Crunchy Noodle Salad – Ina Garten

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Kosher salt
1/2 pound thin spaghetti
1 pound sugar snap peas
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons toasted white sesame seeds, divided
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
2 red bell peppers, cored and seeded, and thinly sliced
4 scallions (with and green parts), sliced diagonally
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook
according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, bring another large pot of salted water to a boil, add the sugar snap peas, return to a boil, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until crisp tender. Lift the sugar snap peas from the water with a slotted spoon and immerse them in a bowl of ice water. Drain.

For the dressing, whisk together the vegetable oil, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, 2 tablespoons sesame seeds and peanut butter in a medium bowl.

Combine the spaghetti, sugar snap peas, peppers and scallions in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the spaghetti mixture. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds and the parsley and toss together.

Cashew nut roast

I now make this in a casserole dish rather than loaf pan. It’s much easier to serve!!



The roast:
2 tablespoons oil or butter
2 large onions, chopped fine (I used 2 med.)
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups raw cashews
1 1/2 cups bread-use stuffing bread cut up in cusinart
1 cup soup stock (or water)
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons lemon juice

The “stuffing”:
3 cups bread cubes, toasted
2 tablespoons margarine, melted but not hot
1/2 cup finely-chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1/2 teaspoon sage
3 tablespoons parsley, chopped
salt to taste (I did not add salt)
chopped parsley

(From the first list:) Cook the onion and garlic in the oil or margarine until tender, and remove from the heat. Chop the cashews by hand or in a food processor; cut up the bread as well. Add the cashews and bread to the onion, then add the vegetable stock, salt and pepper, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Put half of this mixture into a greased casserole dish.

Mix together all the ingredients from the second list. Add some stock so it’s a bit moist or not bone dry.  Put the mixture on top of the stuff in the casserole, and add the rest of the first mixture so that there are three layers of food in the pan. Place the pan on a baking sheet (in case it overflows while cooking), and bake at 400 degrees F for 30 to 45 min. The top should be browned.

Note: do not raise temp above 400, probably done after 45 min, check internal temp.

Let the roast cool for a few minutes, then turn the pan over and serve the roast on a plate. Serve with gravy if desired, keeping in mind that it is a very rich dish.

Serve with mushroom, miso, mustard gravy

Refried Bean Soup — Southern Living

1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (16 oz) can refried beans
1 (16 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained (rotel)
1 (14 1/2 oz) can ready-to-serve chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
6 corn tortillas
8 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese (2 cups)
1 (8 oz) carton sour cream
guacamole

Cook onion and garlic in oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until tender.

Add beans and next 3 ingredients, stirring until smooth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in cilantro, if desired.

Cut tortillas into thin strips; spread in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Cool.

Ladle soup into individual soup bowls; top with tortilla strips, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. Serve immediately. Makes 7 cups