Feels so good to grill stuff and eat dinner outside! I honestly don't think it was possible to have better weather than we had here in Portland yesterday, ohmigoodness. It was incredible. I actually got a little sunburned. Inspired, we trotted around Zupan's for pre-speared kebabs and stuff, and I made some simple spring rolls. They were good! And there are several left for today, too, so that's not a bad thing. We topped it all off with pineapple-coconut Haagen-Dazs. Definitely my new favorite ice cream.
Salad Rolls
12 large rice paper wrappers
2 oz. rice vermicelli noodles
1 small head red-leafed lettuce, rinsed and dried
1 package firm tofu
18 shrimp, cooked, tails removed
1 bunch mint leaves, rinsed and dried
1 c. bean sprouts
1/2 c. chopped peanuts
Cook vermicelli noodles for about two minutes in boiling water. Drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside in strainer. Slice shrimp in half lengthwise. Slice tofu thinly (you will only use about half of the container). Slice lettuce leaves into thin strips.
Soak rice paper wrappers in hot water for a few minutes, then place on damp paper towel and fold in sides a bit. Place 3 shrimp halves, cut side up, across wrapper about an inch from bottom. Place thin slices of tofu on top of shrimp. Place mint leaves across tofu. Add a small handful of noodles. Top with lettuce and some bean sprouts. Sprinkle peanuts, if desired. Roll up tightly and refrigerate for about an hour before serving.
And here's a dipping sauce, too. We usually buy the peanut sauce, but if anyone has a good recipe for it, let me know. This one is sweet and hot, not peanutty:
Dipping Sauce
2 t. chopped garlic
2 t. chili sauce
1 minced chile pepper
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. fish sauce
2 T. lime juice
grated carrot for color
It's supposed to be 94 degrees here today. That seems impossible for May. Nevertheless, I'm feeling that sun come through the doorway, and I won't be surprised if it does get that hot today. Summer announces itself.
Also, have you ever heard of a bluejay getting so friendly that he hangs around the yard all the time? I can't tell if Maloy (as I've been calling him) is friend or foe. Every time I go out there this spring, he shows up -- on the fence, on the birdbath, on the roof, in the tree. He seems pleasant and interested until I have my eyes closed while drowsing on the hammock and then I would swear that I've just been purposely, intimidatingly buzzed -- I can practically feel his wings he gets so close, and I definitely feel the rush of air in his wake. I've seen him bop our little cat on the head before. We're regarding each other warily until I can be sure he'll let me nap without keeping one eye open, on him, wherever he is. Perhaps he's trying to keep me awake so I can finish Memoirs of a Geisha (I'm only halfway through -- the thing's over 400 pages!). Lovely book -- the feather-bedded hammock's just so dang plush I'm snoozing in seconds.
YUM! Your table looks lovely...I especially like the beautiful geranium in the middle.
I think I will try the spring rolls this weekend. Thank for the recipe.
oh my--sounds wonderful...I think everything tastes good when it's eaten outside, on a beautiful table, with good company.
about your bluejay--sounds like he might be a bit full of himself. maybe he thinks he owns the place and he's trying to figure out what you're doing, invading his space....
Blue Jays are very territorial and will drive other birds away from their feeding and nesting areas. If the cats (or you) are getting too close to the nest, they will definitely attack. We used to have a Jay in our yard that liked peanuts. All we had to do was walk outside and tap the nut against the pavement and he would swoop down and grab it right out of our fingers. They're beautiful birds but can get pretty noisy.
Glad you had such nice weather! Everything looks beautiful and I can't wait to try the lettuce rolls...Yum! Thanks!
It's that time of the year when the birds are building nests and dive-bombing anyone who comes close. I try to stay on one side of my backyard in hopes that they will leave me and Miss Beula alone. Last year it was quite bad, but so far, this year we have been free from bird attacks. Although, I am a bit more concerned about some dang alligator coming out of the lake now!
You read my mind--I was thinking how delicious those spring rolls looked on your beautiful table, when I saw that you were kind enough to share the recipe. Thank you! I love the idea of padding the hammock with the feather bed. pure genius. Enjoy!
