Creamy Gochujang Pasta

I like to cook…mostly because I like to eat. But I’m a recipe follower, not a recipe creator. On the rare occasion I try to “whip something up,” I’m generally left dissatisfied by the results. However, this time I created something that I actually liked: Creamy Gochujang Pasta.

Some months ago I saw a pasta recipe online that used gochujang with milk and cheese (and a list of other ingredients), and while I didn’t make it, it did sound good to me. And the idea stayed in my brain…which brings me to yogurt.

While I can eat yogurt, I don’t particularly enjoy it—I’d rather just cook with it. I had bought a container of yogurt for a specific recipe, but had quite a bit left over and I didn’t know what to do with it. I recalled that cheesy gochujang pasta and thought I could just substitute the milk with yogurt to create a creamy sauce. So I did, and I liked it. It’s a quick recipe and takes about fifteen minutes to do.

CREAMY GOCHUJANG PASTA
1 serving

Ingredients
1 bacon strip
1 tbsp gochujang
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground garlic
2 tbsp water
¼ cup chopped kimchi
1 tbsp whole milk plain yogurt
1 serving angel hair pasta

— 1 —
In a nonstick frying pan, fry bacon. Once bacon is cooked, remove bacon from the pan and place on a paper towel to drain the excess grease. Keep the bacon grease in pan.

Once cool, break bacon into pieces.

— 2 —
Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions. And drain pasta once cooked.

— 3 —
Add the water, gochujang, ground ginger, ground garlic and kimchi to the pan with the bacon grease. Over low heat, stir to combine.

— 4 —
Add the yogurt to the pan and stir to combine with the sauce. Add pasta to the pan and stir until coated with the sauce.

— 5 —
Place pasta on a plate and top with bacon pieces. Serve immediately.

Variation: Cheese
I also tried this replacing the bacon with cheese—mozzarella or cheddar works well. Cut a slice of cheese into 16 squares. In Step 5, once the sauce coats the pasta, add the cheese squares. Stir to combine as the cheese melts. Serve immediately.

Things I Didn’t Buy 39

While I thought this tea set was adorable and very retro, I didn’t need it…at all.

I considered buying this cigar box, because you know, I love boxes. But I remained strong and resisted.

This candy tin was nice.

I also liked this sea green box (that I think was meant for playing cards).

This glass jar was pretty cute.

Thrifted for $6.63

I got this red wool jacket for $3.50. It looks like it’s the inner jacket that can zip into an outer jacket. It fit well and I like the collar and snaps down the front. I didn’t need another wool jacket—but it’s different than my other jackets in that it’s more casual...and I liked it because it’s red.

The next two items I got for $3.13; I probably shouldn’t have bought either of them. First is a gray and maroon wool sweater—it’s clearly a man’s sweater as it’s large on me. It also appears to be handmade (since I can see the yarn ends on the inside); it’s a well-made garment. I like the design and color choice of the sweater.

And I got a petticoat that I thought I could wear under skirts and dresses to make it more voluminous…and it does, but perhaps too much for me.

Work Series: If it Doesn't Have a Deadline, Then it's Not a Priority

Things I Didn’t Buy 38

This Santa doll is sooooo creepy—it’s hilarious. Look at his eyes; he’s saying, “I know you’ve been naughty. NO TOYS FOR YOU!” And I didn’t realize it until later, but there's a clown photo bombing the picture.

I thought about getting this old Nancy Drew book from the 1950s. However, besides missing the cover on the spine, there was mold growing on it.

This was just an interesting electric power book cover.

This serving tray was cool—so 1960s.

I liked this serving tray was well.