Sesame Noodles

Ingredients

1 (16 oz) pkg spaghetti
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 Tablespoon Asian sesame oil
1 Tablespoon grated, peeled fresh ginger
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 bag (10 oz) shredded carrots (3 1/2 cups)
3 Kirby cucumbers (4 oz. each) not peeled, cut into matchstick strips
3 green onions, thinly sliced
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted (optional)

Directions
Cook pasta
Meanwhile in medium bowl with wire whisk or fork, mix orange juice - crushed red pepper until blended.
Place carrots in colander, drain pasta over carrots in large serving bowl.  Toss pasta mixture, cucumbers and 2/3 onions with sauce in bowl.  Sprinkle with remaining green onions and sesame seeds if you like.

Vegetarian Lentil Stew

My youngest, recently had a challenge issued in her class.  She was to go an entire week with no meat, no dairy, water or 100% fruit juice only.  We started to look for some more recipes since we've been doing more fish and chicken lately and not strictly vegetarian.  Same with dairy.
  Here is a yummy and filling stew

2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. grated & peeled fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp. curry powder
1 16 oz, pkg. cut up peeled butternut squash
1 large apple not peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 can (19 oz) ready to serve lentil soup
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup water
1 bag (10 oz) prewashed spinach
Directions
In a saucepan heat oil over medium heat.  Add ginger, garlic and curry powder and cook stirring 30 seconds.  Add squash, apple, soup, salt and water;  cover and heat to boiling over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium cover and cook stirring occasionally, until squash is just tender.  about 5 min. longer.




In batches gently stir in as many spinach leaves as possible.  Reduce heat to low; cover ans simmer 5 min.  Serve