Light & Easy Week Night Dinners

Boston Bibb Lettuce Wraps

After party filled weekends throughout the holiday season, lighter week night dinners make for a nice break. Boston Bibb lettuce makes a great vehicle for wraps, as it has a perfect cup-like shape that holds up well to the weight of a variety of fillings. Experimentation here is encouraged - below are a couple of suggestions.

Crab Stick & Avocado Lettuce Wraps

ingredients:
1 head of Boston Bibb lettuce, leaves separated
1/2 package of fake crab stick, thinly sliced
1 avocado
2 carrots, peeled & thinly sliced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
cilantro for garnish

assemble & enjoy! 
hint: i find it works well to layer the avocado onto the lettuce first, as other ingredients will stick better

Shrimp & Grapefruit Lettuce Wraps

ingredients:
3/4 dozen cooked & peeled shrimp
1 avocado
2 carrots, peeled & thinly sliced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
~1/3 grapefruit, segmented, white pith removed
cilantro for garnish



assemble & enjoy! 
hint: again, i find it works best to layer the avocado first

Vietnamese Style Ground Beef Wraps

ingredients:
1/2 pound ground chuck
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 dash fish sauce
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp canola or vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 leek, cut into coins
2 carrots, peeled & cut into coins
cilantro for garnish


1. season beef with salt & pepper to taste

2. in a small bowl combine the soy sauce, lime juice, fish sauce & honey, set aside

3. add oil and garlic to a frying pan, bring to a low heat, swirl oil around the pan & cook until garlic softens a bit

4. add the ground chuck to the pan & brown on all sides, stir only as needed

5. remove cooked beef & put aside in a medium sized bowl

6. add leeks & carrots to same pan, while cooking add the soy sauce mixture

7. once carrots soften, add cooked beef into the pan & cook until flavors combine & sauce thickens slightly

8. assemble wraps and enjoy!

the real joy of these wraps comes in the endless possibilities of dipping sauces that enhance the flavors of the wraps. click here for some easy, Paula Deen inspired dipping sauces.