Comments on: Dinner With My Family #14: Kung Pao Shrimp Skillet Meal

By: Angie

Angie — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:01:49 +0000

Correction: Upon further review, I have come to the conclusion that tremendous is ok as used by Trent here.

This is why: “Tremendous” is an adjective used to describe the noun “kitchen.”

~Angie, the grammar princess ;)

By: Angie

Angie — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:29:47 +0000

#19 tentaculistic and #22 Janis (I hope you see this)… tremendous is an adjective, so Janis you are right.

It would need to be in an adverb form followed by a verb that it is modifying to work here.

~Angie, the grammar queen ;)

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:12:34 +0000

This was DELISH!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 01 May 2011 22:34:08 +0000

Well! I am somewhat careful about my eating habits and diet and ONLY go off of a strict eating routine visa vis Bill Phillips Body for Life once a week.

So yesterday we made this dish. I always make the recipe exactly as specified the first time to assess it. The only change was we used chicken instead of shrimp.

The meal was great and the house did smell tremendous although one whiff of the hot peppers got to me.

I am taking some of the advice in the comments and I will adapt the recipe for a more healthy version.

Thanks to Trent for sharing and being willing to put up with some of the abuse sent his way!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:21:36 +0000

As others have mentioned, this meal is really unhealthy! I’d swap the ramen out for regular rice noodles and add a TON more vegetables – right now you have 1/9th of a pepper as basically the only vegetable in there per serving. I’d double or triple the amount of peppers, add sliced carrots, maybe some greens (swiss chard would hold up nicely) snap peas, broccoli … if you had as much vegetables as noodles, it’d be extremely tasty and much healthier.

By: Steven

Steven — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:29:21 +0000

You can get your omegas from sources other than fish or shrimp. Try seaweed, for example. There are also supplements that can be taken. If that is the actual reason for your eating meat once a week, there are options. If you just enjoy meat, say so.

Also, Soba noodles take all of 4 minutes to cook, and as others have mentioned, Ramen noodles are probably not a healthy choice. Add some peas, broccoli, carrots, etc. That’d really add to this dish!

By: littlepitcher

littlepitcher — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:52:23 +0000

We’ll try this with mei fun noodles–more expensive, but lower in calories.
Many an illegal worker in this area has been hospitalized for living on ramen and sending the saved grocery money south of the border, so don’t be too frugal. I used to eat them every other day, with wild onions and/or dandelion greens, while out of work.

By: Janis

Janis — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:45:22 +0000

@tentaculistic (#19) – Heh, I did say quibble. Perhaps I’m overly literal, but – for me – the phrase conjures up a mental image of my house expanding to enormous size because of an aroma. The usage might pass your gut-check, but it didn’t pass my (ahem) smell-test. ;-)

(And, yes, I admit that last comment was just for the bad pun and not intended to further any kind of debate. We’re all entitled to our opinions.)

By: Vickie

Vickie — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 18:07:48 +0000

This sounds really good to me. Thanks for sharing your meal ideas. ☺

By: almost there

almost there — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:46:30 +0000

There is instant ramen and then there is instant ramen. After I found Myojo Chukazanmai brand I stopped traveling 75 miles (one way) to a real ramen shop. The closest I have come to the real deal. One should watch the movie Tampopo if they are into ramen.

By: tentaculistic

tentaculistic — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:12:28 +0000

#18 Janis “One small quibble: this is at least the second time in the series that Trent has said that cooking the recipe would make my house or kitchen smell “tremendous.” In the words of the immortal Inigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.””

Janis, that use of the word ‘tremendous’ sounds perfectly fine to me. What do YOU think it means, that Trent is using it so wrongly? It both passes my gut-check, and the dictionary check, please see below:

From Princeton’s dictionary:
1) enormous: …

2) fantastic: extraordinarily good or great ; used especially as intensifiers; “a fantastic trip to the Orient”; “the film was fantastic!”; “a howling success”; “a marvelous collection of rare books”; “had a rattling conversation about politics”; “a tremendous achievement”

3) frightful: …

By: Janis

Janis — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:40:57 +0000

First of all, I love this series and I really appreciate how much Trent is willing to share about his personal history and thinking process for each of his recipes. That said, there’s nothing wrong with readers chiming in with our own suggestions – that is a great part of the value of this series. Trent has even encouraged it by noting in almost every recipe that we should feel free to adapt the ingredients or method to best suit our own preferences.

This looks like a tasty dish. I am definitely in with the soba and more veggies crowd, and would make those changes were I to make this.

One small quibble: this is at least the second time in the series that Trent has said that cooking the recipe would make my house or kitchen smell “tremendous.” In the words of the immortal Inigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

By: anna

anna — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 07:21:07 +0000

Not to “tear into” Trent’s recipe, but ramen IS deep-fried… No doubt about it! It’s Asian fast food, nice to have once in a while. So I agree with the other noodle suggestions. But also give Trent credit for his creativity and enthusiasm!

By: Carole

Carole — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 03:01:38 +0000

I am a Celiac (gluten intolerant) so I usually have to modify recipes. It’s interesting how the “food experts” tear into any recipe that Trent offers. I know that will happen no matter what. I must admit the many suggestions for improvement are usually good, but I would hate to cook for this crowd.

By: Interested Reader

Interested Reader — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:39:45 +0000

@Bill soba noodles are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour. You should be able to find them in the ethnic aisle at the grocery store. Whole wheat noodles would be a good substitute.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 02:14:51 +0000

Wow, tough crowd. i think this looks pretty good, but then again I have a soft spot for Ramen, especially when I’m sick.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:20:37 +0000

It has been said above but those are fried, and it was probably not a vegan oil. I’ve never heard of these soba noodles so I will look forward to tracking them down and trying them. However it is so easy just to make them from scratch why bother. You can can ever deep fry them in tallow before you eat them if you are so inclined.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:22:42 +0000

I’m guessing you mean you got nine servings, not nine meals – & that the kids eat less than the parents. According to the web, based on the # of packages of noodles you used this should be 12 servings (1/2 block = 1 serving).

I ditto the others about using regular noodles. And a higher veggie/noodle ratio. In addition to the edibility & health factor, for the packaging waste. [As an aside, my FIL thinks an acceptable meal is a block of plain uncooked ramen noodles with tomato paste from the can. He does at least toss the seasoning packet.]

By: Fiona

Fiona — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:09:05 +0000

Tom-Thanks for the info…those look delicious! Going on my meal plan this week for sure!

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 23:08:59 +0000

The food blog Serious Eats had a great “What to do with Ramen” post recently. I’d post a link but I fear being stuck in moderation. Just google Ramen Hacks Serious Eats.

Never had soba noodles (that I know of) but it would cut a lot of calories out of this dish.