I Love Cold Noodle Salads for Warm Weather Fuel

As a runner walker, hiker I have eaten tons of pasta over the years ( along with potatoes and breads. In the summer I love to eat a meal of cold salad and especially a salad loaded with good carbs as well as vitamins and minerals.
A newly popular salad at many places is sesame noodle salad(durum wheat noodles) and Soba noodle salad. SOBA noodles are made from buckwheat so they may be ok for folks with gluten problems. I have experimented and found this to b a good recipe. The dressing is key and the salad can be adjusted for taste and available ingredients.

Cold SOBA Noodle Salad
SALAD
-1# SOBA noodles
-Bundle green onions – chopped (save 1 or 2 to put on top when serving)
-Bundle of cilantro or parsley( chopped fine) [save some for serving]
-2 tbs Sesame seeds
-3 carrots – shredded or chopped
-1 large cucumber – diced
-1 each red, green yellow pepper- diced
-2 stalks celery- diced
-1 granny smith apple- diced

Dressing (good dressing can make a hat taste great)
-1-3 tsp fresh Grated ginger
-¼ cup tahini
-1 tbs Agave nectar or Rice syrup
-1 tbs rice vinegar
-Juice from 1 lime
-½ tbs zest from lime
-1 tbs Sesame oil ( plus some for boiling water)
-1 tbs Tamari
-3 tbs Sesame seeds
-1 tsp Celery seeds
-1 tbs fresh ground black pepper
-Hot sauce and/or hot pepper flakes to taste

1) Prepare noodles in water flavored with sesame oil and drain / cool( sprinkle with sesame oil after draining
2) Combine dressing ingredients in blender and blend / pulse until emulsified
3) Chopped and combine all salad ingredient in bowl with noodles, mix completely
4) Add dressing and mix until until coated
5) Cover and put in fridge for 3 hours or more for flavors to mix
6) Serve topped with reserved onions and cilantro

Iced Coffee - Hot orCold Brewed

There are many debates on preparation method for iced coffee. I drink Iced coffee year round and have found that regular hot brewed coffee, cooled then refrigerated is the best.

Green beans are roasted for a reason- to get proper flavor and coffee is made with hot nearly boiling water for a reason- heat reaction impacts taste.

Choosing the proper beans that have been properly roasted is the key to great hot brewed iced coffee and then brewing- cooling to room temperature before putting in the fridge.

Soaking ground coffee in cold water for 8-10-12 hours yields dirty "coffee tasting" water. The nuances of the coffee bean are lost because the true flavors have been been released with the reaction to heat.

Mothers Day and Thoughts of Mom's great meals

This morning i made a great Cole Slaw and put it in Fridge to marinate.
I am now thinking of the great Slaw and Potato salad and macaroni salads my mom made when we were kids- Poor woman had to make it like she was the Cook in Chow hall at boot camp with all of us.

What other good items can I work with and make a few small changes to be Vegan and enjoy.

Todays SLAW

1/3 head red cabbage- chopped
1/3 head Green cabbage- chopped
2 raw red turnips diced small
2 Kohlrabi diced
2 granny smith apples- diced
DRESSING
celery seed
mustartd seed
Raw apple cider vinegar
olive oil
tamari

Dressing poured over the combined veggies and put in fridge to season/marinate.