Healthy Spring Rolls

Can I just tell you that I am in love with fresh healthy food- the color, the smell, the texture...pretty much everything. While I cook a lot, lately I've been taking more time to savor the process of grocery shopping, hunting for fresh local ingredients, prepping and treating everything that I cook like one of my art projects - simple, lots of creativity and tons of color! My most favorite thing to make and eat are fresh Vietnamese inspired spring rolls- they are healthy, quick and easy to prepare!

I started by cutting up all of my favorite veggies and fruit- carrots, cabbage, cucumber, arugula, apples, cilantro, avocado.

Is it just me or do these bracelets that I am working on sort of resemble all those chopped veggies?! Sorry I digress- my creative ADD has kicked in!

Next I made a batch of rice- if you want to be REALLY healthy- go for brown rice.

I grilled some tofu with a little oil and garlic.

After all of my ingredients were prepped, it was time to fill the wrappers!

The key to the healthy spring rolls are wrappers that don't have to be fried- they are made from rice flour and can be found at asian markets or even some grocery stores.

The wrappers are crispy in the package but become pliable once soaked in water.

Soak wrapper for about 10-30 seconds or until they are pliable but not mushy.

Add veggies to the middle of the wrapper,

fold the ends up,

and then roll up (like a burrito).

Cut in half- I was in such a hurry to eat these that my knife skills were sloppy.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce- mine is peanut sauce :)

Enjoy!

Spicy Peanut Sauce

2 tablespoons smooth natural peanut butter

2 tablespoons 'lite' coconut milk

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 teaspoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste

Whisk peanut butter, coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce, brown sugar and red pepper until smooth.