Udon Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables
Now that the heavy-eating holidays are over and we're back on our regular, routine diet, maybe we all would like to try something new, light and simple. Udon Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables is a one-dish meal that is easy to prepare, nutritious, low in fat, and yet satisfying. Even better, it warms the body and comforts the mind on a cold winter day.
Udon are round, thick noodles, with a firm texture, made from wheat flour. The dish is very popular in Japan and traditionally served with a dashi, which is a broth stock made from simmering bonito (dried fish flakes), or konbu (kelp, a kind of dried seaweed) in water. However, for ease of preparation I have substituted vegetable broth.
Quick and simple to make, this cozy cold-weather dish is packed with antioxidants and will help boost your immune system and fight against colds

Submitted by Kaoru Chatani
A member of TranNet and freelance translator based in Detroit, Michigan

♦ INGREDIENTS
(2 servings)
oz   = ounce (= 28.35 grams)
c    = cup
T    = tablespoon
t    = teaspoon

5 oz   udon noodles, uncooked
3 c     vegetable (or chicken) broth
3 T     soy sauce (reduced-sodium)
1 T     mirin (sweetened rice wine)
1 t      minced ginger (bottled)
1 t      minced garlic (bottled)
1/2 t    red pepper, crushed
2 c     shiitake mushroom caps, sliced
10       baby carrots, thinly sliced
2 oz    chicken breast, thinly slice
1/2 c    green onions, thinly sliced
2 c      baby spinach
1        boiled egg, cut in half

♦ How to make Udon Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables
1. Cook udon noodles according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water, and drain again.
2. Combine broth, soy sauce, mirin, ginger, garlic, red pepper, mushrooms, carrots and chicken in a large sauce pan. Cover. Bring to a boil. Simmer until mushrooms are soft and chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
3. Stir in noodles, green onions and spinach; simmer until greens are wilted, about 2 minutes. Put a half-cut boiled egg on top. Serve immediately.

How do you study the written Japanese characters known as kanji? You stare at each kanji and make up a story in your head that you can mentally "attach" to the kanji to help you recall its meaning when you meet it again in the future. Some types of kanji have retained their pictographic forms and look very much like the objects they represent.