Sesame Noodles recipe

To our family and friends, we are known as the minimalist. The realization that we don't need all "that stuff" was when we moved from a 4-bedroom house with a huge basement to a 1-bedroom condo with a small storage in the basement. Since that time, we have lived with the rule that when we buy something new, we had to throw out something old. Sadly, no antiques in this household:-(! This KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle has helped to keep our house clutter free.

The KISS principle came in handy when we moved aboard Mai Thai, our 37-foot boat. We had no problem adjusting to the tight quarters. We apply this principle to our cooking as well. With a tiny refrigerator and minimal shelve space in the galley, we have to be selective with our choices of spices and sauces. This means using recipes that are simple, easy to make and doesn't call for a lot of ingredients. Here's a simple recipe for Sesame Noodles that you can whip up in half an hour or less. Enjoy!

Sesame Noodles
This is adapted from a recipe I found in Gourmet magazine years ago. It is an excellent side dish to go with rotiserrie chicken or grilled steak or pork chops. Great for potlucks!
Serves 8-12

1 lb Angel Hair pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp sesame oil
¼ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
½ Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp chili sauce with garlic

1 red bell pepper, cut into matchstick-size strips
2 green onions, minced
½ cup cilantro, minced

In a mixing bowl, whisk olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar and chili sauce. Set aside.
In a pot of boiling water, cook pasta until al dente. Drain pasta and transfer to the mixing bowl. Toss the angel hair until it is well coated with the sauce. Add bell pepper, green onions and cilantro.
Note: You can find the chili garlic sauce in Chinese grocery stores.

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