• Choosing the Healthiest Foods for Your Family

    Welcome! I am a mom of a busy 8 year old and an adventurous 6 year old. I also happen to work for a great company called NuVal. NuVal is a nutritional scoring system that rates foods on a scale of 1-100, based on how nutritious they are. We are implementing NuVal in grocery stores around the country.

    NuVal may not be in your area yet. But I see the scores while they are "hot off the press" and because of that I am able to make better decisions about what to feed my family.

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    I am not a registered dietitian. I am just a mom who happens to work for NuVal. I am also an AFAA-certified Group Exercise Instructor. NuVal is a system designed to lead customers to the most nutritious food choices. It is not a diet or weight-loss plan. Before starting a diet, you should always consult your personal physician. The opinions expressed in this blog are the opinions of the writer and not the opinions of NuVal LLC.

Cool Chinese Vermicelli

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 07:05 AM

Do you have a recipe that people ask you to make again and again? I do.  With the upcoming cookout season coming, I know I will get requests for Avocado Salsa, Pepperoni Pizza Dip, Holy Guacamole and White Bean and Basil Dip.

My good friend, Heather, will get requests for her Chinese Vermicelli.  Fortunately for me, Heather has shared this recipe, so I can make it in my own home.  And, boy, do I at this time of year.  It is cool and delicious.  And now that I know that I can make it with a super-high scoring pasta, it goes down even easier!

You remember Heather, don’t you?  She is one of my Fit Friends at Forty!

Heather and Her Daughter

 Heather is one of the best cooks I know!  She has taught me a lot over the years – like how to make the most decadant chocolate cake ever – but that is a post for another day.

Back to the Chinese Vermicelli

Ingredients:

1/4 cup sesame oil (House of Tsang Pure Sesame Oil scores an 8 on the NuVal scale)

1/4 cup black soy sauce (I used Kikkoman regular soy sauce which scores a 9.  I should have used Kikkoman less sodium soy sauce, because it gets a 23)

2 T sugar (NuVal score: 1)

2 T balsamic vinegar (not scored)

1 lb vermicelli (I used Dreamfields spaghetti, which scores an 87)

1/2 cup sesame seeds, toasted (Simply Organic sesame seeds score an 82)

1 cup green onions (NuVal score: 100)

2 T chili oil (we have not yet scored the brand that I used, but Sun Luck makes one that scores a 24)

Mix sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, chili oil and vinegar.  Cook vermicelli in boiling water until barely tender.  Drain.  Rinse with cold water and drain again.  Toss the pasta with the dressing.  Add sesame seeds.  Top with onions before serving.

This recipe is so quick and easy.  Seriously, the only hard part of toasting the sesame seeds without burning them.  The blend of flavors that come from combining sesame oil, chili oil, balsamic vinegar and sugar is so unique.  And it is even better the next day.  The colder this pasta is, the better it tastes.  So a night in the fridge really brings out the flavor.  Make this for your next cookout and you will be asked to bring it again – promise!

Question of the Day

What is your most requested recipe?

Popcorn Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Commenter #27, Amanda!  You’ve won some Old-Fashioned Popcorn and a NuVal t-shirt.  Please email me at abetterbagofgroceries@gmail.com with your mailing address and t-shirt size.  Thanks to all who entered!

Posted by: Melissa 15 comments

Posted in: Pasta

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