(Note: I wrote the following post before learning of the terrible news from Montreal. I'm so horrified and feel such sadness that this kind of thing continues to happen. My heartfelt sympathy goes to the victims and family members of the people directly harmed by this crime and to the people of Canada.)
I'm in one of those periods where I don't get enough sleep at night, so I'm running on empty (cue the Jackson Browne song, please). For the last two days I've put off going to the grocery store, even though my larder is dwindling. Last night I was faced with mighty slim pickings. I had 1/3 of a red bell pepper, 5 scallions, and 2 bunches of cilantro in my crisper. I'm out of soy sauce, sesame seed oil, fish sauce--and I'm still on the vegan diet, so I can't do any of my reliable dishes with pasta, butter and parmesan cheese. Fortunately, I did have half a bottle of kung pao chicken sauce that someone gave me as a gift. I used that with my meager ingredients and within 12 minutes I had a very good dish.
Today I really HAVE to go to the store.
It's easy to be snobby about these prepared sauces, but if they're good they make life so much easier when you're not in the mood to cook. This sauce is full of ginger and sesame seed oil, but it's too mild. That' was easy to fix with a healthy dose of red pepper flakes.
I boiled my pasta first, drained it, and cooked the bell pepper, scallions, red pepper flakes and garlic in oil for 1 minute in the pasta pot. Then I added one bunch of minced cilantro and stir fried that for about 20 seconds.
I added about 1/2 cup of the Kung Pao sauce, then tossed it with the drained pasta and served with cilantro leaves as a garnish. Chopped peanuts on top would have been great too, if I had them.
I just can't fathom why these terrible events keep taking place...I hope that it isn't as bad as the news is making it out to be
Posted by: Jeff | September 13, 2006 at 01:19 PM
Just came across your blog a few days ago. Luvs the baby squirrels and your food is totally shibby! Can't wait to read more!
>^.^<
Posted by: Garrett | September 13, 2006 at 07:53 PM
Jeff,
It seems like people start copying other horrible acts of violence. It makes no sense to me.......
Garrett,
Thank you!! Thanks for coming by, I really like your blog too. It looks VERY good.
Posted by: sher | September 13, 2006 at 09:39 PM
I know. Unbelievable about Montreal!
Great pasta--looks beautiful.
Posted by: Glenna | September 14, 2006 at 01:48 AM
me too on the no sleep lately, been going to bed around 1 and up @ 4:30, arg! pasta is such the perfect default when dreading the market, that sauce/dish sounds delicious to me!! ...counting down the days untill you can gorge on sardines once again...
Posted by: aria | September 14, 2006 at 05:50 AM
The news from Montreal is pretty horrifying and another reminder of how sometimes life goes from the every day to the unimaginable in the blink of an eye.
Anyway, this looks delicious, and I hope you get some sleep soon. Do you have to get up in the night to feed the baby squirrels? I'm guessing you do and that sounds pretty tiring.
Posted by: Julie | September 14, 2006 at 07:39 AM
Yum Yum. How do you get your food pictures to look so beautiful?
Posted by: kristi | September 14, 2006 at 08:05 AM
But then you would have had to go to the store! (To get the peanut garnish.) It looks so good as it is . . . I'm always amazed that sometimes the best things I make come from situations like this, where I don't think I have much on hand.
Posted by: Lisa | September 14, 2006 at 10:47 AM
I hope you're feeling better ... this dish would certainly make me feel better!
Posted by: Ivonne | September 14, 2006 at 09:57 PM
I was wondering if the night fed (any?) disturbs your beauty sleep too...
I have made my pasta like yours... plus anchovy, I think it's very delicious. But got to go brushing my teeth (that mighty breath) if friends suddenly come :P
Posted by: gattina | September 15, 2006 at 06:17 AM
I often think the simplest dishes are the best. Barrett is good at throwing things together, just as you did for this. I kinda suck at it, personally.
I hear you on the tired!
Posted by: Shannon | September 15, 2006 at 08:32 AM
Sher, i have a confession to make...
I often use ready-made sauces too when it comes to chinese sauces. See, i'm not a snob :-) You are right, they make life a lot easier - giving us more time to delve into more serious and more pressing things like what to have for dinner tomorrow? haha.
This looks too hard to resist... yummy!!! Your photos are beautiful.
Posted by: Mae | September 15, 2006 at 09:01 AM
this would be so awesome with some thawed frozen tofu!
freezing the 'fo expands the water which in turn expands the little pockets which in turn makes the tofu into little craggy pillow of sauce lovin' yumminess!
oh, and i love prepared flavorings too, but i tend to be more obsessed with powders and herb mixes
my current obsession is this porcini powder i found at an italian market that has msg in it, but who cares, they've determined that whole blushing thing was a load of hog wash...
Posted by: ann | September 15, 2006 at 12:15 PM
Glenna,
Thank you! :)
Aria,
I can eat sardines again! I'm looking forward to it so much--going to try and have them like yours!
Julie,
The squirrel schedule was pretty intense, but it's getting better. I should be able to get more sleep. Fingers crossed!
Kristi,
Oh thanks!! :) I finally found one spot in my house where I can use natural light. It's right next to the sink. So scenic, next to the faucet.
Lisa,
I agree. Sometimes pantry scrounging makes a really great dish!
Ivonne,
Thank you, it was a nice thing to eat, especially since it was so easy.
Gattina,
I think our friends have to learn to love all the foods we eat! That way if they smell anchovy on us, they will like it! :) No more night feeding! Yeah!
Shannon,
Hope you're not too frazzled. I know that you're going to have a great wedding! Really!
Mae,
Yes, I love finding a really good sauce of some sort, it makes it so easy for those times when I just don't feel like involved cooking--but I don't want to go out to eat! Thank you about the photos. I finally was able to use natural light and not the flash.
Ann,
Porcini powder sounds fabulous. I love porcini mushrooms, so that was be a terrific seasoning.
Posted by: sher | September 15, 2006 at 01:16 PM