Tag Archives: Woman’s day

New Year’s Eve Vegetable Lo Mein

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Did you know that eating noodles is good luck for the new year?

I was googling around for some New Year’s eve dinner inspiration and I came across this article on Woman’s Day about the good luck foods for the New Year.

In China, Japan and other Asian countries, it’s customary to eat long noodles, which signify longevity, on New Year’s Day. Since the noodles are never to be broken or shortened during the cooking process, the typical preparation for “Long-Life Noodles” is a stir-fry.

Well, I’ll drink to longevity! You can choose any combination of vegetables you like. You can add some pork or some chicken if you want to make this a meaty dish. Also, in some countries, pork is a luck New Year’s food as the pig symbolizes progress.

But as I always say, the beauty of cooking is the ability to adjust to your specific tastes. So have fun with it. Just don’t break the noodles!

So here’s my New Year’s Eve, Long-Life Vegetable Lo Mein.

You will need

  • 2 tablespoons chopped ginger
  • 2 chopped garlic cloves
  • 3 chopped scallions
  • white button mushrooms, sliced
  • snow peas
  • shredded cabbage (I like the coleslaw mix because it has cabbage and carrots all shredded and ready to go)
  • vegetable oil
  • soy sauce
  • stir fry sauce or teriyaki
  • noodles ( I used Japanese somen noodles which are wheat noodles that cook in like 2 minutes)

To get started, bring a pot of water to a boil. Then, in a large skillet, drizzle olive oil and add the ginger and garlic. Sautee for a few minutes.

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Next, add the mushrooms and cook until they are browned.

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Add a little water, maybe 1/8 of a cup, to the bottom of the pain. Then add in the snow peas. The water will help you scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pain and will steam the snow peas so they stay nice and crunchy.

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After about 3-5 minutes, toss in a few handfuls of the shredded cabbage.

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Add a few dashes of soy sauce and two tablespoons of teriyaki or stir fry sauce.

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Add the noodles to the boiling water and let them cook while the cabbage wilts into the mix. When the noodles are done, drain and toss them into the skillet, stirring to coat them in the sauce. Top with scallions.

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Serve up heaping bowls and toast to a new year!

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Healthy Breakfast Alternative – Ice Pops!

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I have many food obsessions.

These change seasonally. In the winter, it’s anything topped with warm melted cheese, in the fall, it’s anything with butternut squash or cinnamon, in the spring, it’s fresh grassy greens. In the summer? Ice pops.

I already told you about how my dad bought me two rocket pops as a kid – that’s probably the root of my obsession.

But, really, just think about it for a second.

Think about being a kid and eating an ice pop out in the backyard, or sitting on your front steps, or poolside as the sun beats down and melts the pop down your hands.

Bliss.

That right there, the icy cold pop hitting your tongue, the sticky melted liquid running down your arm, the sun beating down as you run your bare feet through the grass.

That’s happiness right there.

Yet, as adults, we forget all about the humble ice pop.

Now, I love the ones in the box in the freezer section as much as I did as a kid – fudgcicles, fruit bars, creamsicles – but I know that these are loaded with sugar and preservatives (though there are a ton of all natural options on the market.) Edy’s, Ciao Bella and Whole Foods’ 365 brand are all pretty decent options.

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But nothing will be as good or as fresh as what you make at home.

Let me ask you something, do you like smoothies?

Do you make them at home?

Have you ever considered freezing your smoothie and putting it on a stick?

Why not?!?

Everyone knows food on a stick is so much better!

Scientifically proven fact!

Okay, well maybe not, but think about all the times you’ve eaten foods on a stick and now try and think about all the times you were unhappy while eating foods on a stick.

See?

So instead of just making a smoothie and sipping it on my way to work, I’m embracing my inner child!

Toss some of your favorite fruits in the blender with some ice and some water. Instead of pouring into a cup and sticking in a straw, pour into ice pop molds, or into paper cups and stick in a Popsicle stick.

Or, you can get a little fancy and alternate layers of fruit and Greek yogurt for a protein and fruit packed way to start your day. It will feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast. These are great afternoon pick me ups, too.

I don’t know about where your office is, but at mine, this guys shows up outside at 3 pm every day. Right when I’m having a sweets craving.

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Say no to the vanilla cone and yes to the vanilla yogurt pop you stashed in the freezer.

I found a ton of great ideas at Woman’s Day.

Another great idea is to mix a little Nutella into your yogurt. It feels a little naughty to have chocolate in the morning, but you’re giving yourself calcium and protein and Vitamin D. Need a morning jolt? How about pouring some coffee into vanilla yogurt, stirring and freezing for a creamy does of caffeine.

I walked to work with an ice pop this morning and admittedly got some stares.

They’re all just jealous.

I mean, come on, if your day starts out with an ice pop, there’s no way it can be a bad day.