COLD SOBA NOODLE SALAD

SERVES: 4
TIME: 15 minutes

8 ounces buckwheat soba

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 teaspoons light agave nectar

2 teaspoons mirin

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1/4 cup neutral oil (grapeseed)

1 tablespoon black sesame seeds or Eden Shake (a prepared mixture of sesame seeds and seaweed)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

4 scallions, thinly sliced

Cook the soba in boiling water, according to the package directions (about 6 minutes). Immediately rinse the soba under cold water. Meanwhile, whisk together the soy sauce, agave, mirin, vinegar and oils in a large bowl. Toss the cold soba with the dressing and mix in the sesame seeds, cilantro and scallions.

CookOff Battle Begins

Last night we (who else?  Blachnos and myself - and a stray neighborhood man/boy) started a new Food Battle - I made Fish Tacos for the first time and think they turned out pretty damn good.  Recipe As Follow:

For the Fish (I used tilapia but meatier white fish would be even better - think Mahi Mahi):

- Salt & Peppered the Tilapia and then soaked in marinade

- Marinade (pureed first):  OJ, lime juice, basil, cilantro, oil

Side 1 - Avocado Salso

- Avocado, Cherry Tomatoes, Mango, Jalepeno, Lime Juice, Cilantro, salt & pepper

Side 2 - Red Cabbage Slaw

- Red Cabbage, Carrot, Cilantro, Rice Wine Vinegar, Little Oil, Sugar, salt & pepper

Serve in corn tortillas with some hot sauce :)