IP, then you saute some onions and garlic in the delicious leftover beef left behinds in the pot. (Beef left behinds is a technical cooking term.) Add in some red wine (pour yourself a glass first!) and deglaze that pot (which means getting all the beef left behinds stirred up) then cook the beef in the winey goodness. At the end add the balsamic to create a delicious sauce. 

If only I had TWO IPs so I could also make the mashed potatoes!  That would be a little much, even for this appliance loving cook. So I made them on the stove. Saute or roast some green veggies, and you'll have a super delicious dinner on your hands. And in your mouth. 

Balsamic Red Wine Beef Ribs 

2 pounds boneless beef short ribs

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cloves of garlic, minced

2/3 cup red wine

1 tsp. rosemary leaves, crushed

1 tsp. parsley

1 1/2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Preheat the Instant Pot on Saute. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper. Place them in one layer in the pot and let them sear. Leave on this side for about 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes. Remove to a plate, and repeat if you have remaining ribs. 

Add onion and garlic to the pot and saute for 5 minutes. Add in the red wine and deglaze the pot, (stirring up all those brown bits that have caramelized at the bottom).

Put the short ribs back in and add the rosemary and  parsley.

Seal the Instant pot insuring that the venting switch is set to "sealing."  Press the Soup/Stew option and set the time to 35 minutes. 

When cooking is completed, let the pot release naturally for 15 minutes. Then, carefully, release all the steam and remove the lid of the pot.

Remove the meat, then skim the sauce off with a spoon to remove the fat.  Add in the  balsamic vinegar, and turn the pot to saute.  Allow to boil until it has reached a glossy and glaze consistency. Serve ribs over mashed potatoes, and covered with glaze. 

Cheesy Taco Pasta

Here's an easy, delicious, fast, one-pot dinner that will have your tastebuds singing. It's perfect for these summer evenings when you're running from one activity to another and your little soccer players need a good supper!

It's also perfect for a rainy summer day when comfort food is in order. Or any day that ends in "y" for that matter. This recipe takes all the good flavors of tacos (too many to name here, honestly) and combines them with pasta in a cheesy, tomato-y sauce.

This won rave reviews at my house, especially when topped with sour cream and guac. (As would anything.)

Cheesy Taco Pasta

3 cups small shell pasta
1 pound ground beef
1/2 cup onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. paprika
2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. salt
2 cups water
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup shredded Mexican style cheese
fresh cilantro, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, olives for garnish as desired


Cook ground beef, onions and garlic in a large skillet over medium high heat until meat is no longer pink; drain fat. Stir in the tomato sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, cayenne, oregano, paprika, cumin, salt, water and pasta.

Loosely cover the pan, reduce heat to medium.

Cook for 5-10 minutes until the pasta is done, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Serve with additional garnishes as you like. Makes 4-6 servings.

Upside Down Shepherd's Pie

I love Shepherd's Pie. But I don't love the time commitment it takes to get it to the table - especially on a weeknight. So you can imagine how excited I was to see this version in one of my last issues of Cooking Light. This shepherd's pie requires no baking - you just spoon what would normally be the bottom over what would normally be the top! Confused? It's easy really - mash some potatoes, and cover them with a fantastic beef and veg mixture.

What was even more fun for me? Buying and cooking turnips! I have never bought them before, and so I obviously hadn't cooked with them before, but they're "native" to this dish, so too important to leave out. (You can sub parsnips if you want...) When I posted this pic on Insta, I got lots of other great ideas about what do to with them, too, so stay tuned for more turnip recipes!

Anyway, back to the Shepherd's Pie...It was a huge hit with everyone in my family. Several asked if they could take it for lunch the next day, which is the sign of a great dinner. With wholesome ingredients, ease of prep, and widespread likeability, this dish will be a regular in our rotation, I'm sure.

