Cold Sesame Noodle

We have incorporated 'food' as one of the topic as we learn about the countries around world. She is getting very good at locating country in the map. She likes to involve in hands on activities and that includes cooking. I feel it's important to allow our children to learn about food. I think it's important for them to learn at young age about nutrition and junk food. This will allow them to learn the right 'vocabulary' of food so they can make the right choices later in their life. We were in the library and I spotted a book by Heather Alexander - Easy snacks from around the world. 

This book allow her to learn to make different type of snacks. The fun part is to know where the snacks comes from. This time she has choose to make Cold Sesame Noodle. According to Heather Alexander, this dish is from Hunan and Szechuan provinces in China. She had fun time locating the provinces in the world map. 

We have improvised the ingredients a little so it'll be tastier. 

Ingredient:

Spaghetti

Sesame oil

Rice vinegar

Light soya sauce

Brown sugar

Fresh ginger (thinly slice to 8 slices)

2 medium stalks of spring onion

2 small stalks of parsley (for fragrant)

1/2 cups of unsalted cashew nuts (other options : unsalted peanuts/almond)

Steps (for 3 persons):

1. Bring spaghetti to boiled. Drain when it's soft.

2. Mix 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and 1 tablespoon of light soya sauce to cooked spaghetti. 

3. Put aside. We didn't put it into fridge because we don't like cold noodle. You may put into fridge to chill the spaghetti.

4. Minced ginger. spring onion and parsley and set aside.

5. Crushed the cashew nuts.

6. In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of sesame oil, light soya sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar and ginger. 

7. Pour the sauce into the spaghetti and toss until evenly coated. 

8. If your like cold spaghetti, store in the fridge until it's cold.

9. If not, you may serve immediately by adding crushed cashew nuts, minced spring onion and parsley. Toss until the spaghetti are well coated.

10. Served.

We had fun throughout the preparation. She was very focus and trying to understand the steps to make it right. This is another precious moment I had with her. Try it, it taste really good!