Rosemary Grilled Chicken with Zucchini Cilantro Soba Noodles

Today was a long day.. I was on mommy duty full time all day without help. I had to work while they napped and played with the 3 year olds all day. My childcare help is on vacation and it was back to being the sole mama bear at home. I went to a potty training lecture yesterday and spent the entire day today training my son to go on the potty. If any of you are struggling with potty training toddlers like I am. Run and get this book by Jan Faull - Mommy, I have to go Potty!! She is brilliant. I used her techniques of talking to my son and sharing that it was his "job" to learn to use the potty and my job to help him. I did this type of phrasing and saying that we are "practicing" for him to learn to use the potty and soon he will be expected to do it on his own. Guess what?! He did. ALL DAY LONG. He went to toilet 7 times today. Of course all with reminders but he only used his pull up for the poop. Rest was in the toilet. I decided with her advice just to focus on my son and lo and behold, I did not have to do much training with my daughter.. she was equally interested and she had only one accident all day long. I am hoping and praying that our successes continue tomorrow and soon I will be able to get rid of all disposable items at home. Its been a very long road and anyone who has to potty train only one child at a time, be thankful! Its been super hard with two at the same time.

SO.. what does all this toilet talk have to do with the delicious dinner I made? Well. Mostly nothing.. but the point I was trying to make was that the recipes used in tonight's dinner were really simple and very quick. A perfect end to a tiring day of dealing with flushing wet wipes and the drama of pooping and peeing toddlers. Yeah, I can see the hit counter reach millions based on my appetizing start. :)

The chicken skewers on top of the soba noodles are based on Todd and Diane's recipe from White on Rice Couple.. If you have never been to their blog. Run, go, now. Its sheer genius. See the full details here.

The soba noodles were actually inspired by their cousous recipe. I did not have couscous at home so instead, I used their combo of zucchini, garlic, shallots plus soy sauce into a stir fry.

Here is my Soba Noodle Recipe:

• 6 oz organic wheat soba noodle (it can be any soba noodle, I just used what I had on hand)
• 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1 shallot diced
• 1/2 cup onions
• 3 tsp soy sauce
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 zucchini chopped into thin julienne slices
• Fresh ground pepper and salt to taste
• 2 tsp olive oil

Method:
Cook soba noodles per direction and drain. Approx 4 minutes.
Stir fry shallots, garlic, onions in the oil till they almost turn brown.
Add in zucchini and stir fry on medium heat till zucchini is cooked and slightly brown (2 minutes)
Add Noodles and soy sauce. Stir to combine.
Add chopped cilantro
Add salt/pepper to taste.

Serve warm with the rosemary chicken and some fresh fruit.

My kids will eat anything on a stick. They loved the chicken and noodle combo. Dinner was complete in less than 1/2 hour including all the prep. This is my kind of weekday cooking!