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Upside Down Shepherd's Pie

6-8 potatoes, peeled and diced
1/3 cup milk
1 Tbsp. butter
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped turnip
3/4 cup chopped carrot
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups beef stock
3 Tbsp. flour
1 1/2 cups frozen green peas
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt

Start by preparing the mashed potatoes. Place the cut up potatoes in the Instant Pot and cover with water. (Don't use more water than just to cover the potatoes.) Set for high pressure for 6 minutes and release the pressure. Drain the potatoes, return to the pot and add milk and butter and then mash to your desired consistency. Alternatively, cook the potatoes in a large saucepan on the stove until tender, then drain and mash with butter and milk.

Meanwhile, while potatoes are cooking, heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef; cook 6 to 7 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add the onion, turnip, carrot, rosemary, and garlic to pan; cook 6 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and meat. Add stock to the pan, and stir well to absorb the flour, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 4 minutes or until thickened. Stir in peas, pepper, and salt.

To serve, scoop potatoes into shallow bowls and top with beef and vegetable mixture. Makes 6 servings.

Recipe Source: Adapted from Cooking Light

Japanese Pan Noodles with Steak

Winter is hanging on here in the north, (it just snowed AGAIN yesterday!) so another comfort food recipe is required on this Monday. Even though this is good comfort food, it's also loaded with broccoli, carrots and whatever other vegetables you want to add. Stir fry recipes are so great that way - just use what you have! I love the savory/spicy flavor of this sauce, and the steak makes it extra special.

I did not have udon noodles when I made this and substituted rice noodles, as you can see in the picture. Udon noodles are those "heavier" wheat-y noodles, and would typically fit this kind of dish much better. But again, I'm a "use what you have" girl, so rice noodles it was. In any case, you could easily sub cooked linguine or something that makes it easy for you - you'll get similar results, and it's really the veggies and sauce that shine in this creation.


Japanese Pan Noodles with Steak

2-3 Tbsp. olive oil, divided
1 pound sirloin steak, sliced very thin
2 (7 oz) packages Udon Noodles (about 3 cups)
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
2 carrots, julienned
1 large crown broccoli, cut into florets
1 tbsp sesame seeds, lightly toasted

Sauce:
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. mirin, sherry, or other sweet wine
1/3 cup soy sauce
1 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. chili garlic sauce
1 Tbsp. corn starch

Make the sauce:
Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until lightly browned. Add the mirin and cook for another 30 seconds, letting the liquid cook off a bit.

Pour in the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, ginger, and chili garlic sauce. Whisk the ingredients together, cooking until the sugar has melted.

Combine cornstarch with 2 Tbsp. water and whisk to dissolve.

Bring the pot to a simmer and slowly whisk in the corn starch mixture. Cook for 1-3 minutes or until the sauce is thickened.

For the noodles:
Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large wok or skillet over medium- high heat. Add the steak to the the hot pan, and cook 3-5 minutes, working in batches as necessary, then set aside.

In the same pan, heat another tablespoon of oil. Add the mushrooms and broccoli and carrots, and cook and stir for 3-4 minutes or until crisp tender. Add the noodles and lightly fry for about 2 minutes.

Stir in the sweet soy sauce and stir until all the noodles are coated. Stir in the steak, cooking until heated through.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serves 4

Thai Noodles with Peanut Sauce

Lately, I have really been into making stirfry dishes IF they include noodles. And sometimes, I just add noodles and adapt a dish! I love that stirfry "recipes" are really just a guideline - you can use whatever meat and vegetables you like and have on-hand, especially if the sauce is versatile. For me, peanut sauce works well with chicken, steak and pork - not so well with fish - but that's just a matter of preference!

For this version, I used up some leftovers which included steak, broccoli, zucchini and mushrooms. Carrots, peppers, asparagus etc would all be delicious additions as well. Consider this recipe your template, and then make it your own.

