This is a great summer recipe because it’s light, cool and refreshing. Be liberal with your use of the fresh mint and cilantro…it brings a ton of flavor to the salad!

I’ve made this salad with different types of rice noodles, and rice sticks work as well as rice vermicelli. Whatever type of rice noodles you use, cook them according to the directions on the package (soaking the noodles in hot water like the recipe states didn’t cook them enough). After the noodles are cooked and drained, I like to toss them with some of the dressing. Then I layer the chicken, shredded carrots, fresh herbs and chopped peanuts on top of the noodles and drizzle with more dressing. Sometimes I add a dash or two of soy sauce for a little extra flavor. Enjoy!

Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

Like a cross between a noodle bowl and a salad, this dish is low in fat and has a kick. Yield:  Serves 4

2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons Chinese five-spice powder
1 teaspoon sugar
4 boned, skinned chicken breast halves
1 package (6 oz.) rice vermicelli
1 cup coarsely shredded carrots
1/2 cup cilantro
1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup crushed peanuts
Chile Lime Dressing (recipe below)

1. Heat grill to medium (350° to 450°).

2. Mix soy sauce, oil, five-spice powder, and sugar in a shallow dish. Turn chicken in marinade and let stand 5 to 10 minutes.

3. Heat a large pot of water to boiling.

4. Drain chicken, discarding marinade. Oil cooking grate, using tongs and a wad of oiled paper towels. Grill chicken, covered, turning once, until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes.

5. Add vermicelli to pot of water and turn off heat. Let stand until soft, 5 to 10 minutes; drain.

6. Divide noodles among dinner bowls. Thickly slice chicken, set on noodles, and top with carrots, herbs, and peanuts. Serve with dressing.

Chile Lime Dressing
-recipe from Sunset Magazine (June 2010)

This recipe goes with Five-Spice Chicken Noodle Salad. Yield:  Makes 1 cup.

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce
6 tablespoons lime juice
1 to 2 tablespoons minced red or green jalapeño chile

Mix 1/2 cup hot water and the sugar in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Stir in remaining ingredients.

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Tags: Asian, carrots, Chicken, Chinese five-spice, cilantro, fish sauce, jalapeno, lime juice, mint, peanuts, rice vermicelli, rice vinegar, Salad, soy sauce

This pasta dish should be in every cook’s recipe arsenal! It’s super fast, delicious and can be made with basic ingredients that you keep on hand. As you read through the recipe, do not freak out about the anchovies because you can’t even taste them. Anchovies are that secret ingredient in many Italian dishes that adds another layer of flavor without screaming, “Hey, there’s anchovies in this dish.” So now I’m throwing down a challenge to you: DON’T LEAVE OUT THE ANCHOVIES!!!

I substituted penne pasta for the spaghetti, as you can tell from the photo. Also, I used fresh basil instead of parsley. The sauce has a kick from the crushed red pepper so leave it out if you prefer mild foods. Cooked Italian sausage is a great addition if you want to make it more hearty. Serve with a salad and crusty bread and you’ve got an awesome meal in no time!

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca
-recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine

Makes 4 servings.
 
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 28.2-ounce can peeled tomatoes in puree with basil
1/2 cup Kalamata olives, halved, pitted
3 anchovy fillets, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons drained capers
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
3/4 pound spaghetti
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
Grated Parmesan cheese
 
Heat oil in large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes with puree, olives, anchovies, capers, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Simmer sauce over medium-low heat until thickened, breaking up tomatoes with spoon, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain pasta; return to same pot. Add sauce and parsley. Toss over low heat until sauce coats pasta, about 3 minutes. Serve with cheese.

Tags: anchovies, capers, garlic, olive oil, olives, Pasta, puttanesca, Quick Cooking, spaghetti, tomatoes

I know it’s officially Spring but it’s still soup weather here in the Pacific Northwest. I made this delicious and healthy Chicken and Vegetable Minestrone recently to combat the chilly weather. It was exactly what I was craving!

I substituted white beans for the garbanzo beans (chickpeas), 1 can of diced tomatoes for the fresh chopped tomatoes, and dried Italian herbs for the fresh ones. I omitted the cabbage and used extra carrots. Serve with crusty bread or rolls. Yumm!

