Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles

This recipe! Since Whitney had an apartment last year (for her senior year in college) and since she was on a budget she used the Budget Bytes website and recipes a lot. This was one she made often, told me how good it was, and made it for me one time when I was up visiting. I've made it a couple of times for the two of us this fall when Bob was gone (he's not a spicy food kind of guy). It's so good! And spicy! And best of all it's pretty inexpensive and quick to make and leftovers are good for the next day's lunch.

Pork and Peanut Dragon Noodles
serves 3

dragon sauce
1/4 c chili garlic sauce (found in the Asian aisle with the sriracha)
1/4 c soy sauce
1/4 c brown sugar

pork and noodles
1/2 lb ground pork
6 oz. ramen noodles*
3 green onions, sliced
1/4 c unsalted peanuts, chopped

Combine the dragon sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

Add the ground pork to a skillet and cook over medium heat until it is fully browned. If there is excess fat drain the skillet. Once browned, add the prepared dragon sauce and chopped peanuts. Allow the pork and peanuts to simmer in the sauce for another 5 minutes or until the sauce has reduced by half.

While the pork is browning begin boiling water for the noodles. Once boiling add the noodles and cook according to the package directions. Drain the noodles in a colander.

Once the sauce has reduced add the noodles to the skillet and toss until everything is combined and coated in sauce. Top with sliced green onions and serve.

*you can either use a couple of ramen packages(or however many equals 6 oz) and toss the seasoning packets or we have found Simply Asia brand ramen noodles in the aisle with the Japanese/Asian foods.

Another great recipe from Budget Bytes

Sesame Kale

We've had a lot of kale in our veggie box recently and I need new ways to use it. I came across this recipe when I was looking for the dragon noodles recipe on her website. Both are delicious and if we had a side dish with the dragon noodles this would be a good one.

Sesame Kale

1 bunch of kale
1 Tbsp cooking oil
2 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp sesame seeds

Remove the stems from the kale by slicing down each side with a sharp knife. Stack the leaves and slice crosswise into one inch wide strips. Wash the leaves well.

Mince the garlic and add it to a large pot with one tablespoon of cooking oil and saute for about a minute over medium heat. Add the kale to the pot. Stir and cook the kale until it is wilted and glossy (about 5 minutes). If you prefer a more tender leaf, cook longer.

Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and sesame seeds to the pot. Stir to coat. Taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking. Serve warm.

From Budget Bytes