Cool Summer Treats (Lightspeed Quick Oriental Steak Salad and Ben & Jerry's Milkshakes)

Just in time for these record-breaking searing summer temperatures, Ben & Jerry’s – yes, that Ben & Jerry’s – has released its latest sinful creation - Ben & Jerry's Milk Shakes. Rich, creamy drinkable treats in three classic flavors - Cherry Garcia , Chunky Monkey, and the one I’m lusting after, Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Currently available at grocery and convenience stores nationwide. Like all Ben & Jerry's ice cream products, the milkshakes are made with naturally good ingredients, including milk from cows that are not treated with rBGH. Available in eight-ounce glass bottles, the company promises to donate 1% of the net sales of Ben & Jerry's Milk Shakes to Clean Air-Cool Planet, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding and implementing solutions to global warming. Me? I’m heading out to find a scrumptious Chocolate Fudge Brownie Shake as I write this.

In keeping with the theme of cooling down, this week’s column is an incredibly quick and easy Oriental Steak Salad, using convenience foods, that goes from start to serve in less than 20 minutes (courtesy of our friends at Birds Eye):


Oriental Steak Salad





Ingredients:

• 1 package (3 oz.) Oriental flavor instant ramen noodles;
• 4 cups water
• 1 bag (16 oz) Birds Eye Frozen Cauliflower, Carrots & Snow Pea Pods
• 2 Tblsp. vegetable oil
• 1 lb. boneless beef, cut into thin strips (I prefer top sirloin, but top loin is fine - you can find beef cut into strips at any grocery store to speed up the process)
• 1/3 cup Oriental Sesame Salad Dressing
• 1/4 cup chow mein noodles
• lettuce leaves (optional)

Instructions:

1. Bring water to boil in large saucepan
2. Add noodles from Ramen package, but not the seasonings
3. Add vegetables, return water to boil.
4. Boil 3 minutes, stir occasionally; drain and put in large bowl.
5. Heat the oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; when hot, add beef and cook, stirring, for about 8 minutes or until browned.
6. Sprinkle the reserved Ramen seasoning over the beef until it is well coated.
7. In the large bowl, add the cooked beef to the Ramen noodles and vegetable mixture; toss well;
8. Add the Oriental Salad Dressing, toss, sprinkle with Chow Mein Noodles.
9. Serve over shredded lettuce (optional), and you're done!

Total prep time, including slicing the meat, 11-12 minutes; total cook time, 10 minutes. If you buy pre-sliced beef, the prep time is non-existent, making this a ten minute meal. This can be served with the meat and noodles hot OR cold, it's excellent either way. You can also make the noodles-veggie-meat mixture ahead of time, and then toss it with the salad dressing and add the chow mein noodles when you're ready to serve for a quick solution to a hot day's meal.

Serves 4; calories per serving 490; Total Fat 30g; Sat. Fat 7g; Carbs 24g; Fiber 3 g and 28 grams of Protein. An excellent source of Vitamin A (50%), Vitamin C (25%) and Iron (20%); only provides 4% of the daily requirement for calcium.

Enjoy!

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