11 FRIENDS FROM IKAWA JAPAN ARE COMING FOR DINNER ENJOY DAN:

                JAPANESE COLD SOBA SALAD FOR IKAWA GUESTS by  CHEF DAN:

Serves 15

INGREDIENTS:

2 pounds dried soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles)

2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

1/4-cup rice vinegar

1/4-cup lime juice

Zest of one lime

1/2-cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2-head red cabbage, thinly sliced

1 English cucumber cut into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks

3  carrots, cut into 1/8inch-thick matchsticks

1/3-cup toasted sesame seeds

1 cup fresh basil, torn

1 cup fresh mint, torn

DIRECTIONS:

1.     Cook soba according to package directions.

2.     Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.

3.     Pour into a large bowl, sesame oil, rice vinegar, zest, lime juice, and soy sauce.

4.     Mix in, brown sugar, jalapeno, and garlic; stir until sugar dissolves.

5.     Toss in cabbage, cucumber, carrots. mint and basil.

6.     Cut noodles into-3-inch lengths, stir into dressing mixture.

7.     Cover and refrigerate, for 1 hour.

8.     Toss salad again add top with toasted sesame seeds before serving.

9.     Serves with sliced limes.

ENJOY DAN:                                                      SAVOUR!