For other recipe ideas, check out Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, or Tasty Tuesday.

Chunky Chicken Vegetable Minestrone
-recipe from Fresh Every Day: More Great Recipes From Foster’s Market by Sara Foster

Soup is the ultimate comfort food. Be sure and make extra so you can share with friends. Serves 8 to 10 (makes about 3 quarts).

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, diced
2 carrots diced
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
3 plum tomatoes, cored and chopped
1 summer squash (yellow or zucchini), diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
8 cups chicken broth
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 cups shredded cooked chicken (meat from a 3 1/2 – 4 pound roasted or poached chicken)
2 teaspoons seal salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1/2 cup small shape pasta (elbow macaroni or bow tie)
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 cup chopped green cabbage
2 cups fresh spinach, stems removed, washed and drained
8 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips
3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or marjoram leaves
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook and stir about 10 minutes. Add the carrots, bell pepper, tomatoes and squash and cook and stir another 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sit a minute longer.

Add the broth, chickpeas, chicken, salt and pepper and bring to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for about 1 hour.

Add the pasta, green beans and cabbage and bring the soup back to a low boil. reduce the heat and simmer for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. add the spinach, basil and oregano and remove the soup from the heat and season to taste. Serve hot topped with the freshly grated Parmesan.

Tags: Chicken, Italian, minestrone, soup, Vegetable

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

Makes 4 side-dish servings

4 oz. thin rice noodles
1/4 cup rice vinegar (not seasoned)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon Asian fish sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 carrot, coarsely shredded
2 scallions, thinly sliced crosswise
1 cup loosely packed mixed fresh cilantro, mint, and/or basil leaves, torn if large
1/4 cup chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

Soak noodles in hot water 10 minutes, then drain in a large sieve.

Cook noodles in a 4-quart pot of boiling water, uncovered, until tender, about 1 minute. Drain in sieve and rinse under cold water until cold. Drain well and pat noodles dry.

Whisk together vinegar, sugar, fish sauce, and salt in a large bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved. Add noodles, carrot, scallions, herbs, and peanuts, tossing to combine.

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.

Pork and Broccoli Lo Mein
-recipe from America’s Test Kitchen 30 Minute Suppers (Winter 2010)

Cooking the pork in two batches ensures excellent browning and flavor development. Serves 4.

1 (9-ounce) package fresh Chinese egg noodles (see note below)
Salt and Pepper
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
3 tablespoons oyster sauce
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large pork tenderloin (about 1 pound), sliced into 1/4-inch pieces
1 (16-ounce) bag broccoli florets
8 scallions, cut into 1-inch lengths
2 garlic cloves, minced

Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add noodles and 1 tablespoon salt and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain noodles in colander and rinse under water until cool. Drain thoroughly, then toss with sesame oil.

Whisk oyster sauce, soy sauce, cornstarch, and 1/4 cup water in bowl. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Brown half of pork, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to bowl. Repeat with remaining vegetable oil and remaining pork.

Add broccoli and remaining 1/4 cup water and cook, covered, until broccoli is just tender and water has evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Add scallions and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Return pork and any accumulated juices to pan. Stir in noodles and oyster sauce mixture and toss until well coated, about 2 minutes. Serve.

Test Kitchen Note: Fresh linguine can be substituted for the noodles.

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.

The pumpkin in this version of goulash doesn’t add any flavor…it really just adds some thickness to the stew. I made a few changes to the recipe that should be noted: I used 2 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (instead of turkey thighs) and cut them into 1″ pieces.  I substituted red potatoes for the russets, and added in 3 chopped carrots and 2 tablespoons of tomato paste to the simmer stew. At the end of cooking, I seasoned the stew with a little more salt and pepper, and added 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar  to round out the taste. I served the stew with caraway noodles (I used bow-tie pasta) and garnished with a dollop of sour cream.

