Truffle Mutt: Lost Photos

Ah yes.

It's miscellaneous picture time. Rummaging through old photo files on my computer I see lot's of "almost posts" hanging out.

I made these shrimp rolls last winter and they were my first attempt at using rice paper.

Let me relate to you a little something about rice paper. It is a lesson in patience. No, it's much more than that. It is the supreme teacher of self control.

Rice paper is deceptive. Observing it in the package and while softening it appears quite tame. But don't be fooled - it can beat you. Once the sheets have been softened in water with a splash of vinegar you have to apply a gentle force to each sheet, carefully persuading it to leave the others behind. Then once it's out of the water and starts to dry it will turn almost instantly onto a combination of slimy, sticky, strong and fragile. At this point the sheets do not respond well to being roughly handled, thrown onto work surfaces or being yelled at. Well, yelling at it is probably okay. Unless, of course, your house guests have already arrived, and then have to tone that down too. Judging from the picture above I made this batch near the end of my training session - sometime after a package of 50 wrappers ended up in the garbage.

I do love these rolls, but I'll be honest, patience is not my thing. I'll be buying these from now on - as long as there's no line up.