Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Attack of the Bok Choy

This past weekend we went to a potluck hosted by our 'across the street neighbor'.  By across the street I mean their driveway is sort of diagonal (by about 50 feet) from ours.  However, due to the length of our driveway and their driveway, it's a good 1/2 mile walk.  We walked it anyhow.  It was all uphill.  And 90*.  And we were pushing 3 kids in a stroller.  But we made it.

I brought a new recipe - Bok Choy salad.  I'd never cooked with Bok Choy before, but I tried this recently at a Multiples club meeting and it was delicious (thanks to Shelly for bringing it - and the recipe!).  The reactions were....well....a little unexpected.

Bok Choy is pictured below.  It's kind of a cabbage.  For this recipe, you only use the white part and discard the leaves.


Below is the recipe:



2 heads Bok Choy
bunch of scallions
1 cup almonds, chopped
1/2 cup sesame seeds
2 packages of ramen noodles, crumbled (and seasoning packet discarded)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp sugar

dressing prepared separate:
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce

Chop bok choy (discard leaf part) and slice scallions - set aside

In skillet on medium heat add butter, sugar, sesame seeds, almonds, and ramen noodles. Cook until brown and everything is coated with butter and sugar. Cool.

Once cool add to bok choy, stir in dressing just before serving.
 
Now at the potluck I was sitting right next to the main food table (come on, easy access for refills is important).  I was feeding the twins and amusedly watching the show.  Because suddenly there was a gathering of people around the bok choy salad.
 
"What's this?"
"I don't know.  What IS that?"
Someone bravely gives the dish a little stir with my awesome Paula Deen spoon sent to me by Mary over at The Englar Fam.. 
"Is it?  Is it some sort of .... salad?"
"What's in it?"
 
I almost ran outside to get a stick so that they could poke at it to see if it were dead.  But instead I went to my neighbor J.P. from Home in the Hollow and said, "Hey, you've got to try this Bok Choy salad I made!"
 
Course J.P. tried one bite and was smitten.  And J.P. likes to share the love, so she went around telling everyone to try the Bok Choy salad.  That's right, people, it's BOK CHOY SALAD!! 
 
"What's Bok Choy?"
 
Ah well, by the end of the night I had people giving me little scraps of paper with emails so I could send them the recipe.
 
I don't know why, but whenever I cook something that people really like, it sure does make me feel good.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wah!!! Bok Choy is on the list of foods that thyroid patients can't eat. And you made me want to try it :-(
lovemom

Mere said...

I'm the same way...whenever i make anything that is all the buzz at a potluck, i secretly pat myself on the back and have a slight ego boost the rest of the day :-) i love boc choy, I'll have to try this recipe!

Anonymous said...

I saw JP steel Pierce's Bok Choy from his plate.

Paul

Andrea said...

Sounds interesting and yummy! :) Bravo to you for being the one to bring the mystery meal and have it be a hit!

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Hey, Baby Girl...that Bok Choy stuff was the BOMB! And, you should feel good...GREAT...when someone enjoys something you make! Remember, it's all about you!!!
P.S. I think...scratch that..I know your driveway is more than 50' away! Did you stop to figure in the length of your driveway??? Hey, I just checked with the distance expert (aka My Joe) and...are you ready??? your driveway is about 150 yds (not ft), 50 yds (not ft) to the neighbor's driveway, then 500-600 yds to walk up to his house!! I thought you told me you were nerdie????

w said...

hahahaah! we love bok choy. um. obviously?

when i go to potlucks, i bring fried rice. and people are always so impressed. and they ask me if i made it. um. duh. yes. and by "made", i mean "ordered".

Anonymous said...

Too funny Lisa. I just remembered you said you were going to blog about this so I had to check it out. Just an FYI I do use the green leaf part of the salad and dice this with the white part. I'm sure my demo wasn't very clear because I cut the end of my figure off. Try it next time with the all the parts and I bet people will say "what's that green stuff"
Shelly