Thai Noodle Salad

According to the radio, today we have a heat advisory here in Middle Georgia. The high is going to be 102 degrees, but it will feel like 110 degrees. Awesome. So, I wanted to share with you a very refreshing and cooling salad that can make that heat a bit more bearable.

I got the idea from this month's issue of Fine Cooking magazine (my favorite cooking mag). In it, there was a section on limes and what to do with them. (Just buy a big bag and make the agua fresca from my last post... and this salad. Yum!) One recipe that really stood out to me was the Vietnamese-Style Rice Noodle Salad. And so, I did what I do... and adapted. Here's what I came up with:

Thai Noodle Salad

1 bunch Japanese buckwheat noodles (I found them at Kroger)
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
2 cups shredded chinese cabbage (if you can't find this, use iceburg lettuce)
2.5 large handfuls of broccoli slaw mix
1 small cucumber, diced
3-4 medium radishes, thinly sliced
1 cup fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Dressing:
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp. fish sauce
2 Tbsp. agave nectar
1 Tbsp. grated ginger
1 clove garlic, minced

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, combine all of the dressing ingredients in a large bowl and let sit. When the water is boiling, add the noodles and stir. Cook according to the package directions. Drain in a colander and toss with the sesame oil (if it isn't enough to coat the noodles, add a little canola or olive oil).

While the noodles cool, prep the other veggies. Combine everything (except the peanuts) in the bowl and toss. Serve cool and sprinkle peanuts on top (so they don't get soggy).

Cooked buckwheat noodles
(They look just like what's on the package!)

Chinese Cabbage

Mmmm...

I served the salad with Chicken Satay
and Peanut Sauce
(Courtesy of Tyler Florence)

Stay cool and enjoy! ;)

~ Mari

One-Pan Meal: Broiled Salmon with Mango Salsa and Broccoli

It's mango season, folks! Who's excited? The Smiths, that's who. I made this yummy (and easy) meal tonight and thought I'd share! The best part? It only uses one pan to cook in! (Ok - technically there is also a pyrex baking dish involved, but most of the cooking is done in one pan) The salsa is sweet and tangy, the salmon is moist inside and crispy on the outside, and the broccoli is fresh and crunchy. It's a good mix, I must say.

Mango Salsa

1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
1/4 cup salsa (I used the Publix brand... it's delish)
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Have I mentioned how much I love mango?

Broiled Salmon

1 large salmon filet (with skin on one side)
1/4 cup teriyaki sauce
1 1/2 limes, juiced
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate (I always keep a can of this in the freezer - it's great stuff!)

Combine all ingredients (except salmon, of course) in a gallon ziploc bag. Swish them around to mix. Put salmon in the bag, skin side up. Allow to marinate 10-15 minutes on the counter. For the next steps, look at the broccoli recipe below.

Let's make a marinade!

Just like a bubblebath...

Crispy Broccoli

1 large head broccoli, washed and cut into florets
salt & pepper to taste
extra virgin olive oil

Put broccoli in a microwaveable dish (I used an 8x8 pyrex). Put about 1/8 inch of water in the dish. Sprinkle with salt. Cover with cling wrap and microwave for about 1.5 minutes. The broccoli should be bright green and crunchy.

McSteamy

Prepare a sheet pan with two pieces of aluminum foil. Turn the edges up on all sides so that the flavors won't combine in the oven. Put the broccoli on one side and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Take the salmon out of the bag, slice it in half (lengthwise) and place it, skin-side down, on the aluminum foil.

It's almost like two mini sheet pans in one!

See? One pan?

Preheat the broiler (on high). Put the pan in the oven and check the broccoli after about 7 minutes (it's fast, I'm tellin' ya!). If it's browning nicely, just pull the mini aluminum foil pan out with the broccoli on it. Let the fish cook a few more minutes (maybe 3) and check it. When it's really browned on top, take it out and let it rest for a few minutes.

Browned tips = deliciousness

All that's left is to... eat it! Get that salsa out of the fridge and plate it up! I served mine with some crispy flour tortillas (I literally friend strips of flour tortillas) and we were happy campers!

I love making things that taste so good and aren't rough on the waistline! Speaking of waistlines... did you notice no starch in this meal? That's my new thing. I'm trying not to make a starch for dinner because I figure we get plenty during the day (cereal for breakfast...sandwich for lunch...granola bars for snacks... you get the idea).

Hope you enjoy it!

~ Mari

Happy Memorial Day!

Hope everyone had a fabulous Memorial Day! It is raining here in Kathleen, but we had our Memorial Day festivities last night, so all is well. Above is crudite and crackers with roasted red pepper hummus. A great way to start off the evening!



Our meal consisted of large hunks of prime rib (oh yeah....), steamed broccoli, and roasted fingerling potatoes. Twas delicious!

And then there was dessert... I made individual trifles (brownies, chocolate fudge pudding, snickers bars, and cool whip) that were ridiculously easy!

So, happy times to everyone!

~ Mari

Ridiculously Easy (and Tasty) Roasted Veggies

In my book, one never needs an excuse to eat broccoli or Brussels sprouts. But, I know plenty of people who would beg to differ. Whether you're a die-hard broccoli/B. sprouts fan, or you hate the thought of their green grossness, I think you'll like this dish. (But, if you still hate them after this, you can use almost any hard veggie - beets, carrots, parsnips, etc.)

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Then take your broccoli stalks and chop them up - I cut the bushy part of the broccoli from the stalk, peel the stalk & slice it into discs, and separate the broccoli florets. Then I take the fresh B. sprouts and lop (I love that word) the brownish little ends off, peel off the ugly outer leaves, and slice the little buggers in half. Next, peel some whole garlic cloves (can you ever have too much garlic?). Throw all of your goodies onto a pan (with an edge), douse with extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss with your hands.


Stick your pan of yummies into the oven and let roast (tossing with a spoon every so often) for 20-30 minutes or until the tips of the broccoli are brown, the B. sprouts are crunchy and browned, and the garlic is smooshy and soft.

Now get out some parmesan cheese and a lemon. Zest the lemon (about 1 Tbsp.) and grate some cheese (about 1 Tbsp.) into a serving bowl.

When your veggies are done, dump them into the bowl and toss with the zest and cheese. Squeeze about 2 Tbsp. of fresh lemon juice on top and grate some more cheese over top of your masterpiece.

Eat and enjoy! If that doesn't make a broccoli/Brussels sprout believer out of you then I don't know what will!

~ Mari