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You know what I learned yesterday?
Taxes are absolutely brutal. Seriously, no fun at all.
Do you know how many receipts one food blogger can accumulate over the course of a year?
ALOT.
Like too many to even wrap your brain around. I am not going to lie, I am a newbie to this whole doing my taxes thing. I am only twenty, so I have not really given taxes a whole lot of thought in previous years. Any W-2’s that I had my mom helped me out with, so in my mind it was no big deal.
Well, it’s a big deal.
An a little stressful. And a little scary. And a lot annoying.
I have officially entered the real world and you know what?
I kind of wish I was fourteen again, watching The O.C (yeah, I was all over that show) and eating a plate full of chicken and rice all while sitting by the cozy hot fire with not a care in world other than whether or not Ryan and Marissa where gonna break up again.
Ok, well I had cares and stresses back then, but they seem like nothing compared to taxes.
I was kind of hoping that I would just shove all the saved receipts, bills and whatever else in front of my tax guy (whoa, look who has a tax guy…me…weird) and get her done.
Yup, I am that naive.
Lessons learned yesterday:
1. Keep every last receipt. Like every single one because I’m going to want them.
2. Organize receipts by the month and purpose, not by throwing them all in a draw and hoping, no praying, they organize themselves.
3. Noodles make taxes just a little more bearable.
Enough about taxes.
Lets just talk about noodles, because noodles are so much more fun than taxes. That I know for a fact.
And they are noodles with a little kick to keep us all warm and toasty because I hear that a whole lot of you guys are freezing your butts off right now. Well, trust me these warm and spicy noodle will heat you up.
And they are extra creamy, so this is one giant bowl of winter comfort food.
And healthy winter comfort food too.
Did I mention that there is not an ounce of cream, butter or cheese?
I mean wait, what? I do not even know myself right now. Me, no cheese? I never thought I could do it, but then again I do love peanut noodles, and there is no cheese in those. These cashew noodles are kind of similar, but maybe even better. If you haven’t ever tried them, creamy cashew noodles are where it is at. Just sayin.
The combo of Sriracha, lime and salty cashews with the toasted sesame flavors is one of kind. I loved it. SO my kind of meal right here.
Also, it takes probably only fifteen minutes to prepare, twenty if you are moving slow and twenty-five if you have got people screaming all round you and concentrating on one thing is nearly impossible <— most of the time this last scenario is the case around here.
Really though it is so simple and can easily be done and on the table in fifteen minutes. Just boil the pasta and while the pasta cooks add everything for the sauce into a food processor and process away. Drain the pasta and toss it with the sauce. DONE.
Sriracha Lime and Creamy Cashew Fettuccine with Toasted Sesame Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups roasted cashews, plus more for topping
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 inch knob of fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2-3 tablespoons Sriracha (I used 3, but my pasta was spicy!)
- 2 limes, juiced
- 1/3 cup canned coconut milk, plus more to thin if desired
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 carrot, sliced into match sticks
- 1 red chile, sliced into match sticks. plus more for garish
- 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds, for topping
- fresh cilantro, for garnish
- green onions, chopped, for garnish
- 1 pound fettuccine
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- In the bowl of a food processor add the cashews, garlic and ginger, process for 3-5 minutes or until the mixture becomes smooth and pasty. The mixture should look similar to peanut butter. Add in the toasted sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, honey, soy sauce, Sriracha (start with 2 tablespoons), lime juice, coconut milk and a pinch of pepper. Process until completely smooth and creamy, about 3-5 minutes. If the sauce needs thinning add a tablespoon more of coconut milk and process until combined. Taste and add more Sriracha if desired.
- Drop the pasta in the boiling water and boil according to package directions. Drain pasta well. Remove a hand full or so of pasta and set it aside. Add the remaining pasta to a large pasta or serving bowl. Pour all of the cashew sauce over the pasta. Add the carrots and sliced red chile peppers. Toss well. If the pasta has too much sauce for your liking toss in the reserved pasta. We like a lot of sauce, so I left that reserved pasta out of mine. Divide the pasta among bowls and top with cilantro, red chile peppers and greens onions. Sprinkle on some cashews and toasted sesame seeds. Eat!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Ok, ok, ok, can we just get our noodle on now? Good.
This sounds Ahhhhhhhhh-mazing! It really is comfort food! This would be great with rice noodles too and maybe even toss in some of those tofu shirtaki noodles, like half that and half real pasta. YUMMMMMM!
Thanks Sophia!
what a cool combination!! thanks x
Thanks Trisha!
Boo to taxes aha. My mom’s an accountant so she always gets on my case about filing things properly. Niiiightmaaaare.
Anyway, this looks AMAZING! Totally pinning this and sharing on my blog’s fb page soon =)
Thanks Lisa!!
Agree about the taxes!
Taxes are the WORST! Sorry for your complete headache with them! This dish looks so great – I love cashews! And I’m dying over your bowl! Where did you find that?
Thanks Chelsea! My brother made it in school! LOL!
Ugh, blogging taxes are the WORST!!! I usually have mountains of receipts to wade through each time quarterly taxes roll around. But at least they are reminders of yummy recipes created and enjoyed!
More importantly, THESE NOODLES. They look fantastic. Love the sauce, the bowl, everything! 🙂
Thank you, Ali!! And yeah, blogging taxes are the worst!
I love these flavor combos! I think this is something my husband would love!
This looks insane – in a good way! Love that the sauce can be made while the pasta is boiling – my kind of meal – and I’m so into Sriracha right now!
Thanks KAthy! I am loving Sriracha too!
To me this qualifies as comfort food. I’ll take it.
Taxes are a pain. Unfortunately, they come with having your own business. Ugh!
Thanks Norma!! Taxes are such a pain!
Love the Asian inspired sauce on these noodles Tieghan! Taxes are such a pain – I remember the first time my son had taxes taken out of his paycheck – he was like “What is this? Why do I have to pay taxes?” to which I responded…”Welcome to the real world!” I started using QuickBooks to track my blog income/expenses – hoping that makes it easier this year.
Oh I will have to try that. Thanks for the tip!!
Um I’m 24 and I was OBSESSED with the O.C. too… so no shame 😉 And taxes SUUUUUCK. Don’t judge me, but my mom still does mine haha. Love this pasta lady!
HAha! Yes! Love the O.C!! Thanks Ashley!
You had me at sriracha. And yes!!! Taxes are the worst. I’ve also been lucky enough not to have to do my own until this year. I have a new organization method since the new computer: scan all receipts and then I save them by date and put them in folders.
Want a big bowl of this!!
Oh I will have to try that!
This sounds amazing! (so much better than taxes) I can’t wait to try it 🙂
Thanks Megan! Hope you love it!
Awesome! All of the flavors of pad thai without all the mess. one of the reasons I don’t like making pad thai is because of the endless chopping. Next time that we’re craving pad thai, i’m going to make this instead.
Thanks Annie!
Taxes are not my friend either. But pasta? Pasta is always there for me. This recipe is crazy-unique! Yum!
OH YUM! I love that you made the sauce out of cashews…it looks so thick and there is NO CHEESE?! crazyness, It made me giggle when you said “20 mins if you’re moving slow!
P.s Taxes? Yes, those suck. I pay someone to do mine.
But I just realized I haven’t been keeping receipts…like, any. Whoops.
I guess better late than never.
Ill go faceplant into a bowl of this to drown my sorrows.
Thanks Taylor! Gotta keep those receipts!