I used rice noodles here because I had them in my cupboard but you can easily sub linguine, soba noodles, udon, again, whatever is your preference! So clean out your crisper drawer, get out the pb, and have a delicious dinner in no time at all. (If your family is spice-averse, use only half of the chili garlic sauce...)

Find more great ideas at Inspiration Monday, Inspire Me, Inspire Me 2, Busy Monday, Fabulous, Show and Share, Wow Me, Wow Us, Whisk It, Hearth and Soul.

Thai Noodles with Peanut Sauce

12 ounces linguine or rice noodles
2 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. sesame oil
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 cup chopped broccoli
1 cup julienned zucchini
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 pound sirloin steak, cut into 1/2" cubes
3 tsp. minced garlic
1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. chili-garlic sauce

Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions. Drain and return to pot. Toss with 1 tsp. sesame oil.

Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. sesame oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add steak and cook, for 3 minutes or until browned on all sides. Remove to a plate. Heat remaining sesame oil over medium-high heat. Add green onions, peppers, broccoli, zucchini, garlic and ginger. Saute until vegetables soften, about 4 minutes.

In a large measuring cup (2 cup capacity, or a small bowl) combine honey, peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar and chili-garlic sauce and whisk well. You may want to microwave for 30 seconds to make the peanut butter easier to stir. Add to the vegetables, and add the steak back to the skillet. Simmer sauce 2 minutes.

Add noodles to the skillet and toss well. Transfer to platter and serve warm. Garnish with additional green onions and chopped peanuts, if desired.

Serves 4.

Steak, Mushroom and Asparagus Flatbreads

Leftover ingredients can be quite a challenge, but sometimes also yield the best new dinners! That was the case here. I had uncooked steak and vegetables from a stir fry earlier in the week, and so I combined them to make this very delicious flatbread. Even the kids (who dislike asparagus usually) gobbled it up! I guess garlicky bread and cheese makes most things edible! Ha!

Like a stir fry, you can vary flatbread (or pizza) ingredients with whatever your leftovers are. Another great way to use up leftovers is in an egg bake or quiche. Get creative!

Even though this dinner was born from leftovers, it is so good that I might plan to buy this combo of ingredients for next time.

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Steak, Mushroom and Asparagus Flatbreads

3 large Na'an breads or flatbreads
2 1/2 tsp. olive oil, divided
3/4 tsp. garlic seasoning blend
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese
8 oz. top sirloin steak
1 cup chopped asparagus
1 cup sliced mushrooms

Season the steak generously with salt and pepper, or your favorite steak seasoning. Heat a grill pan over medium high heat, and when hot, add the steak. Grill for 3 minutes on each side or until it is not quite as done as you prefer (it will cook more in the oven!). Let rest for 5 minutes and then slice.

Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium high heat and then add 1 tsp. olive oil. Add asparagus and mushrooms and stir fry for 2-3 minutes until mushrooms have softened and asparagus is crisp-tender.

Place flatbreads on a baking stone and brush about 1/2 tsp. oil over each. Top with 1/2 cup cheese on each flatbread. Distribute the vegetables evenly among the three. Divide the steak among the flatbreads.

Bake at 425 for 8-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Cut into wedges and serve immediately.

Cheeseburger Soup

Sometimes you just need to follow your feelings and change up the menu plan. That's how I made this soup. It was a chilly day and there was a football game, and what I had planned just didn't seem to fit. I had this recipe pinned, and had most of the ingredients, so decided to try it. Of course, I added my own personal touches (it didn't call for ketchup or mustard! so I added it!) and made it my own. And now it will be on the regular rotation!

Saying that this soup was a hit at my house would be an understatement. It was gobbled up. Even I was surprised at how much this soup TASTED like a real cheeseburger - and one kid was shocked at how much she loved it since "I don't even like cheeseburgers." So there you have it. Whether you love cheeseburgers or not, you will love this soup. It's comfort food at its finest.

