Homemade Pad Thai

Everyone loves pad thai right? Well, I do at least.

So I decided to make it at home.

Although in the US (and in Ansterdam) the pad thai is often scarily orange in color, it still usually tastes yummy. But that is not normal. My pad thai was tasty and tan in color.

I followed recipes I found on youtube. Basic ingredients are rice noodles, tamarind, fish sauce, sugar, peanuts, shrimp, egg and veggies. I didn't find dried shrimps so I used the tiny Hollandse garnalen.

Yummo!

I got some of the ingredients at Tjin's Toko. I love that place.

Next I'm going to attempt Pad See Ew. I wish I could find that chinese broccoli, but I haven't seen it at any of the street markets.

Vietnamese Summer Rolls

Have you ever made Vietnamese style summer rolls before? I never had because I figured my clumsiness would mean a big disaster rather than the pretty rolls you get in a restaurant. Eén grote rommel!

But then I got this crazy idea to try and it turns out to be oh so easy. And yummy!

The only special ingredient you really need are rice paper wrappers, I got mine at Toko Dun Yong. You can also use rice vermicelli noodle inside the rolls but I chose to go with a veggie packed powerhouse instead.

First, I prepped some veggies. I went a little overboard.

Then I wet the rice paper as I saw on a YouTube video. Easy, just fill a shallow bowl or plate with cool or warm water, get the whole thing wet, then start rolling on a clean plate. Stuff with your veggies of choice, and add tofu or meats if you like. I used lettuce, nappa cabbage, carrot, zucchini, cooked mushrooms, shredded broccoli, cilantro and mint. I added in some cooked shrimps cut in half.

Healthy, fresh and easy! Looks pretty too. I'm sure I'll make them a lot for summer picnics! If the weather would just warm up...

Cake

Lest you think we subsist only on hummus and weird smoothies, check out these cakes we have had the pleasure of sharing with friends in the last few weeks.

When Amsterdam gives you cake, they give you a big piece! (I accidentally typed pig piece...)

De Drie Graefjes Red Velvet Cake - the cream cheese frosting is awesome!

Cake Loves Coffee Chocolate Cake - the biggest piece of cake in Amsterdam!

Buffet van Odette Sticky Toffee Cake - the most delicious sugar bomb ever!

We're working on an article about cakes and cupcakes in Amsterdam. Do you have a favorite?

Fruit and Veg Smoothie

Here's another funny smoothie for your viewing pleasure.

Spinach
1/2 Frozen Banana
Spoonful Avocado
Raspberries
1 Frozen Strawberry
Carrot
Juice of 1 Tangerine
Lettuce

Random, but it came out tasty!

I like to make them kind of thick like ice cream and eat them out of a bowl. Sometimes topped with homemade granola.

Hummus Lettuce Wraps

I just can't seem to stop writing about hummus on here!

Check this out! Look how much a chickpea increases in size by just soaking overnight! You double your money right there just by adding water. Holla!

Here's a lunch we made using some of our homemade hummus. Lettuce hummus wraps with tomato and sliced jalapeno. Yummers!