Wanna know a secret??

My good friend Michelle used to make this really yummy cold sesame pasta, but she would never give me the recipe. She had gotten it from another friend who owned a catering company. Michelle had promised her she would never give it to anyone.

This brings me to a interesting topic; secret recipes. I don't believe in them. I think recipes are to be shared and passed along. In my mind there is only one reason a recipe should ever be kept secret; if said recipe holder intends on making money with said recipe. But if you don't own a restaurant, plan on publishing a recipe book, or intend on mass producing and marketing the product...for goodness sake people...pass it on!!

Now I understand why Michelle wouldn't give me the recipe, her friend was indeed making money with the recipe.

However, a few years ago I found this recipe in a Martha Stewart magazine. It sounded very similar to the pasta Michelle would make. And sure enough, when I tried it...it's the same exact pasta. I guess it wasn't such a big secret after all.


COLD SESAME NOODLES
(Recipe from Martha Stewart)

16 oz. Japanese noodles (udon or soba) or spaghetti noodles
8 oz. snow peas, slivered lengthwise
1 red bell pepper, cut into long thin strips
½ C. smooth peanut butter
2 garlic cloves
1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed
¼ C. soy sauce
¼ C. rice vinegar
1/3 C. warm water
2 T. toasted sesame oil
¼ t. salt

1. Cook noodles according to package directions, then rain and rise with cold water.
2. In a large bowl, combine pasta with snow peas and red pepper.
3. In a blender puree peanut butter, garlic, jalapeno, soy sauce, vinegar, water, sesame oil and salt.
4. Pour the dressing over the noodles mix. Toss to coat.
5. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

*This recipe makes a lot of pasta. It says it only serves 4 and I guess if you were eating it as a meal, it would just serve 4. But we usually have it as a side dish and in my opinion it serves about 8-10 people.