I have been hearing rumors and even seen some photos shared on facebook that there is snow in Minnesota. I’m hoping that it might have melted by the time I come. Spring is in the air here in my kitchen. The cranes have returned and can be seen flying over the house and feeding in the field in the back and dancing their mating ritual. Their call could not be called beautiful as it is a raw sound just as the cold spring breeze often feels quite biting even if the sun is starting to warm the ground. But the call means spring has arrived.
In my kitchen are spring green sprouts that carry the promise of summer and bounty. This gentleman has been regularly visiting our yard and one morning was stepping regally on the patio right outside of the kitchen.
Our kitchen is really never a place of just cooking and eating. It is a place to spend time together. Some of our kids are quite into crafts and since we had leftover paint from the piñata project from the previous week they were looking for a way to use it up. Someone suggested painting shoe boxes. I agreed that it might be a good idea and actually look cute in their rooms. It would be a place to keep their treasures. You know, the diamond rock found in the driveway or favorite sticker that really isn’t sticky anymore or a frayed friendship bracelet that keeps falling off but cannot be thrown away. Often when one is enthusiastic about something, there is soon a few more involved as well and a total of seven boxes were made, some pink and some black. So this week in my kitchen we made treasure boxes.
Of course we need to eat in the midst of all of the other activities. We had wokked chicken and vegetables and Tahini noodles. The Tahini noodles have become a favorite with the kids. The Tahini sauce received its inspiration from a post by REMcooks.
Chicken Wok with Tahini noodles
This dish perhaps mixes the flavors of cuisines, but it worked and was quite tasty.
Tahini noodles
6 circles (300g) of whole wheat noodles (I used Blue Dragon)
Sauce
2 heaping tablespoons of Tahini sauce
clove of garlic minced
juice of 1/2 of a lemon
1/2 dl / 1/4 c olive oil
black pepper
salt
I mixed the tahini sauce with my immersion mixer until it was smooth. Set aside and place a large pot of water to boil for the noodles. While waiting for the water to boil prepare the chicken wok
Chicken wok Indian style
3 chicken breasts
1 onion
1/2 leek chopped (I used frozen leek from a friend’s garden)
20 g/0.7 oz fresh or frozen kale finely chopped with the tough stalk removed
20 g/0.7 fresh or frozen spinach, chopped
1/2 head of cauliflower, chopped
juice of 1/2 of a lemon
1-2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
olive oil
NoMu Indian spice mix (includes: coriander, chili, cumin, fenugreek, turmeric, ginger, caraway, cloves, bay leaf and cardamom oil)
Pour the olive oil on the pan along with the chicken breasts, garlic, onions, and leek. Cook at low to medium heat for about five minutes and turn the chicken over and continue cooking until the chicken is done. Add in the rest of the vegetables and remove the chicken and cut into bite size pieces. Return back into the wok pan and mix.
By this time the water will have boiled. Cook the noodles according to package instructions and drain. Mix the tahini sauce with the noodles and combine with the chicken wok. Add a drizzle of olive oil.
In my kitchen in April are butterflies…in my tummy. It won’t be long and I will be flying to go visit dear family and friends in the USA. My blog might not have as regular posts for a couple of weeks but I will post pictures and thoughts of the trip on my facebook page. Click on the link below to follow if you wish. And as usual I will be accompied with my littlest one. The photo below is from one of my previous trips.
Really, it doesn’t matter if there is snow still on the ground in Minnesota. It will be nice to see you all.
This post is part of Celia’s In My Kitchen series. Check out her blog for links to kitchens all around the world.
tableofcolors 
How exciting and wonderful to be visiting family again.
Very exciting Gallivanta…the countdown has begun 🙂
That pasta is an inspiration! What fun to visit family in the midwest. Bon Voyage!
Thank you so much! Hope you have a chance to try the pasta sometime! I think the toasted sesame seed flavor of the tahini is really the key ingredient.
Have some wonderful family catch up again time. Most precious and memory making…that first re-connection x
Alexa from Sydney Australia
Blogging at http://www.Alexa-simplelife.com
Thank you Alexa! I’m sure the time will be special and treasured in the heart.
Enjoy your holiday ‘home.’ Catching up with family is so special.
Thank you so much Juli.
Lovely recipe and enjoyed the stories that came out of your kitchen this month.
Thank you Sally!
I love your pasta and chicken recipe, the tahini sauce sounds delicious. How wonderful that you are coming to the US, can wait for posts. Wish you were coming to NYC, would love to meet!
Yes, it would be a delight to meet you! Some day I will come to NYC…its on my bucket list! 🙂
Without question, the kitchen is the most used room and to me is what makes a house feel home. Enjoy your visit, and I hope there’s a hint of spring in Minnesota.
Yes, the kitchen is the heart of the home. I know the saying is quite cliché but it is quite true. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
beautiful photos, and that recipe looks amazing!
xoxo Vera & Rony
http://wattwewear.com/
Thank you Vera and Rony!
Happy travels!
Thank you!
Finally spring is in the air 🙂
Yes, indeed! 😎
What an interesting sounding recipe. It won’t matter if there’s snow at home, the warmth of your family will be what is important. Have a great time.
