Fleur de Sel Caramels with Vanilla Bean + Asian Noodle Salad with Cashew Dressing

Thank you for all the congrats on the new gig! I really appreciate all of the support 😀 Muah! I had so much trouble sleeping last night and the night before — so many racing thoughts of excitement, the unknown, how my schedule will work out, etc. I love the various opportunities working several part-time jobs brings, but sometimes it feels like I’m juggling too many balls in the air…leading me to the realization that I need become more organized! Yep, definitely need to be more organized.

I tested out the new elliptical last night and let it kick my butt for 40 minutes. My legs were a bit jittery walking up from the basement — I’m all about resistance, not speed. Great workout! I’m glad Mr. Prevention didn’t follow through on his threat to hide the power cord so that I had something to open on Christmas. 😉

Today’s post includes 2 pretty simple recipes. I know, hard to believe with a post title like that one, but hear me out. I’ll start with dinner, then the dessert. 😉

 

Asian Noodle Salad with Cashew Dressing slightly adapted Eats Well With Others and Living in the Kitchen With Puppies

1/2 inch fresh ginger, chopped
8 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup cashew butter
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup water
hot sauce to taste
1/2 lb thin rice noodles
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 box extra-firm tofu, pressed and sliced
2 medium zucchini, sliced into half moons
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup scallions, sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
lime wedges (optional)

Directions:

Combine ginger, garlic, cashew butter, soy sauce, sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and water in a food processor and process until completely blended and smooth.  Adjust consistency by adding more water or cashew butter (thinner v. thicker, respectively).  Taste and add your favorite hot sauce, if desired.  Makes about 1 1/2 cups dressing.

Set a pot of water to boil for the noodles.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat one tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add the tofu strips and saute until lightly brown, turning 2-3 minutes.  Add the red bell pepper and zucchini to the pan.  Saute for about 7 minutes or until the veggies are cooked to desired degree of doneness.

When the water is boiling, add the rice noodles to it and cook for 2 minutes.  Strain.  In a large bowl, combine the noodles, veggies, cashew dressing, scallions and basil.  Mix well.  Add salt to taste.  Serve with a lime wedge and squeeze over the pasta before eating, if desired. Serves 5.

Nutrition Information (per serving): 521 calories; 22.2 g. fat; 0 mg. cholesterol; 722 mg. sodium; 65.4 g. carbohydrate; 5.6 g. fiber; 14.4 g. protein

Result: We both loved this! Joanne’s recipes are always amazing! Besides, she had my attention at “8 cloves of garlic” – that’s my kind of recipe! And we were in dire need of a vegetarian, healthy meal! I worked at a create-your-own stir fry grill back in college and this took me back to those days. YUM! The cashew dressing was amazing and I think it could be used in various different ways. Mr. P tolerated the tofu while I loved it. Sometimes tofu needs the right seasoning/flavor, and this dressing is it! If you’re not a tofu fan, try this recipe with tofu and see what you think. I imagine you’ll be a convert. Of course, any other protein can be substituted for tofu for meat lovers out there! Enjoy!

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Fleur de Sel Caramels with Vanilla Bean from Confections of A Foodie Bride, and originally Gourmet 2004

1 cup heavy cream
5 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 vanilla bean pod, split and seeds scraped out
1 1/4 tsp fleur de se (sea salt), plus more for sprinkling
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water
candy thermometer (handy, but optional)

Directions:

Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, then lightly butter parchment.

Bring cream, butter, vanilla, vanilla beans, pods, and fleur de sel to a boil in a small saucepan, then remove from heat and set aside.

Boil sugar, corn syrup, and water in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil, without stirring but gently swirling pan, until mixture is a golden caramel. *It will come to a serious boil for 10-15 minutes before turning caramel colored. Be sure the liquid is a brown caramel before removing, especially if you are not using a candy thermometer.

Remove pods and carefully stir cream mixture into the caramel (mixture will bubble up) and simmer, stirring frequently, until caramel registers 248 on thermometer. Pour into baking pan and cool 30 minutes. Sprinkle another pinch or two of fleur de sel over the top of the caramel for a nice salty crunch and let sit until completely cooled. Cut into 1-inch pieces (I buttered a pizza cutter), and then wrap each piece in a 4-inch square of wax paper, twisting 2 ends to close. Yield: 80 caramels

Nutrition Information (per caramel): 33 calories; 1.7 g. fat; 4 mg. cholesterol; 38 mg. sodium; 4.4 g. carbohydrate; 0 g. fiber; 0 g. protein

Result: I love caramels, and these really are simple. Just be patient waiting for your liquid to turn a caramel color, and then be sure to let it go another 30-60 seconds to ensure it reaches a high enough temperature. These are deeelicious, though, and I love that they’re 33 calories each! Sure, they’re not big, but they take the edge off my evening sweets craving with very little caloric damage! Enjoy!

Question: When you make/eat stir fry, do you prefer noodles or rice?

Happy hump day!