This Asian Veggie Peanut Noodle Bowl is quick, simple, and deliciously healthy! It's completely customizable too - pick the crunchy veggies you like most.
Being a single parent can be difficult. However, what is sometimes almost more difficult than being a single parent is telling someone you are on your own.
Last weekend the kids and I went to a party. I met the nicest woman and we were having a lovely conversation. But, as often seems to be the case, she inevitably made reference to my husband. When this happens in a conversation, I have two choices:
- Nod and keep up the friendly conversation without ever mentioning that I'm divorced. It's not a lie, just an omission, right?
- Try to casually (and cheerfully) mention the lack of said husband, then make mostly futile attempts at continuing the conversation.
Option one is best when it works, but all too often it leads to a more awkward moment later in the conversation when a direct question, like "So, what does your husband do for a living?", is asked and I am then forced to acknowledge my divorce while the other person wonders why I've been letting them ramble on about marriage for the past ten minutes.
Option two, however, almost always leads to an immediate halt in the conversation as the other party struggles for something to say and I try to deflect the awkwardness with optimism - see, it's okay, I'm okay, don't worry, it's fine, no big deal. The conversation usually ends at about this point.
There really just isn't a good way to sweep past the subject, especially when I've got my four kids in tow. It's almost as big of a problem as who is going to take out the trash every week. Trash is not my job. And yet, I'm the only one here.
It's a real problem, but not so real that it can't be remedied by a good bowl of noodles. This Asian Veggie Peanut Noodle Bowl is the best because I taught my kids how to make it. Now, it's almost like going out to lunch! They'll even serve it up for me if I ask really nicely.
The kids like this recipe because they get to pick and choose which veggies they want in their bowls. They also enjoy all the chopping- they will even lobby for more vegetables if it means more chopping. Unless you're Ada who would rather stick to safer kitchen activities like shaking up the dressing in a jar.
This is our favorite lunch lately and it's a big step up from peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It's one thing that is working well these days.
Unfortunately, I will probably keep having uncomfortable conversations about my marital status. I will probably also keep eating this Peanut Noodle Bowl that my kids like to make. So, it all kind of evens out in the end.
Now, if only I could remember to take out the trash every week . . .
Asian Veggie Peanut Noodle Bowl
Ingredients
Instructions
Lyndsey says
This looks too beautiful to eat!
somethewiser@gmail.com says
Aw, thanks! But you really can eat it - it tastes as good as it looks!
PassTheKnife says
I can't wait to try this recipe out, sounds so perfect for the summer!
somethewiser@gmail.com says
Thanks! I hope you and your littles like it as much as we do 🙂
Ruchika says
Hi!
I love the simplicity of this noodle salad. It seems perfect for an extremely hot day when I'm too lazy to cook. I'm going to try this the next time it's overheated.
I was wondering if I could substitute soba noodles with regular noodles or glass noodles? We don't get soba noodles where I live.
somethewiser@gmail.com says
You can definitely substitute other noodles for the soba noodles. I've made it before with ordinary spaghetti noodles because that is all I had on hand. Hope you enjoy it!
Bethany Bassett says
I just bookmarked this one to try next week. Looks delicious! You also inspire me to give my kids more responsibility in the kitchen. I've been slow to let them use knives, but E looks so confident cutting that cabbage... and I wouldn't mind being able to send my girls into the kitchen to make lunch for me. 😀
somethewiser@gmail.com says
I sometimes feel overwhelmed when I think of how fast my kids are growing up and it hurts my heart in this indescribable way to think of these days ending . . . and then I just wish they would toddle around here forever. But there are also days when I watch them pulling together lunch on their own, helping with the baby, engaging in a lively conversation about a good book, and I think that this growing up thing is going to be wonderful. You know what I mean? Really, having your kids make an actually edible lunch is a pretty great thing!
Blake Holman says
Being a single dad, and raising my kids, I can relate. We do a similar recipe at home, but yours looks really tasty! I'm going to try it out. Hope you have a great week!
Cheers,
Blake