Veggie Lo Mein

by Charlie on January 24, 2012

I don’t make chinese/thai food very often. Why? Simple: takeout. But that’s not a very good reason… Is there anything easier and quicker than a stir-fry for dinner (besides a sandwich)?. Might take more time to walk to Thai Express…

I’ve also never made anything else than a regular stir-fry. My favorites are Singapore noodles and Pad Thai, so I definitely want to master these two, but tonight’s post is about an other dish… Lo Mein.

Now don’t ask me if this is any similar to takeout Lo Mein, I never had any! It definitely is less salty than any takeout dinner, but the important is: it was tasty .

Veggie Lo Mein

Adaptation of Veggie Lo Mein, Three Many Cooks

Ingredients:

1 cup broccoli florets
250 g Yet-Ca-Mein noodles (or other oriental spaghetti-style noodles)
1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 small/medium white onion, halved from pole to pole, each half cut into sixths
1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms
1 carrot, cut into matchsticks
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 can (199 ml) sliced bamboo shoots
3 eggs, beaten

Sauce:

1/4 cup low fat coconut milk
1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 tsp rice vinegar
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp honey
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 tbsp grated ginger

Directions: Bring a big pot of water to a boil. Boil or steam broccoli for 2-3 minutes. Add noodles to the same water and cook according to package directions.

Whisk all the sauce ingredients together.

Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add onion and stir-fry 1-2 minutes. Add mushrooms, carrots, celery and bamboo shoots and stir-fry a couple more minutes. Add steamed broccoli and stir-fry 30 seconds.

Push the veggies to the sides and add eggs in the middle. Stir until eggs are cooked. Add noodles and stir-fry 30 seconds, then stir in sauce.

Serves 4-5

This was an easy, tasty dinner. The sauce is AMAZING. It is definitely what gives a great flavor to the (tasteless) noodles. You could make this dish vegan by using tofu (add at the beginning with the onions) instead of eggs and sugar instead of honey .

{ 0 comments }

DIY Wipe Off Weekly Menu Board

by Charlie on January 19, 2012

Confession: Too much of my time is passed on Pinterest. This thing is addicting. And creates many needs. For houses you will probably never be able to afford, travels that won’t happen, objects you don’t need…

Recipes, so many recipes you can’t make them all… I think I could eat for the rest of my life making each recipe only one time.

And projects. Who knew there were so many things you can do yourself?! But I can now officially tell you… I made something thanks to Pinterest!

I am still trying to find a menu planning, grocery shopping method that I like to do and works for me. I am not horrible at menu planning, but I definitely make more of a 4-5 days plan then a weekly plan. And I need a weekly plan. An organized, official, written, in-my-face weekly plan (compared to the current in-my-head plan).

And seeing tons of menu boards on Pinterest made me think…

Maybe having a beautiful menu board I made all by myself is a great incentive to really think about my meals for the next 7 days. And have it in my face for the whole week. And make a grocery list according to this plan. And not go to the grocery store 2-3 times a week. Nothing to lose here…

I have to say, I really liked the boards with the recipe cards. But let’s face it: as a food blogger, there is no always-eating-the-same-thing here (doesn’t help with meal planning, but hey… trying and creating new recipes is fun ).

So the wipe-off menu definitely is the best in my case. But I want to plan not only dinners, I also want to plan lunches. And need space for that. And then the idea just came to me…

I used a collage frame to have a 4 x 6 space for each day. Now here is how I made it…

Supplies:

A collage frame (8 x 4 by 6 inch)
Dry-erase marker

+ …

A computer
Internet
A color printer
Scissors…

Using the computer, go on the Internet and search Google images for scrapbook paper. Find one you like. Save. Open Paint or equivalent and make a new blank 4 x 6 inch (300 x 450 pixels) image. Use saved image as background. Write Menu on one, days of the week on 7 others. If desired, select different scrapbook papers or different parts of one (copy/paste selected part). Print using color printer. Cut using scissors. Place in frame. Hang on wall.

That’s what I call a cheap project. All you need to do is find a cheap frame.

You can also use real scrapbook paper and print the days of the week on it.

Hope you like it

{ 6 comments }

Pumpkin, Cranberry & Raisin Bread Pudding

January 17, 2012

I don’t make special breakfasts often these days. Because let’s face eat: when you eat breakfast alone, PB & J sandwiches are way easier than an elaborate breakfast (and I love them ). And when I do make something, it will be muffins or bread… I can bring it with me in the morning when [...]

Read and drool →

Butternut Squash Risotto

January 10, 2012

I used to not like hate risotto. Until I learned how to like it. I am now in love with risotto! Step 1. Stir, stir, stir. I thought risotto was too sticky, but the trick is to add a ladle of broth at a time and stir. Risotto is not regular rice! Step 2. Have [...]

Read and drool →