There are hardly words for how good it feels to be back in the kitchen. Not just any kitchen, mind you, but a brand new one with not a speck of beige in sight and a workspace that (gasp!) works for me! I took my time putting everything back in its place, but now it is fully operational and I have been cooking up a storm. I will be sharing lots of photos and more details of the renovation soon once a few small details have been tied up, but in the mean time I have lots of great food to share with you all.
There is nothing quite like fabulous cookbooks to help get the inspiration flowing, and this salad is from a new favorite of mine. Since having my kitchen back and acquiring this book, I have cooked dinner from its pages approximately two thirds of our dinners for the past two weeks. I first made this spicy rice noodle salad with chicken and crunchy veggies on a Friday evening after getting stuck out in the pouring rain for an hour (long but funny story for a later date), and I had no energy or sunlight to take photos that evening. However, it was such a hit with the family that I made it again the very next week because I simply could not wait to share it with you. There is just so much to love about this meal! It is very veg heavy, but not so much that salad side-eyers would take issue with it. The delicious crunch from all the colorful veggies, the spicy and tangy dressing, and the punch of fresh flavor from the basil and mint all combine to make an irresistible meal. We love it for dinner and lunches, but I can also see this being a perfect contribution to a potluck or other get together. I hope you love it as much as we do!