Edamame Lo Mein

This recipe is one of my go-to dinners when I'm in the mood for Asian fare.  I borrowed it years ago from Eating Well, but changed a few of the ingredients to suit my taste.  It seems quite simple and plain, but it's full of delicious flavors, and packs some heat if you like cayenne; add a little or a lot.   Protein and veggies included.  There is usually plenty left-over for lunch the next day, woo hoo!

Dinner, lunch, cold or hot!

Ingredients:

8 oz. whole wheat spaghetti or udon noodles
1 cup frozen edamame (shelled soybeans)
4 scallions, diced
1/4  cup oyster sauce, or vegetarian oyster sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
3 T reduced sodium soy sauce
2 tsp. pure maple syrup, or Agave
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper (or more if you're crazzzy!)
2 T canola oil
2 medium carrots, cut into matchsticks
2 small red bell peppers, cut into matchsticks

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, whisk scallions, oyster sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil and crushed pepper in a small bowl.

3.  Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over high heat.  Add carrots and bell pepper and cook, stirring often, until slightly softened, 2-3 min.  Add the pasta and edamame.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is crispy in spots, a few minutes.  Add the sauce and stir to combine.  Makes 4-6 servings.  Enjoy!

Chick Pea Salad w/ Lemon Balsamic Dressing

When I think of this salad, I think: simple, fresh, healthy, crunch, sweet, savory.  With protein and veggies mixed in, you can't go wrong.   The marinated artichoke hearts give it an extra yummy flavor, and the flat leaf parsley and lemon freshen it up!  The dressing is the sweet/savory part with a garlic kick.  In a pinch, you can use a balsamic vinaigrette dressing and squeeze lemon over the top.  Just be careful to buy a dressing without high fructose corn syrup HFCS.  Read your labels!

click photo to enlarge

Ingredients:
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 can organic chick peas (garbanzo beans)
handful of flat leaf parsley, washed and diced
1/2 cup organic shelled edemame
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
1-6.5 oz jar of marinated artichoke hearts

Dressing:
1 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp.  organic balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. Agave nectar
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 lemon, squeezed (2-3 tablespoons)
pepper to taste

In a small bowl, whisk up dressing and set aside.  Drain and dice artichoke hearts.   Drain and rinse chick peas.  Add all salad ingredients to a medium bowl and toss with dressing.  Chill for 1 hour.  I don't know how many servings this is because I almost ate the whole thing in one sitting.  You can share; I'm just really really selfish.