Spicy Sesame & Peanut Noodles

This is a scrumptious and speedy dish that only takes as long as the noodles to cook! A spicy and sweet creamy peanut butter and fragrant sesame blender sauce is tossed with chewy spaghetti noodles and fresh, parboiled broccoli rabe for a comforting meal. I hope this will be a new staple in your home, as it is in ours!

There's a bit of green in this dish. A wee accent counts right? Once again I have failed to jump aboard the holiday-food-party bandwagon. What the heck; you'd think a food blogger would be all over that stuff! Green errrything, but nope. Alas, my festive side fails to show up the party. Apparently it's as hermit-like as my real self! I guess that makes sense. Do you get in the celebratory spirit on St. Patrick's Day by making green food? When I was a kid my mom made green eggs. It made me uneasy. I don't like food to look as it shouldn't; even the green rice krispie treats put me off. 

I am currently drinking matcha as a write this, in a green cup nonetheless... and that should certainly count for something. I got green inside me. I think I'll tell people that when they try to pinch me for wearing all black. It should go over real well. 

Honestly... I just forgot it was St. Patty's Day... but this super green photo of broccoli rabe below should put you in the spirit! #mustgetmyshittogetherforremainingholidays

“My philosophy is: It’s none of my business what people say of me and think of me. I am what I am and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And it makes life so much easier.”

— Anthony Hopkins

Spicy Sesame & Peanut Noodles

By Kathleen Henry @ Produce On Parade

Published 03/17/2016

This is a scrumptious and speedy dish that only takes as long as the noodles to cook! A spicy and sweet creamy peanut butter and fragrant sesame blender sauce is tossed with chewy spaghetti noodles and fresh, parboiled broccoli rabe for a comforting meal. I hope this will be a new staple in your home, as it is in ours!

Ingredients

• 1 lb dried spaghetti noodles
• 1 bunch of fresh broccoli rabe, florets and stems chopped
• ¼ cup white sesame seeds + more for garnish
• ¼ cup sesame oil
• ¼ cup + 2 tbsp soy sauce
• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
• 3 tbsp vegan granulated sugar
• 3 tbsp sliced fresh ginger
• 2 heaping tbsp creamy peanut butter
• 4 large garlic cloves, rough chopped
• 1 ½ tbsp fresh garlic chili paste, to taste
• 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 4 fresh green onions, sliced

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat for the pasta. Cook according to the package, about 9 minutes, until al dente. When there’s about 3 minutes left for the noodles to cook, add the chopped broccoli rabe to parboil. Strain the noodles and broccoli rabe; return to the pot and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a small frying pan toast the sesame seeds over medium-low heat for about 5-8 minutes until slightly golden brown and fragrant, stirring frequently (taking care not to burn). Place in blender once finished.
3. Add the remaining ingredients in the blender along with the sesame seeds, excluding the green onions. Blend on high until super smooth. Stir into the cooked pasta and broccoli rabe until well combined along with the green onions. Serve warm. These noodles are also great chilled!

Yield: 6

I got real worked up about the fact that the USA is the only first world country with no mandated paid maternity/paternity leave. I even wrote my employer's HR department to champion a paid maternity leave program. They were like yeah... no. Hey, if you don't take action you can't really blame anyone but yourself for not trying to change things for the better. Take action and let congress know that it's a pretty messed up situation. Check out the infographic below for more information. 

Edamame & Mint Sesame Soba Noodles + My Near & Far Cookbook Review

A quick and very easy sesame soba recipe featuring fresh mint, raw almonds, and protein-packed edamame with a hint of smokiness, crisp lemon, and pepper. Adapted from the cookbook Near & Far.

Hey there. It's Katie. I know it's been a long time since I've made an appearance over here but things have been straight-up crazy busy 'round these parts. When people exasperatedly drone on about how busy they are and how stressful their lives are, my heart secretly smiles inside knowing that I don't have or want a life like that. Who truly does?! It's seems as if being busy is an honor badge that showcases how demonstrably important you are and that infact, yes, your life is very important indeed.

If it was not so important as it obviously is, then I'd have any time to read, or relax, or cook, or go for walks. Did you hear? I'm so busy I don't even have time to read. Reading is such a luxury. You're so lucky, I can't even pick up a book what with everything that I have to be doing. My life is very important, indeed. People depend on me, the world depends on me. The bags under my eyes are my proof. Pity me. 

