Summertime Rolls

Peeeeeeeeeeople! I'm so pleased that you liked my bag, man! You rule. Thank you! I plan to carry it everywhere I go from now on. Even to the backyard. To the kitchen. Let alone around town. Everywhere. And how cool that so many of you would be interested in a pattern/kit. That's all I need to hear to set my little brain a-whirring . . . think . . . plan . . . think. So — okay, my loves, I will do it! Thank you for all your generous comments this week — sincerely. I really appreciate these kindnesses. Thank you.

Above are Tyler's Summer Rolls with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce. They got great reviews, but I can't say I loved them, sadly. It might have been the sauce — it was extremely vinegary, and apparently I forgot that I don't like vinegar, even rice-wine vinegar. I think I would like peanut sauce better, with these. If you have a summer roll recipe you like, let me know. I am determined to find one to love. I LOVE these at restaurants. Well, when they're good, I mean. Sometimes they just taste like bulbous rice noodles in a rubbery rice wrapper. But sometimes they are exquisite. I like mine with shrimp and tofu. I added shrimp to these. Anyway.

It's been such a nice week. Andy and I had lunch together on Wednesday. I asked him if he had read the post about the Over the Moon book. He said yeah. I said, "Do you know what I mean? Did you have a book like that?"

He: "Yeah . . . um . . . The Cave of Time."
Me: [Falling off bench laughing.]
He: [Eating salt-and-pepper squid, ignoring me.]
Me: "Oh, you were serious! I'm sorry!"
He: "It's a really good book" [munch munch].

Earlier, he had been searching for the Chicago Bears bike helmet he wanted to order in size large, which was apparently difficult to find. The Seattle Seahawks one was available in large, and the Cleveland Browns one, which was cool-looking but to which he had no particular loyalty. On the way home from lunch, we discussed this. I thought, adamantly, that it should be Bears or nobody (sorry Seattle). He, agitated, said, "Well, what kind of bike helmet are you going to get?"

Me: "Black velvet horseback-riding hat."
Me: [Falling out of the car laughing.]
Me: [Picturing myself getting weird looks from people on the bike trail while wearing this.]
Me: [Suddenly failing to see what is so funny, really.]
Me: [Wondering again why bike helmets have to be so hideously unattractive.]
He: "Well, fine. I'll just wear a regular Chicago Bears football helmet then."

So, this weekend when you see two total freaks on the bike trail wearing a hunt cap and a football helmet, give us wide berth 'cause we're nuts. Just sayin.

Update: Andy, having just clicked on the link above: "Why are you wearing your dad's glasses?" Me: [No response.] He: "Why are you wearing Phil Donahue's glasses?"

Comments

[Leanne]

i swear. if i lived even within an hour from you...i'd perch myself down the street and wait to stalk...well of course not in a creepy way...just in a friendly way...'cause you two are so cute and funny and it would just be such a treat to hang with you. or be at the table next to you...within an ears shot.

thanks for the giggle.
xo

[alice]

That is so funny! You have me laughing here.

I know it is not a summer roll but I recommend Gyoza, the Japanese dumplings. Easy to make and delicious in the summer.

[Jodi]

Tee hee... I live in Chicago (Lakeview), and I must admit I've never seen a Bears bicycle helmet!

[Heather]

Andy is hilarious.

[Sam]

I have been wanting to go on a really great bike ride, since the weather is finally sunny and nice, but every time I think of it I remember that I'll have to wear a bike helmet. And every day I think, eh, maybe tomorrow....

[Stephanie]

I vote for the riding toque.

[Stephanie]

Though, I confess, I'm still on the fence on what's funnier; the Phil glasses or the riding pants tugged all the way up to the bust line.

[happy zombie]

Your summer rolls have me drooling. Me thinks going out for Thai tonight is just the ticket!

I get funny about vinegar too - and have an eezy-cheezy dipping sauce recipe I use when I make summer rolls. Ok, the ONE time I've made summer rolls. Great with lumpia and spring rolls as well.

1½ C. white wine
1 T. crushed red peppers
½ C. sugar

Bring to a boil, and let simmer for a least a ½ hour. Serve hot, warm or cold.

[pam]

OHMYHECK why didn't I think of the riding helmet. It would so go with my old fashioned pink bike.

As usual you're the genius.

[Amber]

Ha ha - I totally remember those books - I loved being able to pick the endings!
Those summer rolls look really yummy and I love them way more with peanut sauce.
I was laughing so hard at the end picturing the two of you riding bikes with your headgear!!

[Laura]

You're crafty and artsy? Why not start with a plain bicycle helment and artify it? It would be gorgeous and one-of-a-kind.

[nancy]

The riding picture is adorable! I had one of those black velvet hats too.

[Gina]

LOL...The two of you sound like a perfect couple. :)
And yes on the pattern for the purse. I have a few squares left over from a quilt I just finished and that purse would be perfect to use them up on.

[kelly]

Oh. My. God! I had no idea they made Cleveland Browns bike helmets! I must get one -- thank you so much for enlightening me. You rock!

Meanwhile, I have also wondered about a thousand times myself as to why bike helmets have to be so darned ugly. Blech!

[Amanda]

Ahhhahahahahahaha! That made me laugh so hard. I LOVE that photo of you! It's the best photo ever.

[JaimeM]

You should totally do it, that would be hilarious!

Totally laughing out loud and realizing how I seriously need to pee now....

[angie]

Phil Donahue.........so, so funny! You've made my afternoon. I will chuckle, picturing you riding about. I love your T. bag as well. I am very envious of your ability to just sit down and crank out such perfection. Anybody in Asheville want to teach me to sew? I'll design your garden in exchange!
Have a good weekend!

[Leisa]

What a fun pair you two are! A good giggle here - what a great way to start my day! Just love checking in on you Alicia!!

[sarah]

Alicia -

1.) HAHAHAH you crack me up.

2.) I'm so glad you like hunt helmets even more than I do. =)

3.) Try "In Nirmala's Kitchen" for a great spring roll recipe with a peanut dipping sauce. I think her sauce is a little heavy on the tamarind, and it is REALLY thick, kind of a dipping *paste*, really. So you might take a little tamarind out and add some extra peanut butter and a little extra coconut milk if you like it thinner, but all in all, it's pretty awesome just as is.

happy riding and noshing! (perhaps not simultaneously, however)

PS How is puppers? I feel like I haven't seen Clover in at least one dog year.

[ariana]

Whenever I try to make salad rolls I end up swearing at the rice noodle wrapper after it tears...yet again!

Anyway I felt compelled to comment because I know where you can get a bicycle helmet that looks like a riding helmet. Clever Cycles on Hawthorne carries them I think in a few different colors. They aren't covered in velvet but they are much more stylish than your average bike helmet!

[Barb]

When I saw the title "Summertime Rolls", I thought you were going to write about Jane's Addiction...which would have been pretty out of character. :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL2XWp47QE0

[Amy Caroline]

May I just say that your summerolls look so much yummier than the picture on the recipe page!! My husband thought yours looked tasty and the Food Network picutre looked like they were covered in fish skin, lol.

[stephanie s]

you two are nothing if not a perfect match....

[kyrie]

I have a helmet from CleverCycles in PDX that is pretty cute, actually. It has sunflowers on it! Seriously, they have a great selection.

[Jenn]

I fell in love with these while I was in Vietnam to adopt our girls. They are deffinately better with a peanut dipping sauce, the vinager-type sauces just don't cut it. I like them, but with these I want the peanut sauce.

Going to have to go make some now!