There's more inspiration at Mix it Up, Inspiration Monday, Create Link Inspire, Clever Chicks, Fabulous, Show and Share, What's Cooking, Wow Me, Wow Us, Hearth and Soul, Full Plate.

Cheeseburger Soup

1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3 Tbsp. ketchup
1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. parsley flakes
3 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup shredded carrots
4 cups peeled and diced potatoes
3 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup flour
4 oz. Velveeta, cubed
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
salt and pepper

In a Dutch oven, brown the ground beef and onion. Drain fat; add ketchup and mustard and stir until combined.

Add the basil, parsley, broth, carrots and potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

In a small saucepan, melt butter and add the flour. Cook and stir for 1 minute or until bubbly. Add the milk, then whisk well until slightly thickened. Add to the soup and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in the Velveeta, cheddar cheese. Cook and stir until cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper to taste and then serve. Makes 6-8 servings.

Recipe Source: Adapted from The Recipe Critic

Barbacoa Beef {Crock pot!}

Taco night is a frequent occurrence at our house. We enjoy ground beef, chicken, shredded pork tacos and now, I am thrilled to have found a great recipe for Barbacoa Beef from Stephanie's blog, Dessert Before Dinner. I was first introduced to barbacoa beef at Chipotle, like I'm sure many of you were. But if you're like me, and want to minimize the risk of E coli, you can make this at home! And I promise, it will be even better than the restaurant's, and much more economical, too.

This recipe has a long list of ingredients, but I'm sure you already have most of them in your pantry. The beef gets a nice kick from chipotle peppers (adjust to your family's tastes!) and all the ingredients (even orange juice!) work together nicely to produce super moist, delicious meat.

The best part? It cooks up in the crock pot all day, and then it only takes a few minutes to heat up tortillas, make guacamole, cut up tomatoes, and assemble all the other fixings your family loves on tacos (especially homemade salsa!). This beef is obviously very flexible too - instead of tacos, you could make burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, salads, even a great sandwich!

Thanks to Secret Recipe Club for a great blog to visit, and a great recipe to add to my rotation!

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Barbacoa Beef

2 lbs beef chuck roast
1/4 cup orange juice
3 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 tsp. cumin
1 1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped small
1 tsp. adobo sauce

Place roast in crock pot. Combine the remaining ingredients in a medium measuring cup, and then pour over roast. Cook on low for 8-10 hours. Shred with two forks and then use in tacos, enchiladas, burritos, tamales, etc. Serves 6-8.

An InLinkz Link-up

Asian Beef Lettuce Wraps with Quick Pickles {Crock pot!}

Asian Beef Short Ribs {Crock Pot or Instant Pot!}

I love using my crock pot and my instant pot, especially in the summer so I don't have to turn on the stove or the oven. And I love short ribs. And I love Asian flavors. So you can imagine my joy in finding this recipe! I have made this several times now, and I love it more and more each time. It's SO easy to put together in the morning, and turns out wonderfully each and every time.

The flavor of these ribs is nothing short of spectacular. The first time I made them, my husband and I ate the WHOLE PLATTER by ourselves. True confessions. This beef would also make a great base for an Asian chopped salad, or for a noodle bowl, or anything else that your heart desires. It's just SO good. Please make it.

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Asian Beef Short Ribs

1/4 cup beef broth
3/4 cup hoisin sauce
3 to 4 green onions, sliced (plus save some for garnish)
1 Tbsp. chili garlic sauce or Sriracha
1 tsp. honey
2 to 3 lbs. beef short ribs, bone-in or boneless

Whisk together the beef broth, hoisin sauce, diced scallions, chili garlic sauce and honey in the slow cooker. Season the short ribs with salt and pepper on both sides and nestle into the slow cooker ensuring the sauce mixture is covering the beef.

Cover and cook until beef is tender, for about 7-8 hours on low or 4 to 6 hours on high.

