Ginger Peanut Pasta Salad

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

• 8 oz. corkscrew macaroni or fine noodles
• 20 fresh pea pods (tips and stems removed)
• 1 small cucumber (quartered lengthwise and sliced)
• 2 medium carrots (cut into long thin strips)
• 1 medium yellow and/or green sweet pepper (cut into thin strips)
• 3/4 cup thinly sliced radishes (optional)
• 1/2 cup bias-sliced green onions
• 3 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro
• 1 recipe ginger Salad dressing (below)
• 1/3 cup chopped peanuts

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions. During last 30 seconds, add pea pods. Rinse with cold water and drain. Combine pasta and veggies. Add Ginger Salad dressing and toss gently to coat. Cover and chill for 2-8 hours. To serve, toss salad and sprinkle w/ peanuts.

Ginger Salad Dressing: Ingredients (use vegan versions):

• 1/4 cup salad oil
• 3 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoon vegan sugar
• 2 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger root
• several dashes hot pepper sauce (I used Durkee''s)

Directions:

Combine ingredients in a jar. Cover and shake. Can chill up to 3 days.