Cold Sesame noodles

The name is cold, but I actually like this best slightly warm. Probably because I can't wait to let it cool before eating it.

6 oz noodles (spaghetti is my usual)
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
1/3 cup water
3 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp hoisin sauce - which always smells SO good, and I need some more recipes with it
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil

cook noodles, drain and rinse with cold water. Mix other ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over med-high heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool about 10 minutes, then toss with noodles. If desired, sprinkle with chopped scallions.

This is a weight watchers recipe, 4 points per serving (8 servings total)

Old Fashioned Cake

I still giggle about the time my friend asked her then five year old daughter what kind of cake was served at my son's birthday party. It was an old fashioned one, she replied. Her mom knew then it was my chocolate cake. It 'is' an old recipe, from past times on the farm, when milk and eggs were not available... Enjoy!!

3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt (but I never add this)
1/2 cup corn oil
2 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups cold water

Preheat oven to 350 F. Using a fork, blend flour with sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Using the tail end of the fork or a spoon, make three wells in the dry ingredients.

Pour oil in one hole, vinegar in another, and vanilla in the third. Pour cold water over top, and mix until well combined.

Pour into a lightly greased 9" square baking pan and bake on centre rack of oven at 350 F for 45 minutes, or until springy when lightly touched in the centre.

Makes 8 - 12 servings.

Tip: For a round cake, use a 9 1/2" spring form pan. Reduce cooking temperature to 325 F, and bake for 65 - 75 minutes or until springy when lightly touched in the centre.