So true, really the snow does not matter at all!
Enjoy your trip with the little one. Like you, our kitchen is used for many things. Lots of drawing and art too.
I can imagine…art projects are the best, especially when they are not rushed the kids produce some fantastic pieces.
Beautiful photos…delicious food…and a lovely story (I feel the same way about my kitchen)! Great idea with the shoe boxes too. My children had “treasure boxes” when they were small and loved them! Enjoy your trip to see family…the snow has left in Michigan and I hope Minnesota is relieved of it soon too 🙂
So glad that snow has left Michigan…my first stop will in fact be Detroit. So glad to visit your city. 🙂
I thought you were coming here also. It is warming up a little more each day – just for you! I hope you have the opportunity to see some beautiful sites, eat delicious food and of course, enjoy and treasure your time with family!
I hope you have a wonderful trip, Laila!
Thank you so much Patty!
Have a wonderful trip! I loved seeing the cranes and the pheasant (is that what he was?). And your wok tahini noodles sound intriguing – I like every single ingredient used, but never thought to use them together! Thanks for the idea! 🙂
I’ve made the dish quite regularly during the past few months and while it does not clearly belong to any particular cuisine we have enjoyed it. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and hosting IMK.
The sliding meal sure exists around here, except you do it so much better.
Oh, I’m sure you do a wonderful job Cheri!
Bon voyage Laila : )
Thank you Liz, I’m sure it will be a trip to remember and share afterwards. 🙂
What a lovely post Laila. I often think of you and your blog at the change of seasons as we live at such opposite ends of the world. Daylight saving has finished here and the days are growing shorter though they will never be as dark as your winter days. How thrilling to visit your family – they will notice such changes in your little one. Enjoy!
Thank you. We really do live on the opposite ends of the world. Someday I will make a trip to your end! Our days are growing longer and longer and if your wake up in the wee hours the morning sky is already growing light.
Have a wonderful trip!!! Love the photos of all the activities and food you’ve made 🙂
Thanks so much ms. Marzipan! 🙂
I hope that you have a wonderful time visiting family and friends.
Thank you Sheryl!
Happy travels. 🙂 Have a great time visiting family and friends.
Thank you Imelda!
Have a magnificent trip and enjoy every minute.
Have a happy day.
🙂 Mandy xo
Thank you, I’m sure I will Mandy! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
I know you will enjoy your trip…it is wonderful when families can get together from across the many miles that separate them.
Looking forward to seeing all my loved ones. Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve never used tahini with pasta and your dish sounds quite tasty. I wouldn’t worry about the snow. You will be spending time with your family. A little snow won’t be able to spoil what promises to be a lovely visit. Have a wonderful time. Buon viaggio!
I had never either, but during the past few months it has become a favorite and it really rounds out the flavor. I’m not that worried about the snow either and I think it has just about disappeared! 🙂
Wow, love your handsome gentleman caller. Is he a pheasant? Oh, we love a bit of shoebox painting too – and it’s a great way to discourage kids from leaving treasures in their pockets or schoolbags (recent finds: stinking cuttlefish bones & deceased insects)… *shudder*
Love your cross-cultural dinner, and the idea of tossing tahini sauce through noodles. YUM! Great combination of veggies and spices. Definitely pinning to try later.
Wishing you and your little one a wonderful holiday.
Yes, he is a pheasant and our yard happens to be in his territory. The border of the neighbor’s lot is where the territory of the next pheasant starts and occasionally in the morning they fluff their feathers at each other and call out loudly. And Yes I agree, the treasure boxes are a better place than pockets…I once found bird claws in my son’s treasure box. They were old and dry and left over after some hunting trip. 😉
Looks really delicious! Have a safe trip to Minnesota:)
Thank you so much!
Wow it must be wonderful to have such beautiful wildlife right outside your door. Gave a great time on your trip!
Thank you! I have really enjoyed the wildlife and birds…you can follow the seasons through their migration cycles. It is the same pair of cranes that have come already for several years and it is a sure sign of spring when they arrive.
Such beautiful photos! Is that a pheasant? We don’t get either cranes or pheasants wild around here.
The pasta dish looks great – and happy travels. Have a wonderful time!
G’day Love that Spring is in the air and yum re your recipe!
Thanks for this month’s kitchen view too!!
Cheers! Joanne
You’re coming to the US! How fun!! :). Family road trip to Arizona where the only snow is at the top of big mountains!! :). Enjoy your trip!!!!
I love this pasta. It looks sooo delicious. Thanks for sharing. Have a great time in the USA. Check out surreyKitchen.com. I look forward to reading more of your blog in the future. Emma xx
Nice pasta dish. I’m going to try it on my visiting granddaughters this week. It’s nice to have a recipe that doesn’t require cheese. (My partner isn’t able to tolerate it.) PS about the shoe boxes. It’s brought back memories for me. We used to paint them too and furnish them with doll’s furniture. Sometimes we’d add a second story. A lot of creative activity happening every school holidays.
Nothing like crafts to keep little hands busy. The noodle dish look so delicious and I love that you used Tahina for the sauce. Have a wonderful trip. 🙂