Here’s a fun salad that’s perfect for a quick meal on a hot summer night. A lime-tinged sesame dressing is tossed with ramen, spicy sausage, snow peas and carrots. A sprinkling of green onions and some peanuts add flavor and crunch.

The recipe calls for chopping the peanuts, but I didn’t so my youngest nut-hating son could more easily pick them out. :)

Sesame Sausage Ramen Salad

Ingredients:

3 packages (3 ounces each) shrimp ramen noodles
6 cups hot water
1 pound bulk spicy pork sausage
3/4 cup Asian toasted sesame salad dressing
6 sliced green onions, divided
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon grated lime peel
3 tablespoons lime juice
3 cups fresh snow peas, halved diagonally
1-1/2 cups julienned carrots
4 tablespoons chopped dry roasted peanuts, divided

Directions:

1. Break ramen noodles into quarters and place in a large bowl. Reserve one seasoning packet and set others aside for another use. Cover noodles with hot water and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain well and return to bowl.

2. In a large skillet, cook and crumble sausage over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain.

3. Mix salad dressing, 1/2 cup green onions, cilantro, lime peel, lime juice and contents of reserved seasoning packet.

4. Add salad dressing mixture to the noodles. Toss with snow peas, carrots, 3 tablespoons peanuts and sausage. Sprinkle with the remaining green onions and peanuts.

Serves 8

Recipe from Simple & Delicious Magazine

I’ve got a newly graduated high school senior. ‘Alleyway’ perfectly expresses this special time in his life as he moves on and into the future. It’s new from the exceedingly good 3 song collection just out from Cincinnati-based band Coastal Club.

“Let it go and clap your hands
Throw your cap in the air
Dance away every fear that you have
Breathe it out and take a risk
Let’s go travel the world
Fall in love with the girl of your dreams”

Check out Coastal Club on the band’s Website where you can learn of upcoming shows in Ohio and buy their music.

Cheers!