Pad Thai is love

After two failed attempts at making Thai food (the pad prik was inedible and the burgers made me sick), I was a little reluctant to try again.

The pad Thai I just made was delicious, which I'm sure is because I didn't bother making my own sauce this time. Instead, I got a package that came with noodles and sauce at Trader Joe's.

This is so easy. Anyone can make pad Thai -- just buy the sauce. Is it cheating? Maybe. But you can make up for that by adding fresh veggies. Just check out the international aisle at the grocery store. Thai Kitchen sells rice noodles and pad Thai sauce. Then get yourself over to the produce department, 'cause most of what you're gonna need is fresh veggies:

Ingredients

• 1 egg, beaten
  
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 Thai chiles (if you can't find them, get serrano chiles instead)
• 3 green onions
• 1 Roma tomato
• a handful of snow peas
• 1/4 cup crushed peanuts (just put unsalted peanuts in a baggie, seal it, and release your aggression)
  
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 1/2 cup bean sprouts
• 4oz chicken, meat, shrimp, or tofu
  
• thin rice noodles
• pad Thai sauce
  

Directions

1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions (mine said to boil water, turn off the heat, add the 9-oz package of noodles, and let sit for 3-5 minutes or until soft but firm).
2. Drain the noodles, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
3. Heat 1T oil in a skillet and scramble the egg. Set the egg aside for later.
4. Heat the remaining 2T oil and stir-fry your meat or tofu, chiles, and snow peas for about 2 minutes.
   
5. Add the noodles, pad Thai sauce, and bean sprouts. Stir-fry for another 3-5 minutes, until the bean sprouts are cooked and the mixture is heated through.
6. Turn off the heat. Add the tomato, egg, onion, and peanuts; stir until well combined. Garnish with the lime wedges, (pssst -- encourage everyone to squeeze the limes over the noodles. Yum!).

I'm telling you, you can't mess this up!