Cucumber Bean Thread Noodle Salad: On cheating

I despise cheaters.  I used to just lose my temper when I discovered students plagiarizing tons of text from the internet and sticking it into an essay or a paper I had assigned.  Even back then, before the massive presence of Google, I was good at catching cheaters.  I would catch them, pull them into my office, talk to them, and give them an "F."  Sometimes they would care, but mostly it didn't really, because the kids who cheated didn't care enough to try harder.

However, I've caught myself cheating recently.  Not in terms of academics, but in terms of potty time with Son.  Now, his potty and all of that stuff is well under control and no longer do we do battle about the porcelain throne.  He has to pee? He goes.  Mostly in the toilet.  Rarely in his pants.  It is huge progress after the weeks of struggle I went through where I wanted to rip out my hair.  There are moments when I catch him doing a crazy potty dance, but even that is somewhat endearing and laughable.

But the big battle now is over WASHING HANDS AFTER the potty.  And these battles are epic as well.  He screams and kicks and claims that water "hurts him" (which is nonsense since he loves to swim and loves his bath) and just doesn't want to do it. Mostly I think it is because he doesn't like the sensation of his hands being wet, but I can't be altogether sure.  One day out of a moment of frustration, I cheated.  I allowed Son to get away without washing his hands.  He had to walk into the bathroom, not touch anything, keep his arms up, and I lifted his entire body up and aimed him appropriately into the toilet.  He kept his arms up in the air and walked out of the bathroom while I washed MY hands.  For the moment it was easier and I breathed a sigh of relief.

But then it became something he always wanted to do - not wash his hands and have me do all the work.  After about 5 times of this, I realized the extreme error of my ways and said that I would not allow him to NOT wash his hands ANYMORE!  We had a few days of battling it out, but now he's gotten better.

But that initial moment where I cheat just felt so easy, but the after moments of the subsequent battles made it clear; cheating is not worth it.

Unless it is this dish.  This is totally a cheating dish. It's cheating because it tastes great with minimal effort.  I am always surprised at how few people know about this that I thought I'd post it.  There is no recipe because simply you just have to julienne a few persian cucumbers to get that ready and then you rip open a bag and pour it over.  My only hesitation about this dish is that the bag that you pour over does have MSG along with a bunch of unpronounceable ingredients, but cheating with this dish, once in a while, is not a bad thing.  It tastes GREAT in the summer with ice cold cucmbers and it is an excellent addition to any grilled meats.  It is sweet, vinegary and refreshing with cucumbers.

Cucumber Bean Thread Salad Process

First, buy a bag of the bean thread salad prepared mix.  I found mine at Marina Chinese Market, but most Japanese markets also carry it.  (It is made in Japan)

Next, julienne 4 to 5 Persian (or mini) cucumbers

Next, open package of bean thread mix and pour on top of cucumbers.  (Liquid and all)

Toss together and enjoy.