Asian Market shopping and cooking. . . . . . . .

On a hunt for foods to serve on these very hot days, I remembered I needed

 rice paper wrappers to make Asian summer rolls. I use veggies (lettuce, carrots,
 radishes, cucumbers, fresh mint and basil leaves) and shrimp.

 A peanut dipping sauce is really good served alongside.

Our favorite fresh rolls are always part of the meal at our local Thai restaurant.
 Instruction on how to make them at home was given to me by my
 Vietnamese manicurist as these rolls are actually a Vietnamese delicacy.
  Always delicious. . . . . . light, cool and nutritious on a hot day.

Last night's supper - Summer rolls with shrimp, peanut sauce and chili-lime almonds.

A stop at the Asian Market this week. . . . . . 

. . . . . . . a place of wonder, plus colorful photo opportunities!

The owner is Thai and very helpful when people like me keep
 picking up, pointing, or asking, "what's this, what do you do with that, 
how do I cook this" etc?

I asked if I could take photos with my iPhone as I didn't have a camera
 with me - he smiled and said, "go ahead take many."

Rows of shelves were groaning under the weight of thousands of items.

I had no idea as to what most were let alone how to cook them

into tasty and fragrant Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese etc. dishes.

Freezers were stuffed with plastic bags hiding shapes I didn't even wish

 to know about. . . . . but the fresh produce was interesting.

My favorites were the fruits and vegetables not usually found in

the regular grocery chains.

These are dragon fruit, a type of cactus - talk about colorful!

Since coming home and reading about them I think I'll go back soon 

and buy a couple. They are great to add to a fruit salad, nutritious,

 low calorie, and so pretty when cut open.  Their flavor resembles a cross

 between a kiwifruit and a pear. Have you ever tried one?