Howdy Y'all, Butterballs!
Happy New Year! I hope you and yours had a fulfilling, and filling, experience over your holiday season! Matt, myself and the cat spent our time, sleeping, entertaining, and of course, eating. We were lucky enough to spend a week in Dillon with both of our respective families over the break, followed by two days of Megan Peck time, and a dubstep dance party on New Years Eve. We were both back to work on Wednesday, and soon discovered that our time off was socially exciting, though not exactly the most restful nine days of our lives.
Now, I am not one for New Year Resolutions. As close as I got this year was resolving to get all my laundry done by the time school started on Wednesday. I did, in fact, get that done, so I am a big fat success, be jealous. Butter's resolution was to be more comfortable with his body image, and since he really couldn't care less anyway, our family is two for two.
During our time of entertaining, we fully took advantage of our house's proximity to McDonald's, Arby's, and Taco Bell, so we were... resolute, perhaps, to cook this week. As soon as we made this decision, my car crapped out, and we had to spend two evenings trying to get it towed to the car guy. On Wednesday, we thought that if we couldn't eat at home, we'd at least try to eat healthy, so we decided to try a local fresh sandwich shop. This ended up being about the worst culinary decision we've ever made. Between mine being soaked with (unrequested) vinegar, and Matt's club sandwich being slathered in hot Chinese mustard, we had to go eat a cheeseburger to get the taste out of our mouths. Friday, we took advantage of roughly $75 in free Outback steakhouse money we got for Christmas, and Thursday, I made this healthy lo mein.
Now, in addition to our usual secret cheap grocery spots (read: Walmart), we've also been frequenting Costco, also known as Senior Citizen Heaven and "I just have one thing to get because bulk shopping makes almost no sense for two people" Hell. "What could you possibly need at Costco for a family of two that won't be so stale you could use it as paving tile by the time you use it up?", you might ask. My answer would be: roughly ten thousand pounds of whole wheat spaghetti. Now, we didn't end up with this much pasta intentionally. Due to some health factors that were brought to my attention last fall, we've been cutting back on our refined carbs, and our dairy products, so naturally we were super excited when we saw that all this fancy pasta (if I have to give up dairy, there is absolutely no way in the world I am giving up pasta) for like, $1 a pound. So naturally Matt bought ten pounds, then one month later, with the best of intentions, bought ten more. Pretty much the only thing we have yet to do with spaghetti is make those little smokey octopus things on Pinterest...
To make Butters' Mew Year Resolution Lo Mein you will need:
3/4 lb whole wheat spaghetti
2 large chicken breasts, thinly sliced on the bias
1/4 cup (or more to taste) low sodium soy sauce
enough olive oil to cook your veg, chicken, and finish your dish
1 and 1/2 large carrots, thinly sliced with a vegetable peeler
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced into strips
1 head of broccoli with the heads cut into bite sized pieces
4 bias cut green onions for garnish
salt and pepper to taste for chicken
Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan or wok on medium heat, add in carrots, yellow onion and broccoli, cook until the onions are translucent and the other veggies are tender. Remove vegetables to a bowl, add a little more oil, and add in chicken. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook until slightly browned. While your chicken is cooking, boil your pasta until al dente. Add vegetables and (drained) pasta into pan with chicken. Drizzle with soy sauce and olive oil, and toss. Garnish with green onions. Serve with eggrolls or potstickers.
Enjoy, my sweet Butterballs! This New Year I am grateful for friends, family, and of course, all of your pretty faces! Best Fishes for a prosperous and well fed New Year!
