Sesame Noodles with Pork
Last night, at around dinnertime, I decided to clean out the fridge. Don’t ask me why this suddenly seemed like a good idea. It’s one of those tasks you commit to finishing as soon as you start – not only because everything is out of the fridge and splayed across every iota of counter space (and some floor and chair space), but because once it’s out you can see the many layers of disgusting multi-hued, gummy/sticky/crispy/petrified muck that was underneath everything. Some of the containers I pulled out were left over from the It’s Just Food shoot in February. Here I thought it was all sourdough starter.
While I was on my knees with my head in the fridge, W sawed the edge of the wooden countertops with the serrated edge of the barbecue flipper at perfect 1-inch intervals, and fed a $16 wedge of Parmesan to the dog. To be honest, I don’t even remember what we had for dinner. I think I ate a few spoonfuls of sour cream and the end of a bag of Triscuits.
So I finished the fridge with about 10 minutes to get to my Artemis meeting. We’re closing in on our annual Gallery Calorie event – a Saturday afternoon of gallery and restaurant hopping up and down 17th Avenue with food and drinks at each venue (noon-4pm), after which everyone converges at Tompkins Park (in front of Mount Royal Village) for a huge party afterward – there is a band, and an art race, and wine and martinis and bacon wrapped scallops and cupcakes – and I’m emceeing – and all proceeds going to benefit Peer Support Services for Abused Women. (It’s on Saturday, June 13, if anyone wants to come! Email me at onesmartcook[at]hotmail dot com if you do – tickets are hot off the press and I have an envelope of them sitting here beside me on my desk. They are $40-well worth it and all toward a great cause!)
When I got home after 10pm, having stopped for groceries on the way, I opted out of my post to answer some questions for … drumroll please … The Kitchn! Who want to feature … drumroll please … MY kitchen as one of their kitchen tours! Which meant I had to clean it a little (really I just told Mike to) – that’s what it takes to get this kitchen clean – a camera crew or some threat of public footage. But The Kitchn! How cool is that? So I answered some questions for them instead of doing my usual post here. I was sure you’d understand. (Look for it tomorrow, I think!)
Tonight I gave in to W’s persistent request for yellow noodles. He may have meant macaroni & cheese – I dunno. When I asked him for the first time to choose his own clothes and get himself dressed (any other time I’ve attempted this he chooses “naked”) he came downstairs in two shirts and announced “I’m wearing my shirtpants!” So instead of being the kid who wears a superhero suit everywhere he goes (that was Ben), mine will be the kid walking around wearing another shirt as a skirt, with arms flopping along beside him. Hopefully I can at least convince him to wear his Shrek underpants.
Please pardon the trashy yard. Keep in mind that it is scarcely spring yet here. At least there is no Lou poo visible. (He is responsible for the gaping chasms behind W though.)
Sesame Noodles with Pork
AuthorJulie
In a large skillet heat the canola oil and sauté the garlic and ginger for a few minutes, until soft but not brown. Transfer to a bowl and add the sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and chili sauce.
Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package directions, or until tender. Drain them well in a colander. When the pan is empty, add a little more oil and toss the noodles in the pan, letting them sit for a bit to get nice and brown, then tossing them around. Add the pork and sauce, and toss to coat and heat through.
Transfer to a large bowl and add the carrot, green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds. Toss to combine everything and then divide among bowls or refrigerate for an hour or two to allow the flavours to meld. (Or you could hold off adding the pork and veg and refrigerate the noodles and sauce overnight, then add the pork and veg just before serving. Or heat everything through in the skillet if you don't want it to be cold.)
Ingredients
Directions
In a large skillet heat the canola oil and sauté the garlic and ginger for a few minutes, until soft but not brown. Transfer to a bowl and add the sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar, honey and chili sauce.
Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to the package directions, or until tender. Drain them well in a colander. When the pan is empty, add a little more oil and toss the noodles in the pan, letting them sit for a bit to get nice and brown, then tossing them around. Add the pork and sauce, and toss to coat and heat through.
