Monday, July 27, 2009

I'm back...with Everything LoMein

Hey everybody. I am back from the Jersey Shore,vacation was great, good weather,good friends and lots of sun at the beach but I swear it's like I never left. The kids are fighting, I am swamped at work and I am so far behind on commenting that I feel as if I am drowning. But never fear, I will catch up and I am sharing a really good recipe with you. This is a Rachael Ray recipe, I know, I know, some of you love her and some of you hate her, just deal with it and you will get something really good when it's done.The original recipe can be found here. I don't know why there are such RR haters out there. If you really look at her recipes, they are full of veggies and good stuff. So, for me, do me a favor, don't turn away , just read through and you might be surprised. My sister has made this recipe and I really was scared to try it. The ingredient list is long, and there is alot of prep work. There were a few things I did have to pick up at the store, but if you prep everything ahead of time, it comes together really quick.





Everything Lo Mein





Sauce:

3 rounded tbsp hoisin sauce

3 tbsp dark soy sauce(tamari)

3 tbsp water

2 tsp hot sauce( I used red hot)



* I doubled the sauce





Everything Lo Mein



3/4 pound spaghetti

salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil, divided

2 large eggs, beaten ( I used 4)

3 chicken cutlets, thinly sliced into strips

3 thin cut pork chops, thinly sliced into strips

black pepper

2 tsp ground coriander

2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and chopped or grated

4 garlic cloves, minced

6 scallions, cut into 3 inch lengths, then sliced lengthwise

1/2 pound shitake mushrooms, chopped

1 red bell pepper, cut into quarters,seeded,and sliced into strips

1 small can sliced water chestnuts,drained

1/2 pound shredded cabbage ( i used Napa)







Mix together sauce ingredients and reserve.

Bring pasta water to a boil, salt water, and cook spaghetti to al dente. I used this brand pasta.





It is a little more expensive, but it is better than whole wheat pasta and has a low glycemic index and honestly I couldn't taste the difference and I felt better for eating it.



Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in large non stick skillet. Scramble the eggs, remove and reserve.

Season the meat with salt,pepper and coriander.





Heat remaining oil to a ripple, then add meat and stir fry for 4 minutes. Remove to a plate and keep warm. Add ginger,garlic, and veggies to pan.





Stir fry veggies for 2 minutes, or to your liking, then drain and add pasta and eggs back to skillet. Return meat to the pan. Pour sauce over all and toss to combine. Remove from heat and let the liquids absorb a little.





This makes enough to feed a small army and it tastes so much better the next day. I love chinese food but making your own will make you feel better about what you are feeding everyone. So let go of your misconceptions or just your annoyance with Rachael Ray and just give it a try, Please. For me.




Just for fun I am adding in some random pics. Here is our brand new stone patio, we just had put in on Saturday. I love it. Now I need patio furniture.






Here we are at the beach. The girls had an awesome time. I hope they remember these vacations, because they mean so much to me. Especially this one, my oldest lost her first tooth while we were away. I still cannot believe she is old enough for that to have happened.





And of course, here is my sister, Donna, of My Tasty Treasures and her FFH, who joined us for a day at the beach. Aren't they cute?





And finally, here I am , with my girls.




It was a great trip, but I am happy to be home. I missed all your posts and am anxious to catch up on all the good things that were made while I was gone.


30 comments:

  1. Hubby and I did the beach thing for a long weekend, but one of these days we will rent a house and do the 'real Jersey Shore' experience! Like the dish, oh and your cute too :) (you can tell your sisters)

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  2. great pics so pleased you had fun, i love cap may the best lol

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  3. Geez, thanks, look at my wind blown messy beach hair, bathing suit cover up from hell,and my squinty sun in my eyes, eyes. I really do have eyes, honest. Much would have preferred the picture of me bending over in my itty bitty teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini bathing suit in front of the lifeguard taken the day before.. haha

    And yes, this is a killer delicious dish! We love it!

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  4. Oh this looks so good! I love the pictures, what a wonderful trip!

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  5. So nice that you could visit your sister. Great pictures and welcome back.

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  6. So glad you're back, safe and sound. Oh, how I miss summer beach trips...

    Your lo mein looks good too!

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  7. Love family pictures!!! The lo mein looks yummy by the way.

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  8. Thanks for sharing the cute pics - sounds like you had a great time at the beach! Lo mein looks great!

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  9. This does look yummy! I'm glad you had a great time on your vacation!!

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  10. Welcome back. Grand dish - my husband adoreslo mein. Love the beach photos!

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  11. Glad you had a good time!

    I love RR recipes. I have a great 30 minute cookbook of hers.

    This recipe does look mighty tasty!

    Cute family photos too! :0)

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  12. Looks wonderful and hearty. The sauce sounds really tasty.

    Love your patio!

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  13. This looks very, very good! I'm going to save this to my "someday" stash. I don't want to lose it!

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  14. Looks delicious and I love that patio floor! Your girls are beautiful, and your sister...well, she's one a kind now, ain't she?! I love her too.

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  15. I read through the recipe and it doesn't look bad! I bet the sauce and toppings would be great with rice or egg noodles too. Nice pictures!

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  16. Rachael Ray is not a good cook. You, my dear- are! You are cute, your kids are cute, and I hope you enjoy ....

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  17. I was just eyeing my Chinese Noodles and thinking of lo mein. This looks really delicious! I remember all my vacations with my parents - their great memories!! Your girls will remember - and have fun looking back on the pictures.

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  18. Awww it looks like you had so much fun! This looks like a great recipe. I am in the Rachel-loving camp so I can appreciate it in all its goodness.

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  19. Cute pictures from the beach! The lo mein sounds good. We're fans of lo mein in this house (and pretty much anything we can pick up at our local Chinese take out restaurant). Good luck catching up from the trip. I know how it is...a little overwhelming.

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  20. I also have been afraid of Lo Mein, I will have to try it when the weather cools down. I love the photos you and your babies are adorable!

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  21. Hi Denise, thanks so much for visiting my blog and for following. I added myself as a follower of your blog. So glad I found you. I am a RR lover. Her recipes are almost always healthy and easy and I love her personality. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like her. This dish looks delicious. Of course, my hubby wouldn't touch it. If it ain't Italian, like his mother cooked, it doesn't pass his lips. Go figure.

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  22. Denise, I love you blog and can't wait to be able to spend more time reading it. Your recipes look scruptious and your girls are adorable!!!

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  23. Yum, lo mein is my favorite noodle too.

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  24. Sounds like you had a great time...welcome back!! I like Rachael...and this recipe sounds delicious :)

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  25. Love all the family photos! Your babygirls are cuties!

    WOW, that's like the perfect dish for a group of teenage boys. Kinda like the the kind that hangout at the house every now and then.
    ~ingrid

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  26. This really does look good. And maybe you don't mind the work so much when you realize you have lots of leftovers for the next day :)

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  27. Denise, you family is so adorable!!!!! And your food is so tasty!!

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  28. Love your patio! Beautiful! I've been on vacation too and trying to catch up with blogs is a nightmare! I'm wondering why we need to try so hard!

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  29. Welcome home!!! I just got back from vacation too and am trying so hard to catch up on posts! That lo mein looks so good! I hope to try it soon. My husband always goes on/off low carb and makes the request for those noodles. I've only ever made them with spaghetti and chicken parm though so I'm excited to try lo mein. :-)

    I didn't realize Donna was your sister! How cute is that?

    The kids look adorable..glad to see you guys had a great vacation!

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I'd be so happy to hear your thoughts, answer questions, or exchange ideas.