Recipes by Ron Turcotte: Pan-Broiled Steak with Mushroom Sauce; Shish Kebab

Ron Turcotte's Pan-Broiled Steak with Mushroom Sauce

1 1/2 lbs. small steaks (sandwich or top boneless round)
Meat tenderizer
Vegetable spray (or tiny bit of diet margarine)
1 cup beef bouillon (or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in 1 cup boiling water)
1/2 yellow onion, peeled, chopped
1 cup cleaned mushrooms, sliced
1 small green pepper, cleaned, cut into strips
Salt and pepper to taste

Trim off any visible fat from steaks; use tenderizer, pricking meat with fork if using less tender cut of steak. Spray cast-iron skillet with vegetable spray (or use small amount of diet margarine). Heat skillet until very hot (if using margarine, wipe out excess with paper towel). Sear meat quickly on both sides.

Lower heat, add beef bouillon, onion, mushrooms, green pepper, salt and pepper to taste. Cook down until sauce has reduced in volume. Serve with mushroom sauce spooned over the meat. Serves 6.

Thoughts: Pepper, onion and mushrooms can be browned first in a small amount of diet margarine, then drained on absorbent paper to take away most of the fat before adding to bouillon. If desired, meat can be broiled and sauce prepared separately.

Ron Turcotte's Shish Kebab

3 tbsps. olive oil
3 tbsps. fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 tsps. ground ginger
1 tsp. coriander
1 clove garlic, pressed
1/2 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 pound leg of lamb cut into 2-inch cubes
4 small tomatoes
2 medium-sized green peppers cut into 2 1/2-inch squares
1 cup mushroom caps (fresh or canned)

Combine olive oil, lemon juice, ginger, coriander, garlic, curry powder, salt and garlic salt; mix well. Add lamb. Chill 2-3 hours, turning lamb occasionally. Arrange lamb on 4 skewers. Reserve olive oil mixture. Broil lamb 3 or 4 inches from source of heat or cook on grill 5 to 7 minutes, turn.

Place tomatoes, green peppers and mushrooms on skewers. Brush lamb and vegetables with remaining olive oil mixture. Cook 5 minutes longer, or until lamb is desired degree of doneness. Serve on a bed of hot cooked white or brown rice. Serves 4.

Thoughts: For the sake of food safety, substitute a good bottled low-calorie Italian dressing for oil and lemon juice.