That's not me. I freaking enjoy leisure and revel in its nothingness. I would rather be doing nothing than something. I'd rather be home, on a slow walk, curled up reading, or baking, or cooking. I actively seek out ways to reduce my stress level and try not to feel bad about doing what most people consider "nothing". Society encourages always doing something. The more somethings you can fit into one day, the better. You are American and if you aren't stressed to the gills with a full daybook, your life is worthless. 

Unfortunately, my life has been stressful lately. And very busy. It's exciting stuff and Todd and I are exceptionally grateful for our good fortune...but between you and me? I hate it. If one more bastardly little "agenda" or "event" sneaks it's way onto my calendar (yes I have one of those now) and imprints itself to it, unremovable as much as I try to scrub it away...I'll lose it. So, for now, I'm trying to keep everything corralled and under control. I think I'm doing a pretty good job as a Stress Cowgirl. Besides the occasional rant. Thank you, for allowing my rant. I am now done. 

Okay, now that you have heard my excellent excuse for abandoning you (I also left the state for awhile) it's time for a cookbook review. Huzzah! I've also included a super quick and easy recipe (because, you know) that I've adapted from said cookbook, Near & Far by Heidi Swanson.

Because I received a black and white, paperback, advance uncorrected proof to review I cannot qualify the appearance or feel of the book. I can tell you that this vegetarian cookbook is filled with recipes inspired by Heidi's travels all across the world. Inspired by various cultures and cuisine, her recipes transport the home chef and invite you to join her in her worldly adventures. If only we could be so lucky to actually accompany her! This is the next best thing. 

I found her recipes to be surprisingly simple (which was appreciated) and inspired by whole-foods. This got me excited. However, after flipping through the book I found many recipes to be a little too fluffy for my more utilitarian flair regarding recipes. I am, if nothing else, all things practical when it comes down to it.

Take the recipe Lucques in Grapefruit Juice. Olives soaked in grapefruit juice is just something I would never consider bothering to make. I'll just take those olives straight from the jar! Wine-Washed Arugula begs to be a "recipe", with no actual measurements to be found at all! Arugula, wine, and olive oil. I confess this is not a recipe I would be super pleased to discover in cookbook worth $30. The recipe for Miso Oat Porridge is a recipe for plain oats with 1-3 tbsp of miso paste mixed in...no joke. I wish some of the recipes were a bit a bit more fleshed out, more well-rounded.

Am I being nit-picky? Perhaps I was so excited for this book and so eagerly anticipated its recipes that I decidedly set myself up for disappointment...but I suspect not. Many of the recipes included ingredients I'd never heard of or are unavailable to me in Alaska. Yet, this was to be expected. Bottom-line: this book didn't thrill me as I dreamed it would.

Use this mixed review as you will, but for me, I foresee that this cookbook won't make an appearance too often in my kitchen. However, the recipe below is quite good. It was actually for a spread, which I turned into a noodle dish per Heidi's recommendation to pair it with soba noodles (I realize this doesn't make a lot of sense). I doubled the garlic and added my own amount of lemon juice. I also included liquid smoke. Who just has smoked almonds lying around anyway? I thought sesame seeds would make a lovely garnish as well. It was the perfect meal to use up all of my fresh mint on the porch before the frost claimed it. 

Learn more about Heidi and pre-order Near & Far, available September 15th.

Edamame & Mint Sesame Soba Noodles

Recipe by Kathleen Henry @ Produce On Parade

A quick and very easy sesame soba recipe featuring fresh mint, raw almonds, and protein-packed edamame with a hint of smokiness, crisp lemon, and pepper. Adapted from the cookbook Near & Far.

Yield: 4

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups shelled edamame
• ½ cup raw almonds
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves, lightly packed
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 large garlic cloves
• juice from ½ lemon
• splash of liquid smoke, to taste
• dash of kosher salt
• dash of fresh ground black pepper
• 9 oz soba noodles, dry
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• sprinkling of sesame seeds, for garnish

Cooking Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to boil for the soba noodles.
2. In a food processor, combine the edamame through the black pepper. Pulse until the pieces are no bigger than a pencil eraser. Transfer half of the mixture into a large serving bowl. Pulse the remaining mixture about 6 more times. Add to this mixture to serving bowl as well.
3. Boil the noodles for 3 minutes. Reserve ¼ cup of the cooking liquid and add to the serving bowl along with the drained noodles and the sesame oil.
4. Toss well to combine and garnish with sesame seeds.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

*DISCLAIMER*  PRODUCE ON PARADE IS A PERSONAL BLOG WRITTEN AND EDITED BY MYSELF ONLY, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. MY REVIEWS ARE COMPLETELY BASED ON MY OWN OPINION OF THE PRODUCT REVIEWED. THESE PRODUCTS WERE SUPPLIED TO ME AS GIFTS TO TEST AND REVIEW. OTHERWISE, IF I MENTION A COMPANY BY NAME AND THERE IS NO DISCLAIMER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST, I AM MERELY WRITING ABOUT SOMETHING I LIKE, PURCHASE AND/OR USE. THE FACT THAT I DO RECEIVE A PRODUCT AS A GIFT TO TEST AND REVIEW, WILL NEVER POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE CONTENT MADE IN THIS POST.

