Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Asian Linguini Salad and other stuff...

I wish I had something really interesting or witty to say this morning.  I would love to dazzle you with my witty prose; but, I am afraid that I have nothing much to say.  You know what I mean, right?  Some days, you just have nothing.  Today is one of those days.  I have nothing except this food that I need to share with you.  I'm pretty much going to let it speak for itself.


I have been wanting to make these dishes for awhile and I have finally gotten around to it.  I'm not sure what has happened to me and this blog over the last few months.  I guess life has a way of intervening.   That's okay though because life is good and we are enjoying our new home in New Hampshire....even with the occasional heat wave.   So when the temperatures start rising outside, I start craving salads.   The Asian Linguini Salad worked perfectly for that.


I let it sit in the fridge for 24 hours before we ate it and the only complaint that I had about it was that I wish that the linguini noodles had soaked in more of the sauce flavor.  Please don't misunderstand me.  The sauce was amazing and it tasted delicious on the noodles.   This Louisiana girl just likes really bold flavors and I would have liked to have tasted more of the sauce because it was so good.

I, also, like things spicy.  This salad was not spicy at all on its own and if I hadn't served it with some seriously spicy chicken, I would have added some heat to the sauce with some Sriracha or crushed red pepper.   Since the chicken was so spicy, the salad was the perfect cool compliment to it.   I will have to tell you about the chicken in another post.  It is definitely worthy to stand on its own.  

So without further delay, I will share the salad recipe that I got from Cat Can Cook with you.  I am sharing my very slightly adapted version of this recipe.  I encourage you to go over and visit Cat and see her original version along with all of the other wonderful recipes that she has featured there.  This isn't the first recipe that I've made of hers.  

Remember the banana muffins that I featured here?  

Seriously... Cat CAN Cook!
Thank you, Mary, for introducing me to Cat!

 
Asian Linguini Salad
Adapted slightly from Cat Can Cook
 
16 oz. whole grain linguini, cooked

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 TBSP brown sugar

2 TBSP honey

Squeeze of lime juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 TBSP rice vinegar

1 tsp sesame oil

1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
(*more for garnish)

1/2 cup cashew nuts, chopped
(*more for garnish)

1/2 cup snow peas or sugar snap peas, chopped

1 red pepper, diced

1/2 cup carrot, grated

3 or 4 green onions, chopped

In a large bowl combine soy sauce, sugar, honey and lime juice, vinegar, sesame oil and garlic.  Whisk well.  Mix in the cooked noodles and toss to coat. Stir in all vegetables and cashews. Chill for several hours or overnight. Just before serving, top with extra chopped cashews and chopped cilantro.

I, also, got the opportunity to try my hand at making some Spicy Crab Rolls and California-ish rolls using Soy Paper to go along with this meal.  They were a little messy!



I won't be joining the staff of a Japanese restaurant any time soon; but I didn't think they were too bad for my first time.




And as you can see, the family loved them....


And dessert was a hit, as well....


Cherry Cornmeal Upside Down Cake

It wasn't nearly as pretty as Joanne's cake.  See for yourself and get the recipe here.

But it was absolutely amazing...

Please make this cake.
Do it. 

Your family will thank you.


This post is being linked up with Hearth & Soul Hop 
 Tasty TuesdayTuesdays at the Table, 
and  Make a Food-"e" Friend.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a wonderful day!





Hearth and Soul Hop at Zesty South Indian Kitchen
































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25 comments:

  1. Oooohhhh!!!! Candace!!!! Look at you. You're like a regular sushi chef. I'm so jealous and so inspired! I think I'm going to try making that soon. And that asian noodle salad??? I totally want that for lunch today!

    Lots of yummy love,
    Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
    www.mawhats4dinner.com

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  2. I never was much of a fan for Asian food nor Sushi. I think this has changed today! Your creation speaks for itself! Happy Tuesday

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  3. Your little sushis are so cute! They are better looking than any homemade sushi I've ever made.

    And I'm LOVING that linguini. Totally my kind of noodle salad! (With added heat, of course!)

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  4. What a meal, i am loving every bit of it. sure I will try the cake.

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  5. OMG Candace - that looks soooo good!!!

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  6. Aw, thanks for your comments, everyone! You are all very sweet!

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  7. That pasta looks delicious! I love spicy, too, Sriracha all the way!

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  8. These pix are so mouth-watering and I can almost taste the Asian-y goodness . . . yum! I'm gonna try the Asian Linguini Salad . . . soon!
    Love ya, g

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  9. OMG that linguine looks absolutely amazing!

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  10. I already know I will like the Asian Linguini Salad. Thank you for the recipe and for reminding me how much I like those flavors.

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  11. Not my favorites but your pictures sure do make them look tempting~! :O)

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  12. Everything looks fabulous, everything

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  13. Oh this linguine sounds perfect! Just bookmarked!!

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  14. This recipe looks really good! It would be great if you came over to Cast Party Wednesday tomorrow and shared some of your recipes.
    Thanks,
    I hope to see you there!

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  15. The entire meal looks SO fabulous -- ideal for summer!!! Simple yet sophisticated ... you have perfected the art ... :)

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  16. The linguine looks so good, I'd need to add a little more heat, too. Looking forward to the chicken! Great looking sushi!

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  17. candace! Your sushi and pasta look amazing! I am so impressed. Your sushi is perfect in my opinon and it is hard to do it your first time but then you get the hang of it. however, i just say these sushi roll contraption on chefstools and it is so simple to make sushi- you just put in the rice then top it with the seafood, filling and press down. easy breezy,so east I might buy it for myself! Why go through the extra trouble if a machine can do it for you! LOL! Love these dishes and job well done

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  18. If you make that cornmeal cake with blueberries can you make and extra pack it up and send it to me???? You have inspired me...I'm going to try the sushi next week!!!

    Lots of yummy love,
    Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
    www.mawhats4dinner.com

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  19. I love when I visit someone, & there is this gorgeous array of Asian delights to savor! Yum!

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  20. beautiful asian spaghetti salad!!! by the way I finally checked out your "latest addiction" pinterest...sigh...addictive indeed. so much fun. you'll have to send me your screen name so i can follow!

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  21. Your California Rolls look amazing, and so does that cake! And as for the salad, I can't wait to give it a try. It's got such lovely flavours going on in it, and I like that you used whole wheat linguini. Thank you for sharing this delicious post with the Hearth and Soul blog hop.

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  22. What a lovely meal! Love that you made sushi. It's on my list to do!

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  23. I think your cake looks pretty good...you notice I didn't show a pic of the entire cake I made! Since I "lost" some of my juice, the entire top isn't covered the way it should be! I'm definitely going to try it again in the skillet. Maybe tomorrow :D

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