Sunday, June 4, 2017

Ellie Alexander's Asian Noodle Salad, and a #bookgiveaway!

LESLIE BUDEWITZ: We LOVE Sundays, when other authors visit the Kitchen to share their tales and recipes. Today's guest, Ellie Alexander, has a new Bakeshop Mystery coming out later this month, and she's celebrating with a recipe and a giveaway! Leave a comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of A Crime of Passion Fruit AND some tropical baking treats!  

ELLIE ALEXANDER: Thanks so much for having me on today! Here in the Pacific Northwest the sun is finally out after a record-breaking winter of rain, rain, and more rain. I spent many water-logged months dreaming of sandy beaches, salty blue waters, and tropical recipes for the latest culinary adventure in the Bakeshop Mysteries, A Crime of Passion Fruit. In this book, Jules is setting sail for a week in the Caribbean where she’ll be whipping up mango tarts, pineapple flambés, and dainty citrus cakes. I’m thrilled to get share her recipe for Asian Noodle Salad. This pasta is easy to make and perfect for a summer picnic or dining al fresco in your backyard. Three cheers for summer and the return of the sun!


Asian Noodle Salad

For the salad:
8 ounces of spaghetti—boiled and cooled
½ of purple cabbage—chopped
½ of Napa cabbage--chopped
2 cups of bean sprouts
1 8 oz. bag of fine-cut carrots
1 bunch of cilantro—chopped
2 cups peanuts
2 cups of diced chicken breast, cooked and cooled

For the sauce: 
¼ cup sesame oil
½ cup peanut oil
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup teriyaki sauce
½ cup of rice wine vinegar
¼ cup brown sugar
2 cloves of garlic--chopped

Start a pot of water boiling for the pasta. 



In a separate pan, add a healthy glug of sesame oil. If you want to add a little heat to the chicken I recommend using spicy sesame oil. Then add thinly sliced chicken breasts to the pan and sauté on both sides for five minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Set aside to cool. 

Once water has come to a boil, add spaghetti and cook to al dente. I use veggie pasta to sneak in another serving of vegetables, but any spaghetti will work.



Next halve the heads of cabbage and chop. Add to a large mixing bowl. If you can find julienned carrots, simply pop open the bag and add to cabbage. If your local grocery store doesn’t sell the carrots pre-sliced, then simply grate or finely chop whole carrots. Add in bean sprouts and chopped cilantro. Note—I use the same cutting board for the chopping process. Everything is going to end up tossed together so there’s no need to clean as you go. 


Mix veggies together with cooled chicken, peanuts, and noodles.


In a separate bowl, begin making the sauce. First dice two cloves of garlic. Next whisk in oils, teriyaki sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar.




Pour over the salad and stir with tongs. Top with chopped cilantro, peanuts, and a quarter of a lime.



Serve cold.

Leave a comment below for a chance to win a signed copy of A Crime of Passion Fruit, along with some tropical baking treats. (US addresses only, please.) Contest open through Monday, June 5

Ellie Alexander writes the Bakeshop Mystery series for St. Martin’s Press, set in the Shakespearean town of Ashland, Oregon and featuring a romantic, artisan pastry chef, Juliet Montague Capshaw.
Ellie is a Pacific Northwest native who spends ample time testing pastry recipes in her home kitchen or at one of the many famed coffeehouses nearby. When she’s not coated in flour, you’ll find her outside exploring hiking trails and trying to burn off calories consumed in the name of research.

You can find her online at her websiteon Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  


63 comments:

  1. Cannot wait to read this book, and get some tropical baking secrets!

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    1. Thanks, Pattie! I have to admit that the baking research for this book was my favorite.

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  2. Love the recipe and I definitely would love to read the book! EMS591@aol.com

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    1. Liz, but it has veggies ;-) Good luck!

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    2. Ahhh, I always have to explain myself, haha. My username has nothing to do with not liking veggies. I eat veggies daily! It has to do with the fact that I used to run a popular blog called VeggieGirl, and even to this day people still refer to me as VeggieGirl. I have to correct them and say, "It's Liz - no more VeggieGirl." Hope this clears things up ;)

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  3. Can't wait to read it! Recipes are a added treat! Thank you donamaekutska7@gmail.com

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    1. Donamae, I'm so excited that you're excited! Happy reading!

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  4. Thanks for the recipe and a chance to win a copy of your book. Both sound great. elainehroberson@gmail.com

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  5. It sounds great, I hope to get a chance to read it :)
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

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  6. Have read the first few chapters in Cozy Case Files: A Cozy Mystery Sampler, Volume 2. Have added it to my TBR. Thanks for the chance to win. kckendler at gmail dot com

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    1. Kathleen, thanks so much for adding it to your TBR pile!

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  7. I can't wait for the new book! The salad sounds great and easy enough for me to make! cking78503(at)aol(dot)com.

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    1. Chris, I promise it's super easy. If you can chop, you can make this salad! Let me know if you give it a try.