Italian Summer Tomato Pasta

This is a quick and easy pasta that’s a great way to utilize those garden-fresh tomatoes from the summer harvest! The noodles are tossed in a homemade Italian dressing with briny capers and fresh herbs. Dinner is on the table in the time it takes to boil water and cook the noodles!

Hey there! Did you miss me?? I've had a wildly busy couple weeks which does not bode well for my person...this girl needs a perplexing amount of downtime. But it's all good, really good! I just turned in my cookbook's manuscript (preorder here!) into my publisher on Friday and it feels unbelievable. Seriously, there are no words. On another note, our house building is coming along fantastic. They are insulating today, the plumbing is currently being put in, and the shingles went up last weekend. Crazy stuff!

Todd and I were joking that I'm not going to know what to do with myself once the book is out of my hands (November) and the house is done (by Thanksgiving, fingers and toes crossed)! Oh the books I will read come November. A holiday of reading and relaxing, Darwin willing. 

“A vibrant inner life is far more powerful than a busy outer one.”

— David Romanelli

Even more good news...I have a new recipe for you! And of course, you'll be seeing more of me around these parts. Sorry for being a bit absent. Sometimes I feel like one of those Stretch Armstrong dolls. It's a most unusual feeling for someone whose life goal is to avoid the overwhelming burden of overstimulation. I simply can't wait to be bored again. To walk through the woods with Bob on our morning jaunt and not have eight things playing bumper-cars in my mind. To just day-dream, without the interruption of yet another item crashing through to heavily belly-flop on my "to-do" list. How rude. I know I need to go to the store for large Ziploc bags so I can put our natural gas application in one and nail it to the right side of the garage, but does it really have to interrupt my wishful thoughts on when I'd be able to watch the latest episode of Poldark. Oh, Poldark...I hope he has to cut the grass again...

Does it ever really stop though? One can hope at the very least. 

Now onto this pasta. My sweet sister-in-law stay with Todd and I for ten weeks while she's doing clinicals up here in Alaska to become a physical therapist. She buys tomatoes for her sandwiches and I seem to keep nicking them to make dinner. I hardly ever buy tomatoes because they always go bad before I use them! She's been up here for two weeks and I think I've "liberated" at least eleven of them. Shameful, I don't know what's wrong with me. Thank you, Anna, for generously donating your tomatoes to the cause, hehehe. I promise to pick up some at the farmer's market tomorrow!

Italian Summer Tomato Pasta

Recipe by Kathleen Henry @ Produce On Parade

This is a quick and easy pasta that’s a great way to utilize those garden-fresh tomatoes from the summer harvest! The noodles are tossed in a homemade Italian dressing with briny capers and fresh herbs. Dinner is on the table in the time it takes to boil water and cook the noodles!

Yield: 6

Ingredients

• 16 oz spaghetti, dry
• 6 medium roma tomatoes, diced
• ¼ medium yellow onion, diced small
• 2 tbsp capers
• ¼ cup large-flake nutritional yeast
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh basil or 1 tbsp dried, chopped
• 2 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
• (about ½ cup) - Dressing -
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp water
• ½ tbsp vegan granulated sugar
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp table salt
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp onion powder

Cooking Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Cook according to the package for al dente noodles, about 10 minutes; drain and return to pot.
2. While the water is coming to a boil, add all the pasta ingredients (except for the pasta) to a medium mixing bowl.
3. Whisk all the dressing ingredients together in a liquid measuring cup or small bowl. Set aside.
4. Once the noodles are done, stir the pasta ingredients into the noodles and stir well. Add in the dressing and use tongs to toss the noodles and coat them evenly.
5. Serve hot.

Today's Info

Still eating pork? Even if you don't care about animals, I hope you care about humans. And if you don't care about humans, well, I hope you at least care about eating peoples fingers and their fecal matter. *shudder* Read all about it here. Horrifying stuff.