Toodles to noodles

Another Iron Chef competition under our belts. Last night’s featured ingredient: noodles. Who knew noodles could be prepared in such tasty and diverse ways! It was a truly delicious meal.

The little urchins who claim me as their mother were first in line at the food table. Imagine.

So many choices … like broccoli ramen noodle salad.

And cheesy, creamy, ooey-gooey noodles …

And chow mein noodles smothered in chocolate and red sprinkles. My oldest daughter made these. I think she ate 10 of them before the competition. They were yummy.

Fettucine noodles with alfredo pesto and pepper …

We enjoyed buttered noodles submitted by last month’s winner.  And Farmboy presented spaghetti noodles with meatball & mushroom bourbon sauce. The man knows how to saute mushrooms … it’s an impressive process that involves Worcestershire and soy sauce, bourbon and salt and pepper. Mmmmmm.

Once upon a time I made a typical tuna noodle casserole, but I added peas and water chestnuts to make it healthy. Does that make it healthy? I hope so. Anyway, my youngest daughter fell in love with it. She proclaimed it her favorite dish forever.

I was making a grocery list this week and she said, “Mommy, don’t forget to buy water chestnuts for my Iron Chef entry.”

Water chestnuts?

“I’m making my favorite! Tuna noodle casserole with water chestnuts. And hey, [sister], I’m putty peas in it—na, na-na, na-naaaaa-na.”

Oldest daughter hates peas. “Go ahead!” She said, disgustedly. “I just won’t vote for you!” And then WW III ensued.

Youngest daughter made the dish, however. Just the way she loves it … and it was delicious.

I submitted buttermilk apricot noodle kugel. Different. Tasty. Almond-flavored and fruity. It earned me a second-place nod from the judges.

Our hostess prepared chicken and noodles—the ultimate feel-good food. Next time I’m sick, I’m calling her. This was the third-place dish.

She also made these. Her haystacks were made from rice noodles. She used both milk chocolate and dark chocolate.

Guess who took first prize? Mmmm hmmmm. You can’t beat chocolate.

If you’re counting—and perhaps these ladies are …

… we managed to use seven types of noodles in the competition: rice, chow mein, spaghetti, thin spaghetti, fettucini, egg noodles and wide egg noodles. Did I leave any out?

Awesome!

But not as awesome as nanny love …

… or daddy love.

Or family love.

Family love is the most wonderful thing of all. And I’m so thankful for our hostess who started this new family tradition. It involves three generations of cousins and brothers and sisters and children and grandchildren. And they’ll remember it always.

Start your own new traditions. You’ll never, ever regret it. And it just might be a tasty surprise!