Tonight's Dinner: Asian short ribs and noodles recipe

The slow cooker has to be one of the greatest cooking inventions ever made. Not only does it make cooking so much easier, it's got to be every mother's answer to how to make a satisfying meal while still getting the little ones tired. I have one, and I honestly don't know how I made meat dishes before. It's as easy as stirring up the ingredients in a bowl, transferring them to the slow cooker, placing your protein inside and setting it to cook for anywhere from three to eight hours. Then you can do the important things, like getting the kids to their various classes or making sure they get the wiggles out at the park, all the while knowing that when you get home, dinner will be ready to put on the table. Seriously, if you don't have a slow cooker yet, add it to your holiday or birthday wish list. If you do have a slow cooker or Crock-Pot, however, one of the easiest things to make in it are short ribs. After a few hours soaking in whatever sauce you concoct, the meat is so tender, you barely need a knife to cut it. The only thing left to make is some rice or noodles to go with the delicious meat that's just spent the entire afternoon cooking. And you barely had to lift a finger.

Asian short ribs and noodles

Serving size 4

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 2 pounds short ribs
• 1 (8 ounce) package udon noodles

Directions:

1. Mix together the first six ingredients (through to the ginger) in a small bowl. Pour the mixture into the slow cooker. Add the ribs, and turn to coat them completely. Cover and cook the ribs until they're tender — on low for 6–7 hours, or on high for 3–4 hours.
2. Just before you're ready to serve the ribs, prepare the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and shock with cold water. Divide the chilled noodles among four plates, top with the short ribs, and serve.

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