My New, Favorite, Go-To Meal

Here is a dish that I threw together with all the tastes that I like and items that I usually have on hand.  My hubby loved it so much that he wants to eat it over and over and says it could go on the menu at P.F.Chang's.  It is vegan, but it is really an Asian-inspired dish, so I think it would work for many different palates.  The other great part about this dish is that it really is just a template for the ingredients that you enjoy.  Mix and match the items I suggest and use a different sauce if that is what you have on hand.  The tofu can always be switched out for your favorite meat, too.  

First, toast 1/4 cup of raw cashews in a very lightly olive oil coated frying pan.  I use my non-stick, ceramic frying pan for this recipe.  When they are a medium brown color, transfer them to your serving dish.

Next, saute 1/4 of a chopped yellow onion in a frying pan for a couple of minutes, adding in more olive oil as needed.  Then, add 1 chopped serrano pepper (or the amount you desire) and 3 minced garlic cloves.  When this is all lightly browned, transfer to your serving dish. 

Ahead of time, press the liquid out of a rectangle of extra firm tofu; I use between 1/3 to 1/2 of the package.  Cut it up into small squares.  Then, saute it on all sides until it is golden brown.   Transfer to serving dish.

Also, ahead of time, prepare 1/2 package (or approximately 2 servings) of Asian rice noodles according to the directions and set aside.  Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup of Trader Joe's Soyaki sauce (their Teriyaki sauce with sesame seeds, etc.) in the pan and heat it up.  Put the rice noodles in the sauce and stir frequently to heat through and spread the sauce out evenly.  When the sauce and the noodles begin to fry and/or stick to the pan, put them in the serving dish.  Mix everything together and put chopped cilantro and scallions in the dish.  Mix together one more time and voila!  Your meal is served!