Cooking - Chicken Teriyaki

I imagine that every one of you has one - a smell memory. One so strong that as soon as you get a whiff, it takes you back to an exact moment - from your childhood, holidays, celebrations, everyday life.

I have a few. Mostly associated with food, but some not. I can still remember the scented packets my mom would put in the linen closet. Every time you opened those doors or snuggled up in your flannel sheets for the first time that winter, your head filled with the scent. I'd call it miscellaneous floral, but I'm sure there was one particular scent packet my mom purchased. She's very particular... I don't know where I get it from.

This last week I had the oddest scent memory experience.

I was in need of an Asian recipe for dinner, and I have a real craving for noodles. So I searched Google for "Asian stir fry noodle", and it came up with a few suggestions. I filed the rest of them, but the one I choose to make was Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Bowl by Damn Delicious.

Oh my god...

I was making my way through the recipe, and I had just added the sauce and some chicken broth to thin. And BAM! I was back in high school in line for Thursday's teriyaki bowl. Standing in line, laughing with friends, easy-going times. The smell was dead on. I had to immediately text my best friend from high school.

Now to clarify, this recipe more than out-matched the one from my high school cafeteria, but the smell immediately took me back. It provoked such a powerful memory response that was completely unexpected. I could have stood there and reminisced for hours.

But about the recipe - it was, as the blog suggests, "damn delicious."

There were a few things I changed for convenience sake. Never will my local supermarket carry Yaki-Soba noodles, so I substituted packets of dry ramen. You could never find a more economical way to procure Asian noodles. Cook as directed on the packaging, just don't use the seasoning packet.

Also, I did not marinade the chicken at all. I didn't have the time. Not even the minimum 30 minutes the author suggests. Instead, I added some of the sauce while the chicken was cooking, then added the rest when I combined everything together.

The third thing I changed was more by accident. I forgot to add the 1 cup of water to the sauce. Since this helps with the consistency, I did need to add chicken broth later on.

This is definitely going on the recipe rotation. Asian night will never be the same.

*Images by Damn Delicious.