I’ve started my new job and everyone is so nice, so encouraging, so helpful, and so accommodating. It’s been a real blessing. As for my schedule right now, it’s 9-2 Monday through Thursday. Yeah, I don’t work on Fridays. That means I have a three-day weekend every weekend! I’ve been getting so much done! Going into work at 9 just feels so wrong. I wake up around 6 a.m. and finish the dishes, move the laundry, write this blog post, watch some Gilmore Girls, drink some coffee, listen to a podcast, catch up on e-mails. It’s the life.
But don’t be jealous yet. We will be eating rice and beans for the next few months as we catch up to the new pay cycle and work up to getting me to 30 hours a week. But what is life without looking at all the positives? We won’t be poor forever. Plus, this is way better than the alternative of pulling my hair out trying to balance a more than full time job and a full time food blog.
I’ve been currently reading (and telling everyone I know to read) this book called The One Thing by Gary Keller. I usually read mystery books, depressing Virginia Woolf novels and a children’s series about wizards. Lately, I’ve been inspired to read books about entrepreneurship and the like. This book isn’t a get rich quick kind of book. I really could apply the concepts to all areas of our life. It talks about the power of focusing all our energy and time on one thing. This can translate to anyone, not just entrepreneurs. No one can have it all. Bill Gates isn’t rich because Microsoft, Social Media, The Cloud, and food carts. Bill Gates is successful because he focused his energy on one thing. And, that can translate to the smallest detail in our lives.
Look, the reason I’m telling you all of this is because it is part of the inspiration behind me taking a part-time job. I can’t do it all. But, I can step back and focus in on what I really want to do. And what I really want to do is make food and take pictures of it.
Speaking of which…
I’ve made this cold soba noodle citrus salad a few times for my meal prep for the week. Now that we are on (leaner than) lean budget, I’ve been making sure to bring a lunch everyday. These citrus noodles are so satisfying. And what is great about this recipe is that you can add whatever vegetables you want. Some roasted red pepper would be great or some snap peas. The point is, it’s a great go-to when I need to whip something up from my pantry.
I’ve tried this recipe with rice noodles and they tend to dry up and make the yummy, citrus-y juice go away, The dressing is the best part of this dish! But, if you have rice noodles and an intolerance to wheat, it will work just fine. Just make sure not to overcook the noodles and only add the dressing once the noodles are completely cooled.
So, try this recipe out and let me know how it goes. I’m sure it would be delicious with a few strips of lemon pepper chicken or even some teriyaki salmon for dinner. Or maybe, rice and beans?
Cold Soba Noodle Citrus Salad
Packed with lime, lemon, and orange, this citrus-y, cold noodle salad is made with soba noodles and is perfect for meal prep or side.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
2 packages of Soba noodles
5 tablespoons sesame oil
3 cups savoy cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup Thai basil, chopped
1/2 cup scallions, chopped
1 cucumber
1 chili pepper
|| Dressing ||
4 limes, juice of
1 lemon, juice of
1 orange, juice of
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
While you are boiling the soba noodles, heat 3 tablespoons of sesame oil in a large skillet and add chopped savoy cabbage and shredded carrots. Cook until the cabbage starts to char and remove from the heat.
Rinse the cooked soba noodles in cold water until the noodles are completely cooled.
Chop the Thai basil, scallions, cucumber, seed and mince the chili pepper, and add to the cabbage mixture along with the cold soba noodles.
|| Dressing || In a medium bowl, whisk the lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, rice vinegar, vegetable oil, sesame seed oil, honey, salt and pepper. Add the dressing to the noodle and cabbage mixture, and toss together.
Keywords: asian salad, cold noodle salad, soba, soba noodles
