Banh Bot Khoai Mon Chien Xao Cai Xoan (Vietnamese Fried Taro Rice Cake Stir-Fried with Kale).

Sinh to thanh long (Vietnamese dragon fruit shake).

A bumper crop of dragon fruit.

Brazilian papaya creme. Three ingredients and so simple that it shouldn’t even be called a recipe.

Xa Lach Thit Bo Rau Muong (Vietnamese Steak and Water Spinach Salad)

One of my favorite kitchen tools. Do you know what to do with it?

Penang Asam Laksa (Malaysian Penang-Style Tamarind and Fish Soup).

Chao Oc (Vietnamese Rice Porridge with Clams).

Geoduck clams, prepared Japanese dynamite-style.

Vietnamese seaweed soup.

It’s a Vietnamese folk remedy to make Canh Du Du (Vietnamese Papaya Soup) to encourage lactation in new mothers. It’s tasty too.

Moro blood oranges for shortbread bars.

Cha ram (Vietnamese shrimp egg rolls). Just two ingredients for the filling.

Cha ca Thang Long (Vietnamese turmeric fish with dill), the dish that got me started blogging.

My favorite Vietnamese sandwich shop, Banh Mi & Che CALI Bakery in Little Saigon. A bargain at 3 banh mi for $5.

Vietnamese young lotus root salad with pork and shrimp.

What to do with a colander full of squash blossoms? Vietnamese shrimp-stuffed fried squash blossoms.

Nem Nuong Xa (Vietnamese Lemongrass Grilled Pork Patties). The meat is stuffed inside lemongrass stalks.

Quick and easy: Chinese Tomato Egg Shrimp Stir-Fry.

Poker chips? Actually, they’re banh phong tom (Vietnamese shrimp chips).

Guamanian red rice made very red by the use of annatto seed powder.

Sinh to bo (Vietnamese avocado milkshake).