Do you have kids? I don’t. But that didn’t stop me from making Kids Choice Yummy Peanut Noodles over the weekend. I was drawn to the recipe because it looked simple and versatile and I had most of the ingredients already (everything except some whole wheat linguini I bought for the occasion). As I was choosing which vegetables to add, I realized how similar this dish is to a peanut noodle salad I used to prepare when I worked in a cafe, so I garnished it just like we used to. It brought back memories.

Just like college.

The bed of lettuce is the same, but unlike in college, I added some sliced red peppers and sesame seeds (perfectly complementary) and mixed in some edamame (not pictured, and not worth it). This recipe has got to be one of my favorites so far. It’s fast and easy to make with whatever’s on hand, plus kids love it—at least that’s what I hear.

Moreover, the entire recipe (about four servings for me) cost around $3, which is way beyond worth it. And a quick web search shows that the peanut noodle dish I used to enjoy costs $5 per serving, so I paid $17 less than I would have in a restaurant for four perfectly delicious lunches.

April’s total now stands at $36!