Stir Fry Noodle Salad

¼ head of cabbage sliced
½ onion sliced
2 celery ribs sliced
3 carrots sliced
1 can of sliced water chestnuts
1 TBS oil
2 TBS soy sauce
1tsp sesame oil
½ tsp fresh grated ginger
1 10 oz. package udon noodle
½ red bell pepper


In wok heat 1TBS oil and 1 tsp sesame oil. Add veggies, ginger, and soy sauce and stir fry for 6 minutes or just until wilted a bit. Let cool. Cook noodles, remove and cool. Combine noodles and veggies, and add uncooked bell pepper. Stir. Poor dressing over and chill.

Dressing
½ C rice vinegar
1 TBS sesame oil
1 tsp fresh ginger
1 tsp sriracha sauce

Thai Pork and Green Beans

Again, this is not an original. My parents had friends that are Thia and she learned it from her. That said, I have never seen it on a menu anywhere so, hopefully you have never had it either. It is my husbands favorite dish. I love it because it is great and quick and easy. The spice level can be changed with the addition of more curry. My mom always made it with red curry, I usually make it with green. Honestly I don’t know the difference. My mom never had measurements it was an "eyeball it" recipe. This is great if you are like we are and you love pork lion but if you make a whole one, you have 5 meals. Cut off a bit and set it aside for this dish.

1-1.5 lb pork, tenderloin is best but not necessary
3-4 handfuls of fresh green beans cleaned ( I know not very precise but I am thinking about 5 cups).
1/3 can of curry
¼ C. fish sauce
1 TBS oil
3-4 C. Rice


In wok heat oil and add curry. Sautee curry for 1 minute. Add pork, and fish sauce. Cook until almost done. Add green beans cook until just done but still firm. Serve over rice.

Perfect Summer Pasta

I will ,yet again, rely on Penzys for this. They make a Italian Dressing base, that I just love. I use Rice Wine Vinegar and ¼ of the oil it calls for though when I make it. I use that dressing for the marinade here, however, I double the amount of base used when making the marinade.

3 chicken breasts
3-4 zucchini sliced up
3-4 squash sliced up
2 tomatoes chopped up
1 onion sliced up
2 cups marinade (if you don’t have Penzys use your favorite Italian dressing)
1 small package of feta
4-5 leave fresh basil chopped up
1 lb pasta

Grilling is a must for this I think. I have never tried it not grilled, but I can’t imagine it would be near as good, but give it a try

The night before put chicken breasts in ziploc bag and one cup of marinade. In another Ziploc put the veggies and the other cup marinade. Right before your ready to cook remove the chicken and veggies from the marinade. If you have a veggie pan to go on the grill, grill the veggies as well, just save ¼ C of the marinade (from the veggies, not the chicken!!) for later. If you don’t have a veggie pan, just do it on the stove top, and there is no need to reserve some marinade since cooking on the stove top allows the veggies to juice. While chicken is cooking boil the pasta. Once chicken is done, cut up into slices. Add veggies, basil, feta, and marinade reserve (if needed) to pasta , mix in. You can either just add the sliced chicken to the whole dish or plate the pasta/veggie mixture and add sliced chicken to the individual dishes.

This would also be great with artichoke and asparagus. Also smoked mozzarella or goat cheese might be a good substitute for the feta. Fresh rosemary might also be good as well.

Feedback

Hey, I just wanted to welcome everyone to share his or her thoughts. Think I should do something different? Please tell me. You think a recipe I shared would be better prepared differently? Tell me. I will add your idea to the recipe and credit you. That is really the great part about cooking--- it is fluid. Do you have a recipe you would like me to share, pass it on! I hope to hear from some of you and thanks for checking the site out!!

Vanessa

Black Bean Salad/Salsa

Black bean salad/dip

This is good as either a chucky salsa or as a “salad.”

2 16oz. cans black beans
¼ onion chopped
1 red bell pepper diced
½ bunch cilantro chopped
½ jar of Herdez salsa ( I really recommend Herdez)
½ tsp of cumin
salt and pepper

mix together and chill. Corn is also a good addition.