I realize I posted soba noodles only a few weeks ago, but I’m back with more. This time, they’re stir fried in a sweet, tangy orange-ginger soy sauce with some crunchy snow peas and edamame.
While that one was best served cold, this one is best piping hot. And aside from the tedious task of cleaning the snow peas, this comes together rather quickly.
I’m not going to lie and tell you that no one will believe this doesn’t have cheese. If you’re vegan, this will taste darn cheesy… if you are a true cheese lover (as my husband Jack is), you won’t be totally fooled but you will devour it anyway.
Jack likes to make fun of me when I make things like this… calls it “mac & sauce” and “vegan velveeta,” In the end he always eats his words. And most of the food on the table.
This one is just as tasty as this recipe… except this time the creaminess comes from coconut milk. The cheesy flavor comes from nutritional yeast and a kick of dijon mustard. But the star ingredient is the smoked paprika which ads a real depth of flavor.
I don’t have much of a weakness for fried foods. French fries don’t make me crazy, I never really cared for fried chicken… but whenever we’re on vacation, I find myself ordering little balls of fried stuff everywhere we turn. Cod croquettes in Japan, arancini in Italy, and all kinds mashed veggie fritters (with tangy yogurt sauces) in London.
Since we’re currently not on vacation, these are baked, not fried… but I promise they’re so good that you likely won’t even notice. I mash creamy butternut squash with cumin and smoky paprika, mix in some tangy feta, and serve them with a creamy light yogurt sauce for dipping. They’d be great as party food but, really… Jack and I often sit down to a plate of these, a glass of wine (or two), and call it dinner.
I’m a new believer to the raw kale salad movement. I know, I’m late to this party (especially given my love for kale). But better late than never. It was this salad from Snap Kitchen that convinced me a few weeks ago. Bright, tangy, citrusy… exactly what I’m craving during this part of the winter.
I made an asian-inspired version by whisking together a dressing of miso paste, a few squeezes of orange juice and some sesame oil… and added in avocado, and toasted almonds, and pickled red onions.
And speaking of late… I’ve gotta cut this short because I’m halfway out the door to the airport as we speak. I’m heading to Alt Summit today – I can’t wait to meet so many of my blogger friends in person this weekend… if you’re gonna be there, come find me!
Go to the recipe “sesame & orange kale salad”…
This was my birthday dinner last week. My sister called while we were working on this, and the message she left said “I hope you’re out doing something special, and not at home photographing your dinner.”
Well, what can I say, I was obsessed with my cauliflower mission. Plus, it was a cold and rainy night, and this dinner felt warm and cozy. (well, ok, it was warm when I reheated it after the photos were done… but still).
I’m strange about holidays… I just think celebrations should be random. If I made a list of my favorite life moments, most of them did not happen on Christmas or my birthday, or even on my wedding day (family, pretend I didn’t just say that)… they happened on some random Tuesday, at a time and place that I never expected.
To me, expectation muddles things. I’d rather Jack come home some weeknight and announce that we’re going to Uchiko (hint hint) than watch him stress about what to plan for my birthday.
So a low key birthday it was… with Jack, my dad, myself, and the cauliflower…
