This past weekend, I went home.
Home being the town I grew up in for 18 years, Campbell River. I returned for an unprecedented event in any good students life, the high school reunion. This was our first, the ten year. I even helped organize, despite my natural inclination to run as far and as fast as I can from anything to do with high school.
I hated high school. It was the bane of my existence. All my friends were either a grade behind or ahead of me and therefore not in any of my classes, I was 60 lbs. overweight, I had zero fashion sense and I was utterly and debilitatingly shy (I think I made up a word there…).
I did everything I could to avoid school, taking the bare minimum of classes to pass and get into university. By my last year in school I was only carrying two classes a day. I was depressed and I wanted out.
The minute I graduated, I felt a freedom I had never known. I broke up with my boyfriend (who was from another high school), packed my bags and moved to Victoria, BC. I was finally free from under the thumb of that horrible institution.
So after ten years, why would I go back and face all those people who I hated the most? Because I know now that a lot of my resentment came from within. Yes, there was a certain amount of bullying and hardship brought on by others, but mostly it was my own inability to overcome my feelings of inadequacy. So I returned to face my demons, and man was it a good time.
Returning to the city where I grew up with my own family in tow was just awesome. I got to show them all the great stuff and amazing beauty in my little town. All my relatives have moved away from there, so we stayed in a beautiful condo by the beach. It was just beautiful. We ate seafood every night and downed some of the best cheesecake I’ve ever had in my life.
I know a lot of people don’t often go to their 10 year high school reunions, or even any of them for that matter. But it is something everyone should do in my opinion. You might actually meet someone you never knew, or they quite possible have changed into much greater people (we all have growing up to do between high school and adult hood).
My favourite thing of all was waking up every morning to the site of a huge group of adolescent bald eagles feeding on the beach right in front of our condo. The last morning we were there, I snuck down to the beach at 5:30am and snapped some shots.
After a weekend of seafood and cheesecake, i was ready to get back on the health (and budget) bandwagon. So I decided that we will be having vegetarian week. Mostly salads, given my penchant for them. I am trying a clean eating sort of plan. Lots of fibre and healthy vegetables and low in calories. This salad (including dressing) clocks in at less than 300 calories. Perfect for those who eat six meals a day. If you aren’t one of those people and you need a to fluff it up a bit, any protein would be a great match with the flavours going on here. For less of a kick, reduce the sriracha to 1/4 tsp.
One Year Ago: Fresh Dolmades with Tangy Yogurt Sauce
Two Years Ago (My first post! Be nice…): Chewy Tarts with Orange Vanilla Blueberry Swirl Ice Cream
Szechuan Noodle Salad
Yield: Two servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 minutesFor the Dressing:
1 tsp sesame oil
1 clove garlic, minced or grated
1/2 tsp sriracha chili sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp soy sauce
3 tbsp sweet chili sauce
juice of one lime
1 tsp fish sauce
1/4 cup minced cilantroFor the Salad:
1 cup shelled English peas, fresh or frozen
14 oz shirataki noodles, drained
2 cups spinach leaves
2 cups arugula leaves
1 carrot, shredded
1/2 an avocado, cubed
4 radishes, choppedOptional toppings for those that would like a little more “oomph”:
Chicken breasts
Flank, skirt or hanger steak
Pork shoulder steak
Prawns or shrimp
Crab
Tofu1. For the Dressing: Mix all of the above in a small bowl and set aside for 30 minutes to mellow and allow the flavours to come alive.
2. For the Salad: If using fresh peas, steam or boil them for about 3 minutes or until just barely done. Cool and set aside. If using frozen, simply run under hot water until completely defrosted.
3. Rinse the drained shirataki noodles for 2 minutes under running water (Do not skip this step, it eliminates that “funky” smell they have). Cook in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and drain. Run cold water over until they are just warm. Toss half the dressing with the drained noodles.
