T.G.I.F. and the CaptainK Suckometer

I woke up just before the alarm went off at 5:30 AM on Friday. I looked outside and the snow didn't look as bad as I thought it would. However, the list of school closings and traffic accidents on the local news was intimidating.

I shaved and showered, dressed for work and then, after my first cup of coffee and a quick check of the top stories on the Today Show, I headed out to work. I did manage to climb up the slag and get onto the road (one of my biggest worries), so, a slipping and a sliding, I made my one mile commute to work. Nothing was salted or plowed around here. I heard the Township ain't got the money for a lot of salt...

The sun was out when I went home for lunch. The trees in the back were beautiful, so I snapped a picture for you. I also took a ruler out to the middle of the driveway (no drifts, yet) and checked the snow depth. We got about 3 1/2 inches of snow with this storm, here in beautiful Redford.

Back home at 5:15 PM after work, I was easing into my weekend mode. The wind had picked up, BTW. I changed clothes and started the first weekend wash. Next I started writing both my ToDo List and the grocery shopping list. I posted the picture I'd taken at lunch of the evergreens and the snow.

I put the clothes in the dryer and set the timer (so they don't wrinkle). For some odd reason, my washer has a buzzer you can set, either telling you when to put in the fabric softener (I don't care, I use dryer sheets) or when the load is done (I leave that on to remind myself). But the dryer makes no sound at all, so if you forget to check, you can end up with a very wrinkly mess of clothes.

So, about 7:00 PM, I started on my Vietnamese Prawn and Glass Noodle Salad. I made a few mistakes here and there, but I will mention then within the tale.

I started with the dressing. To make the dressing you combine one tablespoon of minced ginger and one clove of garlic, minced (I used the microplane, of course). Add to that two large red chilies, diced fine. (Okay, I couldn't find the kind she used, so I voted for and used dried red pepper flakes - you want warmth, not heat, BTW). Then I added the juice of half a lime, two tablespoons of fish sauce (if you can't find fish sauce, use a light soy sauce with a splash of vinegar) and two tablespoons of water.

Mix in 1 1/2 teaspoon of canola oil and a splash of sesame oil. Add a teaspoon of sugar and whisk. You dress one cup of small, cooked shrimp (tails off) with two tablespoons of the dressing and let them marinate.

Next make the noodles according to the package instructions. Mine called for putting them in a bowl and pouring boiling water over them, then letting them sit for 15 minutes. First mistake: It was a small package so I used the entire thing. But this is supposed to be an individual salad, so I ended up with far too many noodles when they reconstituted.

I put four ounces (a handful) of fresh sugar snap peas and another handful of bean sprouts in a colander and poured an entire teakettle of boiling water over them. I immediately put the colander into ice water to shock the veggies.

I let them drain while I refreshed the noodles by draining them and running them under cold water. While everything drained, I finished up the rest of the ingredients.

I finely sliced four medium scallions (green and white) and set them in a big mixing bowl.

Second mistake: The recipe called for 1/2 cup of finely chopped cilantro (most used in the dish, but a few sprinkles used for garnish). But, I dislike cilantro. Okay, I plain hate it! I detest the smell of it and the taste of it (makes it hard to follow a Southwest or Mexican food recipe, BTW).

So, I'd planned on using my fresh parsley in the fridge as a substitute. But when I went to get it out, I couldn't find it! Somewhere in the leaving of the ladies and cleaning out the fridge, it must have got tossed.

Third mistake: I should have just added, say, 1/4 cup of dried parsley to the dressing. Instead, I just said to hell with it and proceeded to assemble the salad. In the bowl with the scallions, I added half of the noodles, the shrimp, the sugar snap peas and the bean sprouts. I added two more tablespoons of the dressing, tasted and added two more.

Was it good? Definitely, but...

It was missing 'something" (I believe it was the fresh herbs). The second dish I ate I added salt too and that seemed to help (maybe it needed more fish sauce - the only source of salt in this dish).

Rating: on the CaptainK Suckometer, this was probably just a one. I will definitely make this again, as it's light and very refreshing. The crunch cf the sugar snap peas and bean sprouts was great!

I ate that watching some TV but, having missed my nap, I called it an early night at 9:30.