Summer Rolls

When the temperatures soar, we always go looking for cooler foods at home, especially ones that we can eat outside on our shaded front porch. Summer rolls fit that bill nicely. With almost no effort and with about anything in the refrigerator/garden, you can have a cool delicious dinner. Thank you Vietnam!

Ready for Summer Rolls

Step 1: Soak the Rice Paper

Step 2: Build the Roll

Step 3: Dip Away

I usually make nước chấm, a fish sauce based dipping sauce, for our summer rolls, but alas, out here in farm country fish sauce is hard to come by and I was almost out. Instead, we made do with a sauce of peanut butter, lime juice, fish sauce, sriracha, and garlic.

It was a blast for us, eating our first outdoor meal of the year out on the porch, rolling the little packages like burritos and stuffing our faces. There is something that we really enjoy about eating with our hands: it seems so much more intimate in a way.

But I found out in the restaurant business that Ann and I are in the minority. While Americans will make exceptions for hot dogs and corn on the cob, many, the majority I would wager, have an issue with eating food with their hands. I remember seeing customers in the dining room of the restaurant struggling to eat mussels, summer rolls, pork belly tacos, and flat breads with a knife and fork.

At least for our tasting menus, I would have the servers discreetly let customers know that it was OK and even preferable to eat a particular course with their fingers. Still, a significant percentage of customers couldn't forgo the knife and fork. We Americans have a built-in bias: eating without utensils is somehow improper and low class.

I wonder what they would make of our late night dinners at Shiv's restaurant where there were no utensils on the table, only a basket of naan, straight out of the tandoor. Or a foray to an Ethiopian restaurant where injera stands in for the naan.

If sight, smell, taste, and sound (think of the hiss of sizzling beef on a black iron skillet) are all part and parcel of the dining experience, why make an exception for touch?

Easter Sunday: Grilling Pork and Baking Orzo

Every year I forget how loud Easter sunrise services are behind our house at the Baptist church. Again this year, seemingly just after I had fallen asleep, the crowd under the shelter behind the church was making plenty of racket and had the dogs riled, dogs that would normally stay quiet for another hour. But that racket was nothing compared to when the preacher started railing at 7am. I can't imagine sitting through someone screaming at me like that, but I guess that's the show that these folks want. In any case, I was up far before I wanted to be and decided to put the day to good use.

After some pretty nice spring weather last week, Sunday dawned late, a bit grey and chilly, gusty with lots of intermittent clouds, but no rain. Because I was up early, I was able to get a bit of pergola painting done, go for a long walk with Ann in the afternoon, and come dinner time, grill our pork chops outside. Easter dinner was an impromptu affair this year: I kicked in some leftover pork chops from the restaurant and Ann made a delicious orzo casserole. Unlike other years, we had no company for Easter.

Cool and Overcast Does not Stop the Grill

With Easter being so early this year, our spring flowers are not as advanced as most years. I took a wander about the yard to see what I could see. Aside from daffodils and anemones, nothing doing unlike in years past when lots of things have been in bloom.

Tulips Making Their Annual Appearance

Anise Hyssop Just Starting 

Robin's Nest from the Pergola I was Painting

Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

While I was out painting, Ann thought she would surprise Carter with some banana cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. We went for a walk after the cupcakes came out of the oven and while they were cooling enough to frost. Naturally, Carter, being the teenager he is, took exception to the frosting and was kind of a douche about it. He even called us while we were walking to request/demand that Ann not frost the cupcakes. Typical grateful teenager. I tried a small bite of a cupcake; it was delicious, but I don't really eat sweets. Ann's an awesome mom to do these things for a teenager who thinks she's the stupidest person on the planet. The good news is that he will grow up one of these days. Probably about the time his kids are rolling their eyes at him!

The Orzo Queen

Orzo with Tomatoes, Olives, Artichoke Hearts, and Fresh Mozzarella

Ann made a big casserole of tomatoes, olives, artichoke hearts, and fresh mozzarella to go with the pork chops. It was delicious as is everything that she makes. I know she hates the photo above of her making the orzo but I love her smile! Thanks for the orzo girlfriend! It was great and so are you!