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  8. This noodle salad sounds quite similar to one I make, except for the addition of the chicken. Can't wait for the new book!

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    1. Raquel, you can easily omit the chicken and have it as a veggie option. We eat it as a one-bowl meal at our house!

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  9. What a great summer salad. Thanks for this recipe and your delightful giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. This is a yummy salad which everyone would enjoy as well as your wonderful book and treats. Your bakeshop series is special. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks so much! That totally makes my day. I'm so glad that you're enjoying the series.

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  11. The salad sound good and so does the book. Thanks for offering up your book for us to win.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  12. What a great recipe for those hot summer days. Love the title. I am enjoying the creative titles that authors are coming up with. The title, alone, often dictates which book I will buy and read. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net

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  13. Love the book. And the recipe. Both look most interesting. Love the cover. Especially in blue. Can't wait to try the recipe and appreciate the chance to read the book while trying the salad
    Della at deepotter (at) peoplepc (dot) com

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  14. Loved the review on this I'm looking forward to reading it, thanks Penney penneyw(at)sbcglobal.net

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  15. Recipe does sound good. Thanks for the chance to win the newest book in a very special series! doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  16. This recipe looks delicious! I am excited to try it! How many servings does this make? If you already said, I apologize for missing it. I love this series! Thank you so much for the chance to win!
    magicgirl2357@yahoo.com

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  17. Really looking forward to reading your new release. Sounds wonderful. I wish I had all the ingredients on hand as I would be making this Asian Salad today. With two adopted Asian granddaughters I am always looking for something new to try for their visits. Thank you for the recipe and the chance to win a copy of your book.
    Cynthia


    ceblain AT tmlponline DOT net



    Hi

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  18. the recipe sounds delicious..can't wait to try it.would love to read this book..thanks..
    greeneyes2755@yahoo.com

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  20. Looking forward to the launch! mommatoodle at msn dot com

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  21. Yum Yum! I'd like to try both the salad and the book. Thanks for the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  22. Looks interesting. Thanks for this opportunity!
    Dm _ Richards (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  23. I have a great fondness for Asian salads and this looks like a good one. little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  24. Hey, cozy fans! So happy to host Ellie today -- thanks for joining us, Ellie! I suspect a lot of Asian noodle salads will be served around the Kitchen table this week!

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    1. Leslie, thanks so much for having me! Here's to many warm summer days!

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  26. I have been looking for this recipe...looks tasty. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your contest. Looking forward to reading your new book.
    Cmeier2001@live.com

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  27. Honey! We're having salad for lunch! Thanks for a great recipe, along with a marvelous opportunity to win Ellie Alexander's book.
    kat8762@aol.com

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  28. Love this recipe. It will be perfect for summer! I would also enjoy a copy of your book. Meg85242 at gmail dot com.

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  29. OMG this salad looks amazing. I am definitely going to make this week. Theradels@gmail.com

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  30. Great idea. I think I'll make a combination working off this and yesterday's recipe.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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    1. A little unintentional overlap, but it just gives us all more ideas!

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  31. This recipe sounds great, and I can't wait to read Jules' latest adventure! thanks for the opportunity to win. aut1063(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks, Autumn! I'm very excited to send Jules back to the ship, for a temporary getaway.

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  32. I've had this noodle salad before and loved it, but forgot to get the recipe! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe, and for the giveaway ~ bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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  33. This salad sounds really good.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  34. Thanks for the recipe and a chance to win your book! crossxjo @hotmail. com

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  35. Delicious recipe. Thanks for the giveaway.

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

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  36. I love all the colors of this salad. turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. I enjoy finding new summer recipes. Since this is the first time in 30 years I won't be going back to school in the fall, I'm going to be needing lots of reading material.
    skforrest1957(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Congrats! I bet fall will feel completely different. Here's to extra reads.

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  38. Thanks for the recipe and opportunity to win. I love this series and can't wait to read the book! mcastor07@gmail.com

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  39. Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
    The title of the book sounds delicious!
    nlfatwindstreamdotnet

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  40. Really looking forward to "A Crime of Passion Fruit". Love this series. Recipe looks amazing, will have to give it a try.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hey, Dianne! Thanks for spreading the book love.

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  41. I love this series. I also love Jules, her mother and staff.

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  42. Your book is arriving tomorrow. I really like your series.

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  43. Lori Meadows-ClarkJune 5, 2017 at 8:08 AM

    One of my favorite series. Excited to see the main characters in a new environment. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win.
    Lorimeadowsclark(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  44. This recipe sounds really good!

    kvmatlock (at) gmail (dot) come

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  45. As Ellie already knows, I simply CANNOT wait for this book release!!! This is one of my favorite series of all time. Thanks for the yummy recipe too! It's definitely a must try. See you in later this month!
    awilcox1182@gmail.com

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  46. Your recipe looks wonderful, and so does your book. Thank you. Sharon catwoman-1(at)comcast(dot)net

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