Transfer to a large bowl and add the carrot, green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds. Toss to combine everything and then divide among bowls or refrigerate for an hour or two to allow the flavours to meld. (Or you could hold off adding the pork and veg and refrigerate the noodles and sauce overnight, then add the pork and veg just before serving. Or heat everything through in the skillet if you don't want it to be cold.)
One Year Ago: Homemade Falafel
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Ah, the joys of motherhood! There are good days and then there are days like you just described.
My son is 12 (and one of his fav foods is a bowl of noodles like this one!) and it’s just so much easier these days.
my youngest wore a Princess costume every Sunday to church…..
Alternatively, you could show W how to do what a neighbour’s daughter did when she came to my house: wear a pink wooly sweater by turning it upside down, sticking her legs through the arms, kind of like leggings, and belting the bottom (now the top) of the sweater around her waist. Top with tutu and tank top. Or, maybe not………
My yard looks very similar to yours, our dog is attempting to reach China via my flower bed.
I love the concept of ‘shirtpants’ – anything can be transformed to other uses with a bit of creativity – thinking outside the pants if you will.
Lovely looking noodles. I love how when I read your blog I start anticipating dinner before I’ve even had breakfast.
Congratulations!! The Kitchn is awesome, as are you! And the two of you together – wonderful news!
Thank you for sharing your life, ideas, and kitchen with us!
Maybe on those days when my husband comes home form work and I’m still wearing the same pajamas I had on in the morning when he left (now covered in pureed sweet potato and green beans), I can just exclaim, “SHIRTPANTS!” and all will be well.
Shirtpants are the new pants. Think about it – pants are just pants, but shirtpants are BOTH.
Congratulations on the Kitchn tour! (That’s my worst nightmare, by the way – that someone will want to photograph my kitchen.) A former coworker just had their nursery featured on ohdeeoh last week – my, the Internet shrinks the world considerably, doesn’t it?
Hey Julie, the “package” is on the way….I’ll email you later from home for the cost of shipping, ok.
Good for you for the kitchen tour, better you than me, I would be soooooo stressed out!
Have a great weekend and super mother’s day 🙂
MFO
Oh yeah, almost forgot, I love W, he is so cute and funny, imagine he could be a twin….like mine!
LOL
Shirtpants 🙂 I love it. My boy wore a cowboy outfit until 4 when he began to read and then did a 180* and wore Indian garb forever. He still portrays an Oneida Indian in 17th century re-enactments. Congrats on the Kitchn! I will love a peek into your workspace.
Cleaning the fridge is always a major task!
The noodles look amazing!
hahaha @ your son! Soooo cute! 🙂
Very nice – this looks like a great quick cook meal! I’m going to try it with the soba buckwheat noodles.
Man, you’re on a roll. The cupboards and the fridge!
Did I tell you that there was a picture of the The Monster on The Kitchn last week? And just the other day they posted a picture of bottle openers that I took. I can’t wait to see how pretty your kitchen looks – at least you are controlling the photos this time.
I just went to The Kitchn and read the article! So Cool! I would have liked it even if I didn’t “know” you. So exciting….
Your lovely kitchen is up on the site now. How totally cool is that. How come I didn’t know about The Kitchn til today? Talk about not being a cool kid …
I love the outfit!!! It’s great!!!
That looks like he’s wearing someone’s jacket. Hahaha. Cute kid. Loved how he raised that stone right to his face. Now we can’t see it.
Loved this recipe! Such great flavor! I used rice vinegar and honey, but instead of the raw carrots, I sliced 1/2 stalk of celery and one small carrot in thin diagonal slices and sauteed them in bit of oil until crisp tender (usually add a Tbs of water and steam for about 1 minute somewhere in that process). I didn’t have any chili sauce but I did have a bottle of chipotle hot sauce so threw a couple dashes of that in. The only ‘noodles’ I had were egg noodles. Wow! Yummy! and definitely a keeper!