Pumpkin-Turkey “Ghoulash” with Caraway Noodles
-recipe from Bon Appétit October 2007

Using turkey makes this take on the Hungarian beef stew lighter. Adjust the heat level by using all hot paprika, all sweet paprika, or a combination. Makes 8 servings

2 large turkey thighs (1 3/4 pounds each), skin removed, meat cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup Hungarian sweet paprika or Hungarian hot paprika (or a mixture of both)
2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 large onions, chopped (about 3 cups)
2 large russet potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds total), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
4 cups low-salt chicken broth
1 14 1/2-ounce can pure pumpkin
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 large fresh thyme sprig plus 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, divided

1 1/2 pounds egg noodles
5 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
Sour cream

Place turkey, paprika, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in large resealable plastic bag. Seal bag; shake. Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Remove turkey from spice mixture (reserve spice mixture in bag). Add turkey to pot; cook 5 minutes. Place onions and potatoes in bag with spice mixture. Seal bag; shake to coat. Add vegetables to pot; cook 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Add broth, pumpkin, garlic, bay leaf, and thyme sprig; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until potatoes begin to fall apart, about 1 hour.

Discard thyme sprig. Stir in 1 tablespoon chopped thyme. Season stew with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Chill uncovered until cold, then cover and chill. Rewarm stew over medium heat before serving.

Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain noodles; return to pot. Add butter and caraway seeds to noodles. Toss until butter melts. Divide noodles among bowls; top with stew. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons chopped thyme. Serve, passing sour cream alongside.

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.

I know it sounds like a lot, but don’t hold back on the dressing ingredients. Make the recipe as it is written because the soft macaroni soaks up the dressing and becomes very creamy and delicious.

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
-recipe from Cook’s Country Magazine

Hawaiians cook their macaroni until it’s “fat,” or very soft. Turns out they know what they’re doing. Here’s what the Test Kitchen discovered:

•While overcooking the pasta seemed like a bad idea, it actually enabled the macaroni to absorb more dressing.
•The dressing had to be thin enough to soak into the pasta. We used an equal amount of mayonnaise and milk, and we used a lot—a full 2 cups each—to get the right texture.
•To prevent the cider vinegar from curdling the milk, we poured the vinegar directly over the hot macaroni.
•After the vinegar soaked in, we poured on about half the dressing, gave the mixture a stir, and let it cool. We then stirred in the remaining dressing and added grated carrot, chopped celery (for crunch), scallion, a bit of brown sugar, and some vigorous shakes of salt and black pepper.
•Don’t use low-fat milk or mayonnaise because it will make the dressing too thin.

Serves 8 to 10

2 cups whole milk 
2 cups mayonnaise 
1 tablespoon brown sugar  
 Salt and pepper  
1 pound elbow macaroni  
1/2 cup cider vinegar  
4 scallions , sliced thin 
1 large carrot , peeled and grated 
1 celery rib , chopped fine 

MAKE DRESSING: Whisk 1½ cups milk, 1 cup mayonnaise, sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in bowl.

COOK PASTA: Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and pasta and cook until very soft, about 15 minutes. Drain pasta and return to pot. Add vinegar and toss until absorbed. Transfer to bowl. Cool pasta 10 minutes, then stir in dressing until pasta is well coated. Cool completely.

MAKE SALAD: Add scallions, carrot, celery, remaining milk, and remaining mayonnaise to pot with pasta mixture and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to serving bowl and refrigerate, covered, for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days. Serve.

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!

Spicy Sichuan Noodles—Dan Dan Mian
-recipe from The Best of America’s Test Kitchen (Cook’s Illustrated)

Serves 4 as a main course.  

If you cannot find Asian noodles, linguine may be substituted. If you are using natural peanut butter or Asian sesame paste that has a pourable rather than spreadable consistency, use only 1 cup of chicken stock. Also note that the amount of sauce will coat 1 pound of fresh noodles but only 12 ounces of dried noodles, which bulk up during boiling.

