Organic Soba Noodles in Peanut Sauce

Pasta:
2 cups slivered carrots
2 cups bean sprouts
1/2 lb asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 lb package organic soba noodles
1/2 cup slivered green onions
1 hothouse (English) cucumber, slivered

Sauce:
1 tsp crushed garlic
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 tbsp minced green onion
6 tbsp chunky peanut butter
2 tbsp tamari or low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp mirin
1 tbsp spicy BBQ sauce
1 tbsp roasted sesame oil
1 tsp dry mustard
1/3 cup pasta water

1. Boil water for noodles according to package directions. While water heats, prep your veggies: sliver the carrots, green onions and cucumber. Cut the asparagus.
2. Put noodles in water.  Set a timer for 2 minutes less than cooking time. When the timer rings, add the  asparagus pieces. Use a wooden spoon to push the asparagus under the water. Then add the slivered carrots. This will cool the temperature of the water. Watch closely; as soon as noodles are "al dente", take pot off stove and drain noodles and vegetables together, reserving some of the water (to be used in sauce).
3. Put the noodles and vegetables in a bowl. Add the bean sprouts, green onion and cucumber. Mix together. The heat from the noodles will kind of "wilt" the raw vegetables you've just added.
4. If you have a food processor, just peel the garlic and ginger, throw in processor and spin. (if no food processor, crush the garlic in a garlic press, grate the ginger and use a whisk to blend all the sauce ingredients.) Add all the remaining ingredients for the sauce and blend.
5. Pour sauce over noodles, toss well and serve at room temperature.

IF THIS IS FOR "LATER", REFRIGERATE

Notes: The sauce will taste "strong" until you put it on the noodles and mix it all together - then sometimes it tastes too weak for your personal taste. You may have to experiment with the various ingredients of the sauce until you get it to your personal liking. A BIG difference depends on the barbecue sauce that you use: be sure to choose one that you really like. I use Annie's Naturals Organic BBQ Sauce, Original Recipe.  My friend Kim Brown makes her own BBQ sauce!