Noodling Around

When faced with an impossible overwhelming task, I usually do what my inner chef tells me. Which is to say, ignore the task completely, and go cook something! HAHAHA! Alright, I'm kidding...I have been single-handedly unpacking from our move, as Dear Husband is hard at work in his new position, and it is an exhausting project, to say the least. So, with energy levels in mind, I decided I needed to carb-load and make one of my quick and easy noodle salads. I don't have a catchy name for this one, in my head I just call it Asian Noodle Salad....and for me, that's just fine.

The bonus round to this recipe is that even new cooks will be able to throw this together - you literally only have to be able to boil water to make this dish. So....boil ye up some water, and throw in some pasta! I like using spaghetti or linguine for this, but any kind of pasta will do.

Drain your pasta, letting it cool just a tad...then throw it into your serving dish...like so...

Then, grab your box grater, and grate up the better part of a carrot, and throw it in...

Then, add in two scallions, sliced on the diagonal..

And, for the last of the vegetation, add in some chopped cilantro...

Then, add 1/2 Tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 Tablespoon sesame oil, salt and pepper to taste, and red wine or rice wine vinegar to taste. Toss to combine, and garnish with some more cilantro, and some black or white sesame seeds. Plate it up for a nice color contrast and......

This is a quick, inexpensive, easy lunch with lots of great, Asian flavors in it. Now for young cooks in Pixie land, I know sesame oil is not cheap ~ however, a little goes a long way in your Asian-style cooking, so invest in a bottle, keep it sealed and in the fridge so that it does not go rancid quickly, and you will be rewarded with it's intense sesame flavor. Oh, and the other wonderful thing about this salad?

It is just as delicious the next day, and travels well to school or office!

What is your quick-lunch idea? Which recipe do you make over and over because of how it tastes, or how easy it is to make?

Eat well my friends, and take the time to make yourself something healthy and tasty to take with you. Keep your money for better things than fast food. Love and kindness to all,

                                                                          Pixie