Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2                    garlic cloves -- minced or pressed
   2      tablespoons   Chinese sesame paste
   1      tablespoon    dark sesame oil
   3      tablespoons   tamari soy sauce
   2      tablespoons   rice wine
   1 1/2  tablespoons   rice vinegar
   1      tablespoon    honey
     1/2  teaspoon      chili paste
   1      pinch         five-spice powder
   1                    scallion -- chopped
   2      tablespoons   fresh cilantro -- chopped (optional)
   8      ounces        dried wheat noodles -- linguini, or soba
                        -- noodles

Preparation:

In a blender or food processor, puree all the sauce ingredients until free of lumps. Cook the noodles until tender and drain immediately; toss with the sauce. Serve at room temperature, topped with crisp, mung bean sprouts, peanuts, and scallions Note: If you're not serving this soon after preparation, the noodles might clump together. Should this happen, stir in a little warm water and soy sauce just before serving. Chinese sesame paste adds a rich, nutty flavor and smoothness to the sauce. It's made from roasted, ground sesame seeds and is quite different in taste from Middle Eastern tahini. Use unsweetened, smooth peanut butter if sesame paste is unavailable. Once opened, jars of sesame paste can be refrigerated indefinitely. To use, pour off and reserve the oil at the top of the jar. Spoon out the desired amount of paste, and then return the reserved oil to the jar. The oil will keep the paste from drying out. Serve sesame noodles as an appetizer, side dish, or warm weather luncheo