
I am teaching my second cooking class in a few weeks with a couple of my colleagues. I am equal parts anxious and excited. Will the participants have fun? Will they like the recipes? Will they learn something new?
The class is on Valentine’s Day so we’re trying to work in some red/pink dishes. Of course I immediately thought of beets. Here are some beet recipes that caught my eye. Don’t they sound yummy?!
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A good friend of mine kindly had me over on New Year’s Day. She prepared a delicious Asian salad that I tried to replicate and slightly tweek. I opted not to use ramen noodles and its flavor packet (which was sinfully delicious) and instead used some rice noodles I had in my cupboard and just broke them up and cooked them al dente for a minute or two. Feel free to substitute the honey for whichever sweetener you fancy. Likewise with the oil and vinegar.
The only thing I think it’s missing is a few sesame seeds sprinkled on top. I was all out of sesame seeds, otherwise I would have toasted them for a minute and sprinkled on top. yum…
I didn’t have my camera handy so I snapped a few photos on my iPhone using Instagram. So I apologize for the quality. Bon apetite!

Asian Noodle Salad
1 1/2 ounces rice noodles, broken up and cooked al dente
1/2 medium Napa cabbage, thinly sliced
1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup slivered almonds (unsalted)
2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
2-3 tablespoons rice vinegar (unseasoned)
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 teaspoon soy sauce or shoyu (reduced-sodium)
Cook the rice noodles according to package but al dente. Make sure you break them up into small pieces before cooking. Allow noodles to cool. In a large bowl, combine cabbage, onion, almonds, and noodles. Toss to combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, honey and soy sauce. Add the dressing to the salad and toss until well combined. Serve chilled or room temperature. Enjoy!
Serves 4 to 6.
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P.S. Look at how my citrus tree is coming along. My baby has come a long way…

Tagged as:
almond,
cabbage,
red onion

I thought about which picture I should post here to represent 2012 for me. So here it is. The lovely Golden Gate Bridge. I’ll be moving to the heart of San Francisco soon, after living in the South Bay suburbs for two years. San Francisco and I will be spending a great deal of time getting to know each other this year. I am looking forward. Another year, another chapter.
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Wishing you all good things for 2012!
To health,
happiness,
and fun!