Delicious!! Thanks for the good idea! Spring rolls whould be called hot rolls, 94 degrees is warm for this time of year?
Mmmmmm.... Coconut Ice Cream!!!!!!!!
My husband and I love coconut ice cream, especially the Ben and Jerry's one. After the kids go to bed we cuddle on the couch and dig into a big hand scooped pint!!!!!!!
Oh I can't wait to try your recipe. That is one of my favorite ice creams too. So perfect. Speaking of coconut, have you tried the ritter coconut chocolate candy bars? Unbelievable!
This looks and sounds amazingly good. I recognize that tablecloth/Anthropologie right? (I have the napkins). Eating outside is my absolute favorite thing to do, other than reading in bed.
But I have to ask, was this picture taken while your cleaning lady was inside cleaning? Sorry...I had to go there...you knew I would.
Everything looks just yummy! We did the same thing. Grilled pork loin and all fresh veggies from my garden. Grilled squash and zucchini as well as grilled onions. Totally delicious. I think the recipe you have for the peanut sauce is what is standard. I usually buy it too, I mean have you really since bottled fish sauce in the Asian Market (hmmm, I have seen one with the fish IN IT.. how yummy).
I am with the other girls.. be wary of the BlueJay. We have some that like to give the cats a like "nip" when they get too close. We have had unusually cool weather here in OK (68 yesterday), but it has been windy. I have had to remove two Robin's nests off of the ground with busted eggs. So sad... and those eggs are one of my favorite colors...
Yummy! A great cool dish for hot days.
Spicy Peanut Sauce,
from Mai Pham's Best of Vietnamese & Thai Cooking (owner of Lemongrass Restaurant, yum)
1 T vegetable oil
1 t red curry paste
1/2 t ground turmeric
1/2 c creamy peanut butter
1/2 c unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 c water
2 t fish sauce
1 t fresh lemon juice
sugar to taste
heat the oil in a nonstick saucepan over moderate heat. add curry paste and turmeric and stir often until mixture sizzles, about 1 minute. add peanut butter, coconut milk, water, fish sauce, lemon juice, and sugar and reduce the heat to low. stirring constantly with a whisk, cook for 3 minutes. when mixture begins to bubble, remove from heat, and continue to stir. if sauce is too thick, thin with water. taste and adjust seasonings to "an interesting balance of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors".
YUM. and she has a killer recipe for ginger lime dipping sauce as well, if you are interested! i LOVE this cookbook. the phad thai is fantastic, as are the singapore noodles.
Thanks so much for the spring roll recipe--I love those!
And, Yes! I have heard of bluejays getting very personal. Infact, years ago,we had a resident bluejay living in the tangerine tree outside our diningroom window--we even watched her make a nest and raise her babies from that window! Her name was Fern and she lived there before we moved in. She even ate peanuts out of our hand! It was a really lovely thing.
oh yum. now you really have us craving salad rolls. i'd walk to the market for ingredients if it wasn't so darned hot!
I don't know about bluejays but we have a cheeky pair of magpies who quite happily share the cats food!
Ack! I'm jealous of your lovely spring weather. It's all red noses, dry skin and grey, grey skies. But on the upside, at least I can make crumble after crumble and warm up the house at the same time!
yum. wish i could have been there.
that looks so lovely! my outdoor favorite is grilled pizza, when the garden tomatoes are in. oh, summertime dinner!
ooohhh!!! how wonderfully and yummy!
Well, I reckon we could rival you for perfect weather in Perth, Western Australia.
Sounds like a very lovely dinner.
Mia
Yum! that sure looks good! we're so lucky its usually sunny here in Sydney - lots of BBQs for us!
Im going to give that recipe a go - love ricepaper rolls!
oh, so yum! thanks for sharing that recipe.
Hey! your voice is streaming through my speakers as I type. So fun, and so sweet.
thanks so much for the recipe, it sounds and looks delicous!
Um....did you write "feather-bedded hammock"???
Oh. my. goodness. That must be the ultimate luxury. Well, maybe not as much of one as having a cleaning lady.