So, last night I made some pad thai. From scratch. Holy cow, it tasted just like a restaurant. I have to give the credit to a couple of people. I combined some of the ingredients that I found here http://cookeasyvegan.blogspot.com/2009/03/vegan-pad-thai.html and here http://thaifood.about.com/od/vegetarianthairecipes/r/padthaiveg.htm.


Here is how I did it...


The Sauce...
2 tbsp tamarind paste
1/4 c water
1.5 tbsp chili garlic sauce (I use Lum Kha Kee brand)
3.5 soy sauce
3 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp peanut butter (because I like my pad that very peanutty. I recommend starting with 1 tbsp at a time)


The rest...
2 cups broccoli florets (I used fresh this time, but I am sure defrosted frozen ones would work fine)
1 cup shredded carrot
1 package tofu (I used silken tofu and had to throw it in like eggs. I would have preferred to dry fry some extra firm. More on this later)
4 green onions
1 cup bean sprouts
2 garlic cloves, minced up
7 oz rice noodles (that is 1/2 a regular package)
1/4 cup peanuts (ground for sprinkling)
vegetable oil


Before you start, put the noodles in a big bowl with warm water. They need to get soft and pliable. Then, stir the tamarind paste up in the hot water. Add the rest of the sauce ingredients and whisk it up. Heat up the oil on medium heat. Throw in the garlic and roll it around. Then, add the broccoli and carrots and sauté for 8 minutes. At the four minute mark, add the tofu. Next, add the noodles and half the sauce. Toss around gently, so as not to rip up the noodles. Throw in the bean sprouts and onions and the remainder of the sauce. Roll it around some more and serve it up. So yummy.




And for tonight's poli-rant. Just listen to this. Yeah, Barbara Boxer, she sure knows suffering...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdQYFdXSeA4. Is it ok to call a senator an asshole? Oops, I think I just did. 


Happy politicking and eating,


VR