4/23/11

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 then, we have lived with the rule that when we buy something new, we have to throw out something old. Sadly, no antiques in this household :-(! This KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle has helped us keep our place 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. Many people are amazed at the stuff I whipped up in this galley.

Here's a simple recipe for Sesame Noodles that you can bring to the table in an hour or less. Enjoy!

Sesame Noodles
[Print Recipe]

This is adapted from a recipe I found in (now defunct) 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 Linguine pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp sesame oil
¼ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
½ Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp chili sauce with garlic

1 red bell or several mini sweet peppers, 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. Add bell pepper(s), green onions and cilantro to the sauce and  pour the mixture over the linguine. Toss the pasta until it is well coated with the sauce.

Cook's Note: You can find most of the ingredients in regular supermarkets, including Walmart

Updated: 10/11/21

4/16/11

A walk down memory lane ... in Boston


Spring may have sprung in Chattanooga, but it was still winter in Boston. At least it was or felt like it when we visited almost three weeks ago. Boston is beautiful in the spring and I was looking forward to update my digital photo albums. 
Massachusetts State House
A 9 hours drive had taken us to Washington, D.C. We visited some friends and went to see the cherry blossoms. Another plus for my albums! A couple days later, we drove another 9 hours to Boston. It was March 28, and there was remnant of winter on the ground. And more of the wet white stuff was to come April 1st, and this was no April Fool's joke. We had a wedding to attend, and snow spelled trouble with a capital T. Thank God the wedding day turned out nice, and most of snow melted away. 
Congratulations Janeen and Bobby!

Our friend dancing with his daughter
Here are some pictures of our old stomping grounds. 
The subway station at Park Street
Harvard Square icon, or used to be
Marina Bay
Do we miss Boston? Surprisingly, no. We've had it with the weather! Much as we adore Boston and love cruising its waters, it may help to know that there is life after New England. There are plenty of places waiting to be explored - in the south and beyond. The world is calling, so who knows when and where we will head to next?

You might also like:
Rome: St Peters Basilica and The Vatican Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring Spring in Amsterdam, the Netherlands