“The Day the Earth Stood Still,” Pasta Salad

The Day the Earth Stood Still

1951

The Day the Earth Stood Still is a science fiction classic made in 1951.  It takes place just after WWII.

An alien, and his robot land their spaceship on Earth to bring an important message to humanity.

Klaatu, the alien, insists the message must be delivered to world leaders simultaneously.

The movie stars Michael Rinnie, Patricia Neal, Billy Gray, Hugh Marlowe and Sam Jaffe.

I remember seeing it as a child at my grandparents house and being enthralled by the thought of aliens from another planet.

I loved the movie, and this movie was probably my introduction into science fiction and my love of it.

I asked Gordon to create a pasta salad with this “Space” pasta, to commemorate this great movie and all the “Space Men” movies that followed it.

My Space Man Pasta Salad

My Mother’s Space Men Toys from the 1940’s

The Bag of Pasta That Started it All

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In creating this pasta salad we looked for

ingredients that looked a bit “Alien.”

The Ingredients:

1 Lb. Space Shaped Noodles

2 Tbsp Yellow Mustard

1/2 Cup Sweet Relish

1 – 2 Cups Miracle Whip

1/4 Cup Aji-Mirin (Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning)

15 Red Pearl Onions cooked and peeled

1 Bunch of Broccoli Rabe

2 Celery Stalks chopped

1 Cup Black Olives

10 Multi Colored Carrots, chopped

1/2 Large Daikon Radish sliced then cut into star shapes

1 Pickled Radish sliced

1/2 Cup Ham chunks

6 Parsley Root

1 pkg. Enoki Mushrooms

Boil a large amount of salted water for your pasta.

Boil your pearl onions in a medium sized pot for about 8 min. then cut off the root end and squeeze out the onion.

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Wash your Broccoli Rabe well and slice off the Broccoli ends.

Slice your celery into small bite sized pieces.

Rinse your Parsley roots well and set aside for garnishing later.

Pictured next to the Parsley root is the Daikon Radish.

Here you see the Broccoli Rabe washed and ready.

Displayed is the size of the celery.

Here you can see the cooked pearl onions as well as the ones out of their skins.

Peel your Daikon Radish then slice into rounds.

To go with the theme, I used a star cookie cutter shape.

I see STARS!

Here you can see the various colors of the carrots I used.  Slice your carrots into rounds.

The pickled radish is sweet and adds nice color and flavor to the dish.

Slice one of the pickled radishes into rounds.

Love these Parsley Roots

Boil your pasta as per package directions.

Drain the pasta well and rinse with water to cool down and stop the cooking.

When cooled, add to a large mixing bowl.

Add your Miracle Whip, and Mustard…

then your Mirin, Sweet Relish, and Ground Black Pepper to taste.

Mix well and taste to ensure it is to your liking then add your chopped Celery.

Now your Carrots and Pearl Onions…

Then your Black Olives and gently mix all the ingredients.

Now, add your Broccoli Rabe and Star Shaped Daikon Radish and mix again.

Now, place your Parsley Roots around the bowl to look like “alien” trees.

Add your Enoki Mushrooms around the bowl to give your bowl more landscaping.

Looks a bit “alien,” doesn’t it?

Space Men, Optional

If you have children that are picky eaters, then perhaps making something like this just may make lunch or dinner a bit more exciting.

Don’t forget, you can add or subtract any of the above ingredients.

Happy Halloween!

Monk and Sugar

This was Sugar’s last Halloween, 2016