Friday nights used to be the night where happy hour lead to many hours, too many drinks, and a stop at Taco Cabana at 2:00 a.m.  I’m not sure when the transition happened (maybe it was when ALL of my friends started having babies!!), but now my Friday nights are filled with take-out closer to 7:00 p.m., pajamas, and a terrible movie my husband and I order from OnDemand.  I mean seriously, why did we order Transformer’s again?  Oye. 

Anyways, my point is that the only thing that hasn’t changed about my Friday nights is the craving I have for junk food (oh, and I still want alcohol).  We usually order a pizza or pick up an array of cheeses and crackers, but sometimes I get the urge to cook.  Even though these noodles don’t exactly qualify as junk food, they are pretty tasty and remind me of Chinese takeout…without the grease and indigestion.  Huh, I guess I am getting old.  I don’t think young people blog about indigestion.  Whatever…eat the noodles, pop in a crappy movie, and enjoy your Adult Friday night!

Cold Peanut & Sesame Noodles

Feel free to get creative with this recipe by adding lots of veggies or even peanuts.  Also, I used regular sesame oil, but toasted sesame oil would totally rock in this dish.  I added various sesame seeds as garnish and to enhance flavor, but I left them off the ingredients list because they are totally optional.  The chicken is optional too of course.  I am a Texan and therefore need protein at every meal!!     

1 pound or package egg noodles
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons Hunan pepper sauce (or red chile sauce, etc.)
1 teaspoon minced fresh red chilies
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and julienned
2 scallions, minced
1/4 cup minced cilantro

Boil noodles in a large pot of well-salted water until tender.  Drain, cool in cold water, and drain again.  Toss the noodles with the sesame oil.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter, vinegar, pepper sauce, chilies, sugar, chicken broth, and white pepper.  Add the cold noodles and toss well.  Add the cucumbers, scallions, and cilantro, toss well, and serve.

Serves 4-6.