…Well spring is almost here. Who knows, we might get another “snow day” before it actually gets warm, but it’s things like having brunch out on a patio, sharing a coffee in the park in the middle of the day, and an evening of making spring rolls that make it feeeeeel like spring has sprung! Oh and blogging on the roof :D

Spring is also a time for new adult goals…at least that’s what we decided after the spring rolls. If you’re somewhere around 25, hopefully you’ve already gotten here, but these are the sorts of things that I think will make me feel more adult:

-Making doctors appointments for myself!

Eye appointment – MADE. Dentist appointment – WENT. Hadn’t been in, oh, I don’t know, two years…but the dentist did say I had the cleanest teeth he’d seen all week, and was so impressed that I hadn’t been in that long and my teeth look so good! I mean it’s his opinion that counts the most :D :D :D

-Washing my sheets more often

Straight up honesty here…it’s just one of those things that’s always such a pain to me, but I’m going to put my big girl pants on and make that a more regular thing.

(Elizabeth goes, “Oh, don’t even get me started on jeans…they don’t really get dirty.” :)

-Being more punctual

This is going to be a hard one. It’s so difficult to get my ass in gear sometimes. I’m a verrrrry low-stress person, and that goes right along with my easy-breezy, be there “soon” attitude. But I know it matters to a lot of people, so I’m gonna try. But let’s expect 15 minutes late instead of 30 at first people. Baby steps.

-Save mo’ money

SO adult! Actually going pretty well so far, and who knows how much I’ll get back from taxes (hopefully a lot considering the small nonprofit world in which I live. #knocksonwood) Oh crap…taxes. That’s an adult thing, right? Should probably make the list soon.

So back to the SPRING ROLLS! :) Elizabeth and I made these little beauties using the finely julienned veggies, butterflied shrimp, and (*shockingly*) sticky rice paper wrappers. But it was the dipping sauce that was truly the star of the show! Master chef Elizabeth recommends tasting as you go to make sure you have the proper balance of salty, sour, and sweet flavors (from fish sauce, lime and sugar, respectively).

Here’s what we did!

Sweet and Sour Spring Roll Sauce

Whisk together:

-4 Tbs. fish sauce
-juice of 2 limes
-1 to 2 Tbs. sugar dissolved in 1 Tbs. water
-a healthy pinch red pepper flakes (or 1 sliced fresh Thai chili)
-about 1 tsp. seasoned rice vinegar
-1/2 tsp. honey
-1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro

Spring Rolls

*This made about 10 spring rolls.

Julienne into 2 inch long pieces:

-3 carrots
-1 cucumber

Dry roast in a pan on medium heat:

-1/2 c. chopped cashews

Boil until pink, and then butterfly (slice in half through the middle):

-15 to 20 shrimp

Wash, and leave leaves whole:

-Thai basil (regular if you can’t find it) – 20 to 30 leaves depending on how much you like

Chop:

-1/2 c. fresh cilantro

Place in a bowl of boiling water:

-a healthy stack of dried thin rice noodles (maybe 2 c.)

To assemble, you’ll need:

-a large bowl or deep plate of very hot water
-15 rice wrapping papers

Dip one rice paper in the hot water for about 45 seconds, until it’s soft. Be careful when removing it so that it doesn’t stick to itself. Place the wrapper on a plate, and start piling all of your ingredients near the middle but on the first third of the wrapper (so that it’s easier to wrap it tightly). Shrimp, carrots and cucumber, cashews, cilantro, noodles, and the whole basil! Have fun with it :)  Then pull the short edge of the wrapper over the ingredients and tuck it under them, pulling back to tighten all of the ingredients…this was my main problem. Elizabeth was much better at it. Then flip the sides over and keep rolling till the end! Cut those beauties in half and dip till your heart’s content in the sweet, salty, sour sauce! Enjoy!!!

French phrase for fun:

Impôts? Quels sont les impôts?
Taxes? What are taxes?