Ain't Nobody Got Time For That (Sweet Brown, 2012)

I cringe at this title.  This phrase has been floating around the netherworld of the internet and I have heard many young folks use it, but I have yet to actually watch the clip of Sweet Brown that puts this phrase into context.  But honestly...Ain't nobody got time for that.

It's been awhile since I've posted but with good reason:  it's summer!  P and I have discovered that our little abode on the third floor gets so hot in the summer despite opening the sliding doors that lead to our balcony.  On one particular day (and it was a summer rainy day no less), I got the bright idea to make mini pies.  Experienced bakers would know that it's essential to keep the butter and the pastry cold to make delicious flaky pastry.  With the combination of humid heat, the hot oven, and breaking into a sweat trying to mix and shape the dough quickly into a neat disc to throw into the fridge to rest, I quickly regretted my ambition.  I learned my lesson that day and have made it a point to get outside almost everyday instead to enjoy the sunshine (especially since it rains nine months or more in B.C.).

One thing that has been keeping me outside for the past two months is I've picked up running.  Inspired to work on my fitness, I downloaded a couch to 5K app to help me train to run.  Okay, admittedly it's not running, it's a jogging/walking hybrid unique to me that smacks awkward all over it.  To add to the awkwardness, I wear bright blue shorts.  Went to the mall one day to try to get some snazzy "I'm really serious about running" legit shorts.  Having gone too late in the season and most of the running shorts already picked over, I could only find turquoise-y/electric blue shorts.  And boy, are they short.  Sigh. 

But I digress.  I've been working five to six days a week, some days putting in (unpaid) extra time and then fighting the traffic to get home.  Then I sit and hem and haw about running because truth be told, I hate running with a passion.  I roll around on the couch, whine about it, come up with excuses not to run, fall asleep, and then, only then, do I get around to putting on my damn running outfit.  At this point, it's actually pretty close to dinner time.

Which brings us to today's recipe.  I usually eat dinner after my run.  We've had situations where my whining took longer than usual and so I finished my run late so we ate dinner at 8:00.  Yikes!  So I decided to try this "dump everything into one pot meal" because ain't nobody got time for that ("that: being an elaborate meal with mucho prep and technique):

One Pot Thai Pasta

(Adapted from the blog Apron Strings)

12 ounces linguine
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup water
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
1 tbsp fish sauce
Thai chili(es) minced, use as much as you want to your taste (I used a bit of jalapeno because that's all I had)
2 inches of a ginger root, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1 large carrot, peeled and cut in 1/4 inch by 2 inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut in 1/4 inch by 2 inch pieces
3 green onions, sliced in half lengthwise and then in 2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons peanut butter

3 green onions sliced 

2-4 cups of diced leftover cooked meat (I had cooked shrimp on hand so that's what I used.  I did not dice it because that would be weird)

Add at the end of cooking:
One small bunch of cilantro, chopped

1 cup chopped salted peanuts

 

Slices of lime for garnish

 

 1. Put all the ingredients except leftover cooked meat, cilantro, and peanuts in a large pot.  Cover the pot and bring to a boil.  Once it comes to a boil, turn the heat down to a simmer.  Add your leftover cooked meat and allow to simmer for another 10 minutes, stirring every two minutes (if you're using cooked shrimp, I would suggest putting it in the last 5 to 7 minutes).  Cook pasta until al dente and most of the sauce has been absorbed/evaporated.

 

2. Once pasta is done, toss in cilantro and chopped peanuts.  Serve with slices of lime on the side.

Et voila...dinner on the table at 7:15:

 

 

 

I know I know...more photos.  Today's run involved running straight for 22 minutes.  Considering that I used to fake illness or womanly issues to get out of running laps in high school, running straight for 22 minutes (admittedly I did walk two of those minutes and took a quick bathroom break at the library along the way) was exhausting and annoying, therefore refer back to title of post. 

This dish is quite tasty and interesting in the sense that I never use straight up pasta when making a dish with Asian flavours.  One tip I would suggest (if you can stomach it) is, after tasting for seasoning, rather than using salt, add a little more fish sauce if you need a little bit more salt (but be cautious because fish sauce is strong stuff).

 

Hopefully you're all enjoying your summer, enjoying the wonderful produce the summer has to offer, and getting out there to soak up the sunshine.  Surely you have time for that.