Transfer short ribs to serving platter. Skim off any excess fat (if any) from the surface of the sauce and pour the sauce over the short ribs and garnish with more sliced green onions. Serve with white rice, noodles or roasted or steamed cauliflower.

For the instant pot: Place sauce in bottom of pot and add seasoned beef. Cook on high pressure on the manual setting for 45 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. If ribs are not tender, pressure cook again for 10 minutes.

Recipe Source: Adapted from Hip Foodie Mom

Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Meatballs {Crockpot!}

These meatballs are so delicious. And so versatile! They would make great party appetizer fare, and are equally great as a main course. They bask in a wonderful sweet and spicy sauce, and stay warm in the crock pot which makes them ideal for a party. And we loved them for dinner with potatoes and green beans.

You can adapt the sauce to make it as spicy as you like. But don't leave out the wing sauce entirely - use at least two teaspoons to provide a nice balance against the sweetness/tartness of the cranberry sauce. These were so good - I couldn't wait to eat the leftovers for lunch the next day!

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Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Meatballs

Meatballs
2 pounds ground beef
22 saltine crackers, crushed
1/3 cup minced onion
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 tsp. garlic powder

Sweet and Spicy Cranberry Sauce
1 - 14 oz. can whole cranberry sauce
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. or more Franks Buffalo Hot WINGS Sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
2 Tbsp. brown sugar

In a large bowl, combine all of the meatball ingredients, mix until well combined. Roll meat mixture into desired meatball size. (You will get 70 1" meatballs or 35 2" meatballs.) Place a wire cooling rack on a baking sheet (or line a baking sheet with parchment) and place meatballs onto rack. Bake at 400 for 5-8 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and stir well to incorporate.

Line the bottom of your slow cooker with meatballs, then a layer of sauce, then the remaining meatballs followed by the remaining sauce. Gently stir meatballs an hour after cooking.

Cover and cook on low heat for 2 hours. Taste and stir in additional hot wings sauce if it's not spicy enough for you. Keep warm until serving.

Recipe Source: Carlsbad Cravings

Beef with Asparagus (Stir Fry)

Stir fries are one of my favorite meals for two reasons: they are fast to prepare (I actually made this one in the morning to take for my lunch!) and it's a great way to get lots of veggies into one meal. Why don't I make them more often? (Likely because there are so many good recipes to try!) I love the combo here of beef and asparagus, and the sauce is mild, so it would lend itself easily to any combination of vegetables. I WISH I would have had some mushrooms on hand cause that would have just put this over the top. As it was, it was a great lunch, and will be a great basic recipe for the many stir fries in my future (a new resolution!).

Heat some of the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat, then add the beef and cook,

stirring constantly, until browned. Remove from the pan to a plate. Add the remaining oil. When hot, add asparagus and peppers and stir fry for 2 minutes.

Mix cornstarch,

broth, soy, sugar and garlic powder until smooth. Stir broth mixture into vegetables.

Add beef back to the pan and cook until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly.

You can serve this as is, or with rice or noodles. Either way, it's amazing.

One year ago: Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Cake
Two years ago: Chicken Marsala
Three years ago: Jambalaya
Four years ago: Cherry Oatmeal Muffins
Five years ago: Chicken and Zucchini Pasta

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Beef with Asparagus

2 tsp. sesame oil
1 pound boneless beef sirloin steak, 3/4 inch thick
1 pound asparagus, cut into 2-inch diagonal pieces
1 cup sliced red or orange pepper
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 3/4 cups beef broth
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 garlic clove, minced

Slice beef into very thin strips. Heat 1 tsp. oil over medium-high heat; add beef and cook, stirring constantly, until browned. Remove from the pan to a plate. Add the remaining oil. When hot, add asparagus and peppers and stir fry for 2 minutes. Mix cornstarch, broth, soy, sugar and garlic powder until smooth. Stir broth mixture into vegetables. Add beef back to the pan and cook until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Serve over rice or noodles. Makes 4 servings.