Kale chickpeas and coconut noodles - and random links

I saw Dylan Moran on tv doing a great comedy stand up session recently.  He said something along the lines that you see the glamourous shower footage on shampoo advertisements and then you look at yourself and you look like a pig in a typhoon in a telephone box.  Likewise this dish looked gorgeous in the supermarket magazine but once I took the fish off (of course) and added my own bits it was ... well ... like the proverbial pig in a typhoon in a telephone box!

There is a lot of noodles around our place lately so I added noodles.  I had leftover roast pumpkin, limes from the tree in the backyard, and ponzu as a vegetarian alternative to fish sauce.  It was more interesting than amazing but I liked having noodles in a different way than usual.  By the way, the coconut cream was a grey sludge and I thought it might be off but when I googled it, apparently that just how it looks sometimes.

It is also that time of year when it is dark early and I lose my mojo for taking photos (and let's not mention the energy sapping effects of lockdown).  So I made no efforts to fancy it up but just shot it quickly before eating.  So I will practice the gentle art of distraction with some entertaining links I have come across lately:

• Windows swap - random views from windows around the world
• The Archbishop of Canterbury's cat - this cat is so cute the way he drinks the milk and ignores the sermon
• Recreation art in Quarantine - brilliant home parodies of famous works of art (more on @tussenkunstenquarantaine)
• Panda hugging keeper - so cute and cuddly!
• Funny face masks - not only are re-usable mask better for the environment but they have given rise to some great designs
• Look what happens when dad does the bubble bath!  - the kids' reactions are great
• Social distancing signs and posters - more Covid19 fun

More noodle dishes on Green Gourmet Giraffe:

Avocado, pickled ginger and tofu soba noodle salad (gf, v)

Chickpea and spinach soup (with noodles) (gf, v)

Chow mein (v)

Lo mein (v)

Mee Goreng (v)

Miso soup with tofu, vegetables and noodles (v)

Tamarind tempeh with noodles (v)

Vegetarian Pad Thai (gf, v)

Kale chickpeas and coconut noodles

Inspired by Coles Magazine

Serves 1-3

1 leek sliced

1-2 tbsp oil

1/4 red capsicum finely sliced

100g kale, chopped

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2  x 400g tin coconut cream - thinned a little

50g spinach chopped

2 tbsp lime juice (about 1 lime)

1 tbsp ponzu

1/4 tsp chilli paste

200g pack of pre-cooked hokkein noodles

seasoning - about a pinch or two of salt

shredded coconut, to serve

Fry leeks and red capsicum in oil for a few minutes in frypan over medium high heat.  Add turmeric and kale for a few minutes.  Lastly add coconut cream (mine was really thick so I thinned it a bit with a drizzle of milk or water), spinach, lime juice, ponzu, chilli paste and hokkien noodles.  Season to taste.  Bring to the boil and stir to make sure the flavours are mixed through.  Sprinkle with shredded coconut and serve.

On the Stereo:

Franz Ferdinand - self titled album