4. On two plates, arrange the spinach and arugula. Divide the dressed noodles between the two plates.
5. Top with the remaining salad ingredients and the remaining dressing. Serve immediately.
Similarly delicious food from other fabulous food blogs:
Szechuan Roasted Chicken on Rasa Malaysia
Szechuan Spice-Rubbed Pork on Leite’s Culinaria
Homemade Szechuan Chili Oil on Almost Bourdain
Grilled Szechuan Shrimp and Vegetables on Kalyn’s Kitchen
Szechuan Fry Bread on Weird Combinations
Love light salad recipes like this one. Thanks for sharing 🙂
My 10-year high school reunion is next year and today, I am 100% positive I do not want to go. Highschool wasn’t terribly awful for me, but it wasn’t amazing either. I’m just too insecure to go back and see that everyone is married and has kids and I’m still doing the career-minded single-girl thing. Thoughts on this?
Well, as far as I could tell, about 1/3 of my fellow classmates had kids and were married and the rest of them were still single and just working on their lives. So I think 10 years is definitely okay to still be single!
Gorgeous photos, and this has to be the most enticing recipe I’ve seen using Shirataki noodles. Thanks for the mention of one of my recipes too!
Hi Elizabeth,
What a great experience for you going back to your high school reunion, healed from the past and looking fabulous! Cheers to you!
Your pics are amazing, beautiful dawn with the bald eagles, well worth waking that early.
The dressing for this salad looks divine. We adore Spicy Szechuan flavors. Thanks for linking to our yummy Szechuan fry bread.
Cheers,
-Hegs
So happy that you enjoyed …pics are so beautiful
I think it is great that you were able to go back with head held high and your beautiful family beside you. Lovely photos!
Ach… you make me feel a wee bit old – since my 10 year reunion is but a vague memory(gasp!!). I am so glad that you went – I think for those who did not have a great experience in high school it can be very therapeutic to truly see how much you have grown!!!
This salad sounds and looks lovely and so perfect for the summer months!!
Gorgeous photos as always – we just got back from vacation and had our own encounters with some beautiful bald eagles!!
And it must have felt good to show off your rockin’ body! My 25th year reunion is coming up. Gosh, I feel old…
Great pictures Elizabeth. I have to say I am disappointed I didn’t go to my 10 year after going with Elizabeth to hers. It was a blast and the insecurities are within. I think everyone had the same feelings as DessertForTwo.
Awesome to hear your reunion was such a success. You are braver than I….was not at mine. The salad looks fresh & wonderful. Lovely photos.
Glad you all enjoyed the reunion Liz and it’s wonderful that you got to take everyone with you and show them our home town. My 40th is coming up next year and I’m making sure I get to it. There are some old friends that I just have to reconnect with, and some who have passed on that need to be remembered.
Alena and I are off to find some of the Shirataki noodles and give this recipe a try!
Let me know how you like it mom!
the pictures are amazing, seems like a very nice place to grow up in….the salad looks very healthy 🙂 I’ll try it! thanks for the recipe!
Michael from Simple Animation Software Tips and Guidelines
Ok so I love this post. A lot. Except that now I know I am way older than you and that’s a little sad (I am 41). But you didn’t say enough about the actual reunion. I am kind of dying to know more. Those bald eagles are so beautiful btw. And I love the salad.
I’ve never had shirataki noodles (what are they made of?), and I’ve never been to your blog- until now of course. It’s truly gorgeous and now joins the bookmark folder titled ‘5 blogs to visit all the time’. (There are now 26 blogs in this list. You’re all my top 5!)
Aw, thank you so much Angela! Oh and shirataki noodles are made from the starch of yams. Weird huh? But they’ve been around a long time in China!
I stumbled upon your blog on tastespotting.com. I have to say, Campbell River is my favourite place in the world. I went there fishing when I was in high school (I’m from Toronto). Your pictures are simply magical. What I would do to live in British Columbia!
Ah! I know the ones. They call them sweet potato noodles here… at least, I think they’re the same! Glad for the tip about the cold rinse.
Looking at your beautiful pics I miss the Island so much. We did go to Campbell River once for hockey. Nice little town.
I was homeschooled in high school. ( insert sarcastic comment here ) That’s all I have to say. You know me, I love me some salad!!!!! <– I learned proper grammar in homeschool too!
Those eagle photos are incredible, Elizabeth. Stunning. Glad you had a good time visiting back home. You’ve got a lot to be proud of.
Thanks for taking us along with you to Campbell River with this beautiful set of photos. The recipe is exactly what I love for a week night meal- simple, healthy and full of flavors.
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