I really enjoyed this simple and refreshing Asian noodle salad! I loved the combination of sweet, salty and tangy flavors.

I added some julienned red bell pepper for extra crunch and color. To make a more substantial salad, stir-fried shrimp, chicken or tofu would also be delicious additions. For the dressing, I added a little sesame oil and soy sauce for extra flavor. Since I only had seasoned rice vinegar, I omitted the extra sugar, and also omitted the salt since I added soy sauce. If you want a little kick to the dressing, add some Asian chile garlic sauce.

Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad
-recipe from epicurious.com

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Tags: Asian fish sauce, cilantro, rice noodles, rice vinegar, Vietnamese

This quick and easy Asian-flavored dish is perfect for a weeknight meal. I followed the recipe except for adding some red bell pepper that I needed to use up. The fresh linguine I used worked great, but next time I'll try the recipe using fresh Chinese noodles.

Read more on Pork and Broccoli Lo Mein…

Tags: broccoli, Chinese egg noodles, lo mein, pork, pork tenderloin

I have to admit that this recipe sounds a little weird. It was originally published in an October issue of Bon Appetit a few years ago and referred to as "ghoulash", a play on the word goulash. I ran across it when I was looking for a savory recipe that used canned pumpkin. Since I had everything on hand to make it, I decided to give it a try. First, though, I did a little research on goulash. What I learned is that goulash, the national dish of Hungary, is a meaty soup (or stew) that was traditionally made by herdsmen. It can be made with beef, pork, veal, or lamb, and usually includes vegetables (onions, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, etc.), paprika, other herbs/spices (bay leaf, thyme, caraway, chili pepper) and served over egg noodles.

Read more on Pumpkin-Turkey Goulash with Caraway Noodles…

Tags: Chicken, goulash, pumpkin, stew, turkey

If you've ever had a Hawaiian plate lunch then you've tried this style of macaroni salad. It's slightly tangy, slightly sweet and traditionally served with some sort of pan-Asian main entree like teriyaki beef or kalua pork and a few scoops of white rice. I made it recently for a Hawaiian-themed dinner party that Husband and I attended. Each creamy bite of macaroni salad brought back fond memories of a trip to Hawaii a decade earlier when we feasted on plate lunches almost daily.

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Tags: Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, Pasta, plate lunch

This is so good! noodles and ground pork mixed with a spicy peanut-flavored sauce. Yumm!

I thought the dish had a nice amount of heat. To make a mild version, leave out the red pepper flakes. Instead of serving the noodles with the sauce ladled on top, I just mixed it all together in the pot and added about 1 .5 cups of shredded cabbage and carrots (Dole bagged cole slaw mix). Although I forgot to add the bean sprouts for the main photo, I did add them to each serving when we ate the noodles. Bean sprouts (pictured at right) add nice flavor and cruncy texture so do use them if you can. I didn't use the Sichuan peppercorns so I don't know how they would enhance the dish. I'll probably try and find them for next time, though. With the added veggies, this is a great one-dish meal!

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Tags: Asian, Pasta, pork, Spicy Sichuan Noodles

Whether you've got a bumper crop of zucchini or you're just looking for a quick weeknight meal, here's a fresh-tasting pasta dish for you to try. It's nothing fancy but it is easy and tasty. 

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Tags: italian sausage, Pasta, Quick Cooking, zucchini

I found this quick meal yesterday when I did a search for recipes using orzo (a rice-shaped pasta) and shrimp. I really like the blend of flavors: tender shrimp, chunky tomatoes, salty feta, and a little heat from the red pepper flakes.

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Tags: Main Dish, orzo, Quick Cooking, Shrimp

My father-in-law (a meat & potatoes guy) came over for dinner the other night and I wanted to make him a nice meal–something meaty yet something he wouldn't make for himself. I decided to make meatballs and spaghetti. This meal was truly a sight to behold: giant meatballs perfectly positioned on top of a plate of tomatoey spaghetti and garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Oh my…it was so good! 

Read more on Mongo Meatballs and Spaghetti…

Tags: Beef, Comfort Food, Italian, italian sausage, meatballs, Pasta, spaghetti

I tried this recipe for Chicken with Marsala, Mushrooms & Gorgonzola the other night. It's from a Fine Cooking article called Chicken in a Flash. I loved the combination of flavors: the earthy mushrooms, dry Marsala and tangy Gorgonzola. Cutting the chicken into smaller pieces made the chicken cook quicker but I'm not sure how much time it saved in the long run since you have to brown several batches of the chicken pieces. Next time I'll probably try it with whole chicken breasts instead of cutting them into pieces. The recipe doesn't make a ton of sauce so you might want to double the sauce if you like lots of it. I served the finished dish over penne pasta. Yumm! Note that the recipe calls for dry Marsala not the sweet kind.

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Tags: Chicken, gorgonzola, Marsala, Pasta

This is a simple yet tasty pasta dish, rich in flavor with a hint of rosemary and red wine. My whole family enjoyed this dinner (no complaints from the 5-year-old…yippee!!!). I used bow-tie pasta (farfalle) because that's what I had on hand. Next time I might try it with a little Italian sausage substituted for some of the beef just to mix things up a bit. Sliced mushrooms, chopped red peppers and/or kalamata olives would also make great additions to the sauce. Garnish with a little Parmesan cheese if you like (it's good with or without it).

Read more on Penne with Beef Ragù…

Tags: Beef, Pasta, ragu