Recipe: Quick & Simple Thai Noodles

If you're looking for a hearty snack, a fast vegetarian lunch, or a quick light dinner with an Asian flair, this easy recipe hits the spot. You may have most of the ingredients already on hand, and it only takes a few minutes to put this exotic tasting dish together. If you want peanuts in it, but don't have any handy, try using crunchy peanut butter instead of the smooth kind.


Quick & Simple Thai Noodles
(Serves 2.)

Ingredients:

4 cups water
2 (3 oz) packages ramen noodles (without seasoning packets)
2 cups bagged coleslaw mix, or shredded cabbage
3 Tbsp peanut butter
4 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice
1 Tbsp chili sauce (or to taste)
peanuts, optional

Directions:

1.  Put water in a large saucepan and bring it to a boil.
2. Remove saucepan from the heat, add the ramen noodles, stir to break up, cover saucepan and set aside for 2 minutes.
3. Drain the ramen noodles into a colander placed in a bowl, reserving the liquid.  
4. Dump the drained ramen noodles into a big bowl and add 1/2 cup of the reserved liquid.
5. Add the remaining ingredients to the bowl with the ramen noodles and toss well until the peanut butter melts.
6. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts if desired. Serve warm.

Superfood Recipe: Buttery Peanut Soup

While this one may sound a bit strange at first, if your kids are fans of peanut butter, it may quickly become a family favorite! This is also a good option for those looking to include more Omega 3s in your diet - especially if you don't like fish. Both peanuts and milk and butter from grass-fed cows contain high levels of this important fatty acid. Try this simple soup, and add some good fats back into your diet! (Be sure to use only natural peanut butter for this recipe - the kind with only peanuts and salt in it - not the fake kind full of sugar and hydrogenated oils - these are awful for your health, and they won't dissolve well in this recipe either.)

Buttery Peanut Soup
 
Ingredients:

2 Tbsp organic butter (from grass-fed cows if you can find it)
1/4 cup onion, finely diced
1/3 cup celery, finely diced
1 Tbsp flour
2 cups whole milk (from grass-fed cows; preferably organic and non-homogenized)
3/4 cup organic chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 tsp salt

Directions:

• In large saucepan over medium heat, add butter, onion, and celery, and cook, stirring, until vegetables soften, about 4 minutes.
• Sprinkle in flour and stir to combine.
• Slowly add milk, stirring constantly.
• Slowly add stock, stirring constantly.
• Keep stirring until mixture thickens, then remove from heat.
• Scoop about 1/2 cup of soup from saucepan and put into bowl; add peanut butter and mix until combined.
• Pour peanut butter mixture back into saucepan, stirring to combine.
• Salt to taste, adjust as needed for flavor.
• Serve warm with a sprinkling of crisp fried bacon, crunchy sprouts, or chopped peanuts.