Noodles are delicious comfort food to guard against winter's chills.
On frosty winter evenings, it is tempting to cook hearty rich meals. I love slow-cooked meaty dishes but if you eat them too often you can be left feeling sluggish and craving a lighter alternative. Cooking noodles is a good solution.
First choose which type of noodle you prefer from the options available from Asian stores and supermarkets. Then choose your favourite core ingredients - chicken, fish, beef or tofu. Now you can consider the spices and herbs - chilli, ginger, garlic, lemongrass and coriander all provide invigorating, warming flavours.
Chillies comes in many forms, either fresh or dried, red, green yellow or purple, small and hot or larger and mild.
The membranes attached to the seeds provide most of the heat, so, if you wish, remove them by scraping away with the point of a sharp knife. Some people believe that endorphins are released after eating chillies, providing a sense of pleasure, but whether that's true or not, the flavour and heat contribute to a delicious dish to ward off the winter chills. Ginger and garlic are renowned for their anti-oxidant qualities.
