Summer Rolls
I love the summertime. Filled with tropical fruits, that cool air of the air conditioner, and an eternity of long days just waiting to be explored. The summer is also the time of the greatest self-introspection. As work goes into a lull and brand collaborations shut down there is a sense of empty mind syndrome. This year has led to some adult decisions — What’s next in our lives. “Our” relates to both Natasha and me.
For the first time in my life, I am thinking of decisions with a partner in mind. It’s very unique and exciting! Some of the things that we are planning in parallel are trips, jobs, and the next steps in our relationships. So without sharing too much, here are some of the parallel conversations we are having: a trip to Turkey, studying more and doing a Master’s program in Canada, and applying for a permanent residency in Australia. There are more things to this of course but these are some that are taking up a lot of my bandwidth for now; to a point that I am constantly reading or watching content around these topics. From food, the YouTube algorithm now just suggests content around these topics to me. If you have read the last blog, I talked about the concept of complex decisions. There isn’t a right or a wrong because life just doesn’t work that way. These things that I am thinking about above, work the same way. There isn’t a right or a wrong. There is also no timeline to them other than the one we decide to put on them. This makes it a little more complex while also being a lot more fun to explore because we get to choose the best path for us.
This summer roll is a recipe that Natasha has perfected. I have always wanted to make them but Natasha and her mom are the ones who really taught me how to make them your own. It’s such a fascinating dish that no one can really dislike. It’s like a bout of freshness with every bite. A remembrance of the simpler time and transports you into a sunny day with beers, good music, and just no thought in the world. Those are rare memories in the larger scheme of life and somehow, these summer rolls can let you live that moment with every bite.
Glimpses from the week
Recipe
Ingredients
1 Packet of Rice paper [link]
1/2 lettuce
1/2 yellow pepper, julienned
1/2 red pepper, julienned
1/2 ripe mango, sliced
10-15 shrimp, poached
Handful fresh mint
Peanut dipping sauce
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
A handful of white sesame seeds
Chilli Mirin Dipping Sauce
1 teaspoon mirin
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon fermented chillies
Method
Start by slicing up the veggies and poach shrimp in water until pink and tender
Add some water (room temp) to a shallow plate and place your rice paper sheet until its malleable
Add your ingredients to the centre and fold the top and bottom of the vegetables and then roll tight.
The dipping sauces are easy. Just mix and dip!
