I saw this yesterday. It took about 5 seconds and then I got it. Freakin’ hilarious.

Marco, Asian explorer that he was purported to be, would love this meal. It looks great, it tastes better.

Cook up a Noodle Pancake. Top with broccoli in a sweet and spicy, hoisin/ginger/garlic sauce. Crown with crisp tamari flavored walnuts. Really fantastic and a welcome change from a typical stir fry dinner.

Crispy Noodle Pancake With Stir-Fried Broccoli and Tamari Walnuts

Ingredients:

8 ounces fresh Chinese noodles or thin spaghetti
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce, plus
1 teaspoon soy sauce or 1 tablespoon tamari
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch
6 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon minced ginger
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 lb broccoli, trimmed and cut in florets
Tamari Walnuts (recipe follows)

Directions:

1. Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.

2. Place the noodles on a clean kitchen towel and blot to remove excess moisture.

3. Return noodles to cooking pot and toss with 1 tsp sesame oil. Set aside.

4. In a small bowl, stir the remaining teaspoon sesame oil, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and cornstarch until smooth. Set aside.

5. Heat 3 Tbs oil in a large heavy skillet and heat another 3 Tbs oil in a wok.

6. Add the noodles to the skillet, arranging them in a uniform layer. Cover and cook over med-high heat 5 to 6 minutes, shaking skillet occasionally to prevent sticking.

7. To the wok add the ginger, garlic and red pepper. Stir-fry 20 seconds. Add the broccoli and stir-fry until coated with the oil and sesasonings. Cover and cook over medium heat until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Add the sauce mixture and stir to coat. Stir-fry over med heat until thickened, about 3 minutes.

8. When the noodle pancake is browned and crisped on one side, place a large platter on top of skillet and carefully invert so that pancake is crisp side up on platter. Slide the pancake, crisp side up, back into the skillet. Brown the other side, covered, over medium-high heat about 3 minutes.

9. To serve, transfer the moodle pancake to a platter. Spoon the broccoli mixture on top and sprinkle with tamari walnuts. Cut into wedges and serve.

Serves 4 to 6

Tamari Walnuts

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil
1/2 cup walnuts (I also added some sliced almonds since I had a handful to use up)
1 tablespoon tamari

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a medium skillet. Add the walnuts and stir-fry until fragrent, about 10 seconds.

2. Sprinkle nuts with tamari and stir-fry until coated and crisp, about 20 seconds. Do not overcook.

3. Spoon walnuts onto a plate to cool.

Recipes from 365 Ways To Cook Pasta by Marie Simmons

Oh man, do I have it hard for this song courtesy of Gothenburg, Sweden-based rock trio Junip.

What a great beat (especially love the drums at the end) and I am all over José González’ voice.

For anyone who has ever had their heart broken, here is some solid advice. Hard to heed when the wound is raw, though. (Me? Nope…I never forgot everything.)

“No point in looking back
Over your shoulder
Leave your worries behind
For a while
You’ll forget everything
As you get older”

Check out Junip on the band’s Website, where you can pre-order the new album, set for release on April 22nd, as well as buy their older music. Also on the site are upcoming Europe/UK tour dates.

Cheers!