8 ounces ground pork 
3 tablespoons soy sauce 
2 tablespoons Chinese rice cooking wine or dry sherry
 ground white pepper 
2 tablespoons oyster sauce 
4 tablespoons Asian sesame paste or peanut butter
1 tablespoon rice vinegar 
1 – 1 1/4 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon peanut oil 
1 inch piece fresh ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil 
12 ounces dried Asian noodles or 1 pound fresh Asian noodles (width between linguine and fettuccine) or 12 ounces linguine
3 medium scallions, sliced thin (about 1/3 cup)
2 cups bean sprouts (about 6 ounces) (optional)
1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns toasted in small dry skillet until fragrant, then ground (optional)

1. Combine pork, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, sherry, and pinch white pepper in small bowl; stir well with fork and set aside while preparing other ingredients. Whisk together oyster-flavored sauce, remaining soy sauce, peanut butter or sesame paste, vinegar, and pinch white pepper in medium bowl. Whisk in chicken stock and set aside.

2. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large stockpot over high heat.

3. Meanwhile, heat 12-inch skillet over high heat until hot, about 2 minutes. Add peanut oil and swirl to coat pan bottom. Add pork and cook, scraping along pan bottom and breaking up pork into small pieces with wide metal or wooden spatula, until pork is in small well-browned bits, about 5 minutes. Stir in ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add peanut butter/chicken stock mixture; bring to boil, whisking to combine, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer to blend flavors, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Stir in sesame oil.

4. While sauce simmers, add noodles to boiling water and cook until tender (refer to package directions, but use them only as a guideline and be sure to taste for doneness). Drain noodles; divide noodles among individual bowls, ladle a portion of sauce over noodles, sprinkle with scallions, bean sprouts, and ground Sichuan peppercorns, if using; serve immediately.

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. 

I used Foster Farms Turkey Italian Sausage, which has a lot of flavor and less fat than pork sausage. I decided to reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water before I drained the pasta then added it to the skillet when I tossed everything together. This helps keep the pasta moist since there’s no sauce. Next time I’ll reserve more  pasta water (1/2 cup or so). I finished each serving with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Italian Sausage and Zucchini Pasta

Serves 4. 

Sliced zucchini brings a fresh element to Italian sausage pasta. Served with some garlic bread and a glass of wine, it quickly becomes a satisfying meal.

12 ounces fettuccine
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound mild or hot Italian sausages, casings removed and broken into 1/2-in. chunks
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup sliced onion
1 pound zucchini, sliced
2 medium tomatoes, cut into 1-in. chunks
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, return to pot, and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large nonstick frying pan, heat oil over high heat. Add sausage and cook, stirring often, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a plate and set aside.

In the same pan, cook garlic, onion, and zucchini until starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, pepper, and reserved sausage and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.

Combine sausage mixture with reserved pasta and transfer to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with half the Parmesan and serve with remaining cheese on the side.

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.

I substituted fresh basil for the parsley because that’s what I had on hand. I suggest cutting the tail shell off the shrimp (if it isn’t already) so it’s easier to eat. Have everything prepped and ready to go when you start cooking so that you can move on from one step to the next. The recipe doesn’t state it but you need to drain the cooked orzo before adding it to the skillet with the shrimp and tomato mixture. Stir everything together then serve with a green salad and crusty bread.

Jennifer Garner’s Shrimp and Orzo
-recipe from epicurious.com

No time to make a healthy dinner? “I love to cook for myself,” says Jennifer Garner, the costar of Fox’s Time of Your Life television series. “It’s my stay-healthy secret. Making a simple dinner actually calms me down after a harried day. Often I’ll spend Sunday nights cooking and then use the leftovers for lunch that week. Right now, I’m really into cooking with orzo. It’s a light, rice-shaped pasta that fills me up. I especially love this recipe because the orzo goes well with the shrimp and veggies and it’s quick and easy to make.”

Makes 4 servings

1 cup dry orzo
2 tsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/4 cup white wine
1 can (28 oz) whole, peeled tomatoes
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp capers
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
1 lb medium shelled and deveined shrimp
1/2 cup feta

Cook orzo in boiling water according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until onion is translucent. Add wine and cook 1 minute. Toss in drained tomatoes (reserve 1/2 cup juice). Break tomatoes into chunks. Add reserved juice, parsley, capers, oregano, basil, black pepper, and red pepper. Simmer 5 minutes. Add shrimp and cook 2 minutes or until shrimp become opaque. Add cooked orzo to skillet. Mix well. When pasta is thoroughly heated, stir in feta. Serve immediately.

Tags: Main Dish, orzo, Quick Cooking, Shrimp