Summer Spring Rolls In Rice Paper

Some call them summer rolls and some spring rolls but whatever your preference they are wonderful rice paper rolls filled with greens, protein, and veggies of your choice and there is no need for cooking them. They are usually dipped in peanut sauce which makes them taste extraordinary.

Another Family Emergency

I haven't posted in over a week because we had another family emergency- My husband's 96 year old mother (Nona) died. Although she lived a long life, it was non-the less still a terrible loss especially following the death of my brother- in -law, Lou, just a month ago. 

The weather when we returned to New Jersey was erratic- warmer the first two days in the upper 50's and then down to upper twenties and low thirties the other days. 

Last week we received a text from my husband's sister saying that Hospice was giving my mother- in-law 24-48 hours. We hopped a plane and arrived to New Jersey before my mother-in -law died. We were able to spend almost the entire day with her on Sunday. She died first thing Monday morning. 

In accordance with Jewish tradition, after the funeral we spent a week sitting Shiva- receiving visits from family and friends and had a nightly prayer service.

I didn't do any real cooking while we were sitting Shiva, other than making a pot of sweet and sour cabbage soup. since our neighbors, friends, and family sent in food platters for the mourners which is a Jewish custom.

This is one of my favorite soup recipes

When I made the pot of vegan cabbage soup, I followed the recipe as posted, except that I did not have any raisins or dates that are called for to add sweetness, so I substituted a whole chopped unpeeled apple instead and truthfully it was just as good as the original recipe and easier.

On another day, I did make my vegan spring roll recipe for myself. I often vary the ingredients that I use to fill them based on what I have available in the house. I have gotten much better at rolling them- I guess practice makes perfect.

I am back in Florida and hope to start cooking and posting recipes again this week. 

Notes: 

1. All of my recipes are naturally gluten-free

Vegan Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

I'm on a roll experimenting with foods that I previously only ordered in restaurants. It's been almost 6 months since I've eaten in a restaurant or ordered out, so I'm now attempting to make my own restaurant favorites.

Last week I made these awesome vegan Vietnamese spring rolls with a delicious peanut sauce. They were actually fun to make using the thin little spring roll wrappers that they sell in all the supermarkets in the Asian section.