Yummy, Easy Summer Meal

My mother is an awesome cook. No matter what it was, she was great at it. We all had our favorites. I call them my comfort foods. Her roast beef sandwich, though, was the absolute BEST! Sandwich making is an art, at least in my family. And for those who don't agree, you've never had a really good sandwich!! Here are a few of my favorites for a quick and easy, not to mention yummy, summertime meal.

Mom's Famous Roast beef Sandwiches

You will need:

• 6-8 Onion Kaiser Rolls

• 1 ½ -2 lbs deli sliced roast beef (I like Boar's Head)

• 1 ½ lbs deli sliced baby swiss cheese

• Mustard (yellow is best, but spicy mustard is okay,too)

• Mayo (NOT Salad dressing or Miracle Whip)

In making a proper sandwich, you have to remember that placement is key. The mustard ALWAYS goes on the cheese side. Trust me! It makes a difference.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°

2. Slice your Kaiser rolls in half (always easier with a large serrated knife)

3. Slather mustard on the top of each roll (how much you use is up to you)

4. Slather Mayo on the bottom of each roll (see #3)

5. Put 4-6 slices of beef on each bottom half of the rolls. To make your sandwich taste better, fold each slice in half, you get more for your money, and lay slices on criss-crossed.

6. Put 2-3 slices of cheese on top of the meat criss-crossing them like the beef. This helps you make sure you have even cheese coverage, very important in making the perfect sandwich.

7. Put the top (mustard side) of the roll on top

8. Place all sandwiches on a foil-lined cookie sheet. Heat in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Make sure that beef is heated all the way through.

For your side dishes, I have two solutions that are pretty healthy.

First, Instead of chips or fries, try this:

Slice two large cucumbers in thin slices. Season with salt and pepper. This eliminates the need for ranch dressing, which just fattens them up, and satisfies the "crunchy salty" cravings you might get from eating a sandwich.

And now for dessert, or your second side. This one is always a crowd pleaser and I don't know of many family functions that we didn't have this. Pink Salad. It can be known by other names but that's what we always called it.

PINK SALAD

You will need:

• 2 packages cream cheese - softened (8 oz each) (you can use low-fat or fat free)

• 2 containers Cool Whip -thawed (you can use lite)

• 1 pkg Cherry Jello (you can use any flavor, but I think cherry is the best)

• 2 cans fruit cocktail (you can use any fruit you want. Fruit cocktail is the easiest, no chopping required)

• OPTIONAL: 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 cup mini marshmallows

Directions:

1. With mixer, blend together Cool Whip, cream cheese, and jello mix.

2. Drain fruit cocktail and add to pink mix

3. Stir in by hand, otherwise the fruit will be mushy

4. Add and stir in walnuts and marshmallows (if desired)

5. Cover and chill for 2 - 4 hours, or until set. (it will not be jiggly like jello, just firm)

Now go out and enjoy this delicious (and easy) summertime meal, Sure to please even the pickiest eater.