Snow Peas with Creamy Ranch Dressing

Here is another recipe from Eating Well magazine. There were just a lot of recipes in this issue I wanted to try!
They had a section about snow peas that had some different ideas about how to serve them.
I love finding new ways to eat vegetables, so I was excited about these recipes. I chose this recipe, which has you slice the snow peas into strips and then serve them with a creamy dressing, kind of like a salad.

I don't really like creamy dressings and typically either go with a homemade vinaigrette or lemon/lime juice to dress my salads. My husband and kids like Ranch dressing, but I really prefer homemade over anything bottled or packaged, so I thought I would try this dressing recipe.
I always have low-fat buttermilk in the fridge and happen to have some fat free mayo, so I had everything on hand for this dressing.
Since the snow peas were raw and the dressing was really easy to mix together, this whole dish was ready in a matter of minutes.
I loved the crunch of the snow peas with the creamy dressing. It was a really good combination.
The only problem was that I had a super spicy red onion! I didn't mind, but it was a little bit too hot for the kids. They still ate it, but had to remove the red onion pieces.

This would make a great side for a picnic or BBQ this summer!

Recipe for Snow Peas with Creamy Ranch Dressing

CEiMB-Emerald Stir-fry with Beef

This week's CEiMB recipe, Emerald Stir-fry with Beef, was chosen by Alyssa, who blogs over at Alyssa's Two Bites. You can find the recipe on her blog or by following the link at the bottom of this post.

I don't like beef and therefore, I don't cook with it usually, so at first I thought I would switch out the beef in this stir fry with some other protein.
But then I changed my mind.
I decided to make the recipe as is, and bought the beef. Too bad I overcooked the beef.
oh well!
My family still ate it and liked it.

This was a pretty good stir fry, although I felt like it could've used some ginger or something to give it a little bit more flavor.
I didn't use the mirin, or white wine in the sauce, I just used a little bit more water.
I served this over noodles because I like them more than rice.

To see what everyone else thought about this stir fry, check out the CEiMB Blogroll.

Recipe for Emerald Stir-fry with Beef

Thai Peanut Noodles with Tofu and Edamame and I've been tagged!

I saw this wonderful looking dish on taste buds. I have been wanting to try more Thai food at home and this look like a good one to try. I added a red pepper, edamame and tofu, just because I thought the more vegetables the better. It made a great meal and had everything in one! The leftovers were great, cold or rewarmed. I was also tagged by Cathy over at The Tortefeasor, so if you can handle reading a little bit, scroll down to the bottom. If you haven't checked out Cathy's blog, go over there. She is one of the funniest bloggers I know. I love her posts!


Thai Peanut Noodles with Tofu adapted from taste buds
1 cup matchstick carrots
3 green onions, sliced into 2 in pieces
1 Tbsp canola oil, divided
2 tsp grated peeled fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
3 Tbsp rice vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup matchstick carrots
3 green onions, sliced into 2 in pieces
1 1/2 cups snow peas
1 red bell pepper, chopped
14 oz extra firm tofu, cubed
1 lb whole wheat angel hair spaghetti
10 oz frozen edamame
1/2-1/4 cup peanuts

Heat 1 tsp oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger and minced garlic; saute 30 seconds. Add chicken broth and the next 5 ingredients; stir until well blended. Reduce heat and simmer 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to pkg directions; add frozen edamame when pasta has 5 minutes left to cook. Heat 2 tsp oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add carrots and season with salt & pepper and cook until almost tender. Add snow peas, red pepper, tofu, and green onions and cook 1-2 min more. Toss vegetables, pasta/edamame and peanut sauce together and sprinkle with peanuts.

7 things I did before

1. watched the sun melt into the Baltic Sea every night for a summer

2. worked as a lifeguard summer after summer, teaching swimming lessons and hoping no one would drown

3. wore shorts in the middle of winter, when the snow was up to my knees to rebel

4. went to my college classes the day before I had my son via C-section and went back to class 3 days later

5. tutored underprivileged kids in an after school program

6. enjoyed college classes with guys who are now in the NFL (That's what you get when you go to a great University like GEORGIA- I have a little Dawg pride- GO DAWGS!)

7. Cried too many times when working for DFCS in Clarke County, especially when transporting crack babies to have visits with their birth mothers

7 things I do now

1. Laugh and smile as much as possible

2. Walk my son to and from 1st grade

3. Live for a date with my husband

4. Try to work out before 6:30 am when I start packing lunches

5. Bake, Bake and Bake some more- oh yeah, cooking too

6. Try to get my baby girl to go on the potty

7. Waste time on Facebook looking for old friends

7 things I want to do

1. Open a bakery or cafe

2. Decorate cakes for a living

3. Be motivated to train for a half (again) or full marathon

4. Visit family in Georgia

5. Gain some fashion sense

6. Plan an awesome anniversary trip since this year it is my turn to plan

7. Travel the world

7 things that attract me about the opposite sex (my husband)

1. A good, pure heart

2. the way they treat other people of all kinds

3. good looks

4. sense of humor

5. honesty

6. trustful

7. fun-loving

7 Favorite Foods (I am doing this in groups, because I have too many)

1. Fruit-Watermelon, Strawberries, Elephant-heart plums, fresh georgia or utah peaches, pomegranate

2. Tofu and Edamame

3. Frozen-Pumpkin Ice Cream, Rasberry and Peach Sorbet, Fudge Pops, blueberries and cherries (homegrown)

4.Prudy's Roasted Red Pepper Soup

5. Butternut Squash Risotto

6. Pizza

7. Vegetables and Legumes- Pumpkin- but I love this in dessert (pie, cake, bread, etc), tiny home grown tomatoes, winter and summer squash, kale, spinach, swiss chard, chickpeas, black beans, red lentils

8. Citrus anything and everything

9. Crepes and European Pancakes

10. Indian Food

(I care too much about food!)

7 things I Say Most Often:

1. That is my favorite

2. Did you hear what I just said?

3. Try to remember where you put it last.

4. It is super yummy.

5. I love you

6. Could you please..... ?

7. Can I have a kiss?

Up Next- Tuesday's with Dorie- Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes- 2 ways