PPN: Everything Lo Mein

Hmm... seems like every post lately has been for Presto Pasta Night.  While in itself not a bad thing, it means I'm not holding up to my end of the bargin to myself to keep this blog active.  I'll have to remedy that in the days to come, but for now, here's my entry to this weeks PPN.

First, let me apologize for this photo.  It screams BROWN and that wasn't my intention.  I have a white plate that I like to use for plating but for some reason I just grabbed our regular bowls.  New plating dishes need to be in my future.  Really.

This recipe was originally found on iVillage (man, has that website been around for-ev-er) but in a little more research I found it was a Rachael Ray recipe posted here on Food Network's website.  The base of the sauce is hoisin - so if you're going to make it, be sure to use a good hoisin sauce - preferably one whose first ingredient isn't some form of sweetener.  I used Full Circle Organic and that seemed to have a decent flavor.

Because I can't leave well enough alone, I changed a few things - doubling the sauce and adding more hot sauce (in the form of Sriracha), more than halving the amount of meat she used, and changing the vegetables a bit to what I had in the house.  All in all I'm not sure I'd make it again without some more tweaking - I think I'd recommend adding some chili paste with garlic to the sauce (my favorite Asian condiment) and amping up the veggies some more.  But, it's a good catch all meal - and definitely healthier than take out.

This week PPN is hosted by Juli of Pictures of all my Princesses.  Head on over there tomorrow for the full round up.

Everything Lo Mein
(modified from Rachael Ray)

• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/3 cup tamari
• 1/3 cup water
• 3 tablespoons hot sauce

• 1 pound spaghetti
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced into strips
• 1 pork chop, thinly sliced into strips
• Black pepper
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 2 inches fresh ginger, chopped or grated
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 6 scallions, cut into 3-inch lengths then sliced lengthwise
• 1/2 pound mixed mushrooms, chopped
• 1 small can sliced water chestnuts
• 2 cups fresh bean sprouts
• 2 handfuls frozen edamame

Mix together sauce ingredients and reserve.

Bring pasta water to a boil, salt water and cook spaghetti to al dente.  About 2 minutes before the spaghetti is done, throw in the frozen edamame to cook.

Season the meat with salt, pepper and coriander. Heat the remaining vegetable oil then add meat and stir-fry until cooked through.  Remove from pan.  Add the  ginger, garlic and veggies (except bean sprouts) and stir-fry veggies 2 minutes, then add the meat back into the pan.  Add pasta and bean sprouts to skillet and pour sauce over and toss to combine.

 

Comments

[paula]

I love reading your blog because we seem to be on the same wavelength when it comes to cooking. I am positive that I mentally bookmarked this recipe of RR's somewhere - although I can't remember if it was a library book or one that I own. I just picked up a jar of hoisin sauce a couple of days ago (I think - now I can't remember putting it away - I'll have to check the trunk of my car to see if it's rolling around in there!)

I'll be up your way this weekend. I have a bridal shower on Saturday evening in Scranton but I'll probably head up Friday night for lack of anything better to do, and spend some extra time with my dad and sisters, kid-free. I'm sure I'll be seeing the inside of the Moheghan Sun at some point.

[Alisha]

LOL Paula... that's why I love you :) I find the same when I read your blog - thinking "okay, that sounds good ... okay, I need to do that".

Have fun up here - you should have been here last weekend though when it was so beautiful. My plans were to take the kids to Bushkill Falls but my daughter ended up with strep throat so we didn't go . Ah well, it'll be in our future sometime.

One of these times when you're up here and not swamped we should get together for lunch or something - it'd be fun!

[paula]

Yes, I'm rethinking my outfit for the shower since it's going to be chilly and damp Saturday evening. No matter - I will be out of the house on a Saturday night!

I try to get up there every few weeks when the weather gets nicer. I think this year I will be making most of those trips alone so getting together sounds great. How sad is it that my 8 year old has such a rich social life that he doesn't want to leave home on the weekends anymore but I am scrambling to find something to do
when the boys are with their dad?

[Alisha]

LOL not sad at all -- because I feel the same way! I guess it's true to enjoy your social life when you're young.

Well, have a great weekend and hope it's not too lousy weather for you!

[gabriela]

Good luck ,Great post,y love you!Thanks for the info it had cleared out too many things in my mind. Your recommendations are really good.
http://www.waterchestnutsnutrition.com