Sesame Noodles

Whaaaaat?!?! A new post?! I know. My life has been bouncing around this country in single parent fashion for about a year. Now I am settled, husband is home for a while, and I have normalcy. That does not mean I haven't been cooking REALLY GREAT FOOD! Get ready to be buried in delicious recipes.

This particular recipe was super fast, delicious (I ate a serving or two before it actually made it to the table. I couldn't stop!), and it tastes like you're in a good chinese restaurant. We ate it with some grilled teriyaki chicken. Justin grilled it in a foot of snow.

Sesame Noodles

adapted from this blog

• 12 ounces, fluid Thin Noodles, Cooked And Drained
• ¼ cups Soy Sauce
• 2 Tablespoons Sugar
• 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
• 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• 3 Tablespoons Pure Sesame Oil
• ½ teaspoons Hot Chili Oil
• 4 Tablespoons Canola Oil
• 2 Tablespoons Hot Water
• 4 whole Green Onions, Sliced Thin

Whisk all ingredients (except noodles and green onions) together in a bowl. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed. Pour sauce over warm noodles and toss to coat. Sprinkle with green onions and toss.

Notes: I used Sriracha for the hot chili sauce, I chopped instead of minced the garlic, and I wish I'd have minced it. I also did not find Thin Noodles, or "soup noodles" so I just used linguine and it did great. 

Four-cheese Italian Sausage with Garlic Basil Sauce

We had some leftover Italian sausage, so I went to the manufacturer's website for ideas on how to serve it. This was yummy.

Four-cheese Italian Sausage with Garlic Basil Sauce
From www.Johnsonville.com

• 1 pkg. Johnsonville Four-Cheese Italian Sausage Links
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 3/4 cup frozen peas
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth (14 oz.)
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• Hot cooked angel hair pasta.

In a skillet, saute onion and garlic in olive oil until tender. Add peas. Combine the cornstarch, broth and pepper until smooth; stir into onion mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in sausage and basil. Serve over pasta.
Makes 5 servings.

Penne Pasta with Spinach, Bacon, and Chicken

Got this recipe from Disney Family Food's website. I have no idea how I stumbled on it. The recipe does not call for chicken, but I wanted to make it the main dish.

I just copied from the page:

Prep Time:	10m
Cook Time:	15m
Ready in:	25m
Yield:	4 servings

Ingredients
	1 (12 ounce) package penne pasta 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 6 slices bacon, chopped 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 bunch fresh spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta, and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place bacon in the skillet, and cook until browned and crisp. Add garlic, and cook for about 1 minute. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook until heated through.
3. Place the spinach into a colander, and drain the hot pasta over it so it is wilted. Transfer to a large serving bowl, and toss with the remaining olive oil, and the bacon and tomato mixture.