Today I present ten useless facts about me (because really, everyone has fun useless facts and the small amount of elegance I have with words seems to be eluding me):
1. I stand in the grocery store staring at bananas for what seems like hours (when really it’s probably only 5 minutes) while I try and decide which bunch is the perfect size and ripeness.
2. I sing show turns like it’s my job. Current show tune: “Matchmaker, Matchmaker make me a match. Find me a find, catch me a catch….”
3. I still stick my tongue out when it snows.
4. I dream that once I’m done with my job (May 2013) I’m going to move out to Colorado and become a snowboard bum (sorry mom and dad.)
5. I still believe in fairytale love (this one is for better and for worse- I blame disney and romantic comedies.)
6. I still go to the park and swing.
7. One of the only things I regret in life was not sticking with piano (even though I was five when I quit- I chose Saturday morning cartoons. An honest mistake!)
8. The train is my favorite mode of transportation (next to walking and bike riding.)
9. I work best in chaotic places (like coffee shops) even though I end up people watching the majority of the time.
10. I don’t often eat oranges because I hate (loathe) peeling them. (so this recipe was perfect- no peeling involved!)
This week’s recipe was for a beef and bean sprout stir-fry. I opted out of the beef and couldn’t find bean sprouts (yay rural Illinois!) So, I went for beans and cabbage. This meal takes no time to throw together and is the perfect lunch or light supper. I can even imagine that it would be good cold the next day (it didn’t last that long.)
For this week’s actual recipe click over to Dominica’s Blog and for everyone else’s take, head over to the Food Matters Project website!
(PS- I love hearing random facts so I’d love for you to share a random fact about yourself!)
Sesame Orange Chickpeas, Cabbage, and Soba Noodles
Ingredients
- 4 oz soba noodles
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 bunch green onions
- 2 cups shredded purple cabbage
- 1/2 cup garbanzo beans
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- zest from 1/2 orange
- juice from 1/2 orange
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Cook Soba noodles according to package, set aside. (this can be done while the veggies cook.)
- In a large skillet heat olive oil over medium heat. Add in onions and cabbage. Let cook until until cabbage begins to soften. Stir in garbanzo beans, zest, sesame seeds, soy sauce, juice, and honey. Continue to cook until beans are warm and the liquids has cooked down a bit.
- Combine the noodles and the veggies. Serve with a sprinkle of green onion and a little extra soy sauce!
by Erin Alderson
This sounds delightful! Especially the sesame-orange combination. Yum!
Two of my favorite past times are the orange and sesame Asian dishes! Combined I love them even more!
Oh man I love bowl meals like this. Such an awesome combination of flavours too! Thanks.
Sometimes I think one bowl meals are the best (plus they make great traveling companions!)
Yum! It’s a delicate vegetarian meal. Easy to make!
Your dish turned out so colorful – it looks fantastic!
random fact: I am a walking contradiction…an easy-going, mellow chic who NEEDS order. It helps me stay relaxed ;)…
I can understand that!
This looks delicious! It’s probably even easier than the original recipe and I love how it uses even easier to find ingredients like chickpeas and cabbage.
I have a bad habit of just throwing everything into a pan and cooking it. It may not be as fancy as the original but it still tasted good 🙂
I dream that once I’m done with med school, I’m going to become a caterer. A fact that I not-so-discreetly try to hide from my parents as much as possible. My mom, especially, does NOT approve. 😛
For some reason, I never think to add beans to stir fries but it’s SUCH a great idea! Love what you’ve done here.
I tried to buy a coffee shop this summer (while trying to finish my Master’s in music education.) My parents were supportive but I know that they thought I was crazy!
This dish looks delicious. I honestly have not bought soba noodles yet and need to – this will be the perfect reason! Is it weird that 7 out of your 10 random facts are true for me also? Another random fact about me: I have a strong weakness for boxed macaroni and cheese that continuously threatens to dismantle my usual intake of unprocessed, healthy foods. Annie’s Shells and White Cheddar will be the death of me!
I grew up on boxed macaroni! However, I’ve managed to ween myself off and now I’ve love my homemade just as much!
I love how colorful this dish is!
I feel the same way about grapefruits, as you do about oranges!
Love your take on this week’s recipe. I was out of town all weekend and didn’t get a chance to make it, but I’d be so content with a bowl of your soba noodes.
I do the bAnana thing at the store with pretty much all produce, love swings, love being a creeper and watch people in busy places – it is highly amusing to me, and I always make my boyfriend peel oranges for me.
Sometimes I eat oranges like grapefruit (complete with a grapefruit spoon!)
PS I like the garbanzo bean idea! Man, wish I could think more creatively like you. Soba noodles… Yum!
Love the purple cabbage!! I say this as I’m painting my nails a deep dark purple and reading posts while they dry 🙂
Sometimes I make dishes based on color 🙂
Love the colors in this dish and that you added chickpeas 🙂
I have been so in love with noodles lately – soba and udon to be specific. This sounds like a perfect zesty, sweet, warm, and a bit crunchy!
I’ve found I love using noodles because you can really toss anything into a bowl and call it good!
Reason numero uno why Daniel refuses to ever go to the supermarket with me again: I spend an ungodly amount of time in the produce section. Hehe. It’s a good place to be!
I always someone to go to the store with me and then when they did, I realized how much I like shopping alone!
I almost went this route using edamame, but really like the idea of chickpeas. They are one of my favorite beans. Great pictures too, love the color the red cabbage brings in.
Your pictures are beautiful!!! Don’t feel bad – I had a hard time finding bean sprouts and I live in Seattle! They are a hot commodity lol 😉
I looove your take on the recipe. I think my 3-year-old might love it too. I’m gonna try it for sure, maybe this weekend even. Beautiful pix too!
Tried it, loved it.
Haha, I love your #1 – I’m the same! There are so many factors to choosing the perfect bunch of bananas. Or at least I think so 😀 Beautiful salad! The purple cabbage is so pretty(plus I love how it tastes) and the orange dressing sounds delicious.
I love riding the train and I love the look and sound of this little soba noodle bowl. I *still* walk down the sidewalk avoiding stepping on the lines and cracks. And I love the smell of a fireplace.
Good one- sometimes I’ll even say the rhyme from grade school about stepping on cracks!
Sounds so yummy and looks so colourful!
My random fact: I wanted to be a cowgirl.
A relevant fact: Your pictures of this great dish are gorgeous, Erin!
What an incredible recipe….your pics are amazing.
I made this over the weekend and it was a huge hit. Tastes good next day and thereafter as long as you aren’t too turned off by bright purple chickpeas. I served it alongside some roasted root vegetables and I think it both looked and tasted great with sweet potato. Thanks!
I wonder about using grapefruit for the citrus.
I went looking for inspiration for my dinner tonight, and this I have found!! No cabbage so putting in raw red and yellow bell peppers. Also ran out of soba noodles already and no time to go out, over rice it is! This looks delishious and perfect for a girl like me on the go. Random fact: My favorite place to be is the grocery store. I have to restrain myself from asking my spouse if we can go “just because”. He knows I love it but would think I am a loony for wanting to go there.