I took my youngest daughter, she’s 7, to our county fair a few days ago. She was super excited about going because over the last seven months she’s grown 2 inches taller and can now get on the “cool” rides at the carnival. We were having a blast riding on the big Ferris wheel, both the chair swing rides and then we got to the one we’d been waiting for.
This was the ride to be on at the fair that night, the lines were long but she really wanted to go and I was pretty excited myself. Like all the other rides with a height restriction, there was a large ruler at the front of the line. Usually, if there was a height limit there would be a black line drawn at the measurement required to get on, typically 48″. Well there was no mark on this one so bam! we’re good. As we slowly snaked our way around the switchback metal railings the anticipation mounted. We were so close now you could feel the wind of the ride as it spun down past the conductor’s station. Almost there now, only 10′ from the stairs leading up to the platform. As the next group embarks onto the platform for their long-awaited turn the conductor points to me and then points to my daughter. I can’t hear what he is saying so I walk up to the top of the steps. What! What do you mean she is not tall enough!! He was saying she had to be 52″ to ride. I was beyond hot, I was boiling. Nowhere in sight was there any indication as to a height restriction. I asked him why it wasn’t posted where we entered the line 45 minutes ago. He points to a small sign underneath his umbrella where burriend in fine print it says 52″ requirement. I was pissed, my little girl was disappointed, and we both felt left out. As we stormed out of there we made a deal to come back next year (at the rate she’s growing I’m certain she’ll be 52″), wait in line again and as we walk across the loading platform slap the smile off the face of whoever has the miss fortune of conducting the ride that day. Then get on the ride and scream our heads off. Well, ok maybe not but it was fun talking about it. We made the most of the rest of our evening anyway and walked home to have one more little adventure before the night was over.
So I told that story to tell you this one. For those of you who have had or will have the misfortune of running into some food intolerances or worse yet full-blown allergies, many foods (usually the best ones) become no-no’s and leave you feeling left out and alienated when at social gatherings, public events or even at your own dinner table. I felt that way towards pasta. My food sensitivities to all grains, including the gluten-free ones, and legumes left me no alternative when I wanted a pasta dish. Until of course, I found this
Sweet potato noodles! Don’t go looking for these at Safeway you won’t find them. Try your luck at an Asian market you should find them there. We use them for spaghetti, stir fry’s, pho, and this week’s recipe using last weeks recipe, pesto. Lets cook
Glass Noodle Pesto
- One bag sweet potato vermicelli
- Pesto from last week’s blog
- 4 polish or bratwurst sausages
- Large soup or stockpot
- Large frying pan
- Sea salt
Method
- Fill the stockpot 3/4 of the way up with water and set on high to boil
- Add enough salt to the water to make the water salty tasting
- Brown the sausages on all sides until just cooked through, set aside to cool down. Save the juices from the pan
- When the water boils add the entire bag of noodles to the pot. If they stick out wait a few seconds then you can push them down
- Set your timer for 12 minutes and stir every 4 minutes
- Cut the sausages into 1/2″ pieces
- When the timer goes off test one piece for texture to your liking. If they are too al dente cook a few minutes longer
- Once you get the texture you wanted, remove 1 cup of water from the pot then immediately drain the noodles in a colander
- Using cooking scissors cut up the pasta into smaller pieces
- Heat the frying pan back up to add your pesto and sausages juices. Stir to mix then add the noodles and mix again
- Toss the sausages in and mix, adding some of the reserved pasta water as needed if too dry
- Serve up with a nice salad on the side and enjoy
