Thai-Inspired Peanut Sauce and Vietnamese Spring Rolls

When we visited Austin, Texas a few weeks ago, J's brother and his fiance took us to a Vietnamese sandwich shop called Bite Mi.  I had never really heard of sandwiches with all the delicious Vietnamese flavors like that of the signature pho, but I tell you what!  These sandwiches were awesome.  They also had these crazy canned beverages like Chrysanthemum tea or Jasmine Green tea which were both delicious.  To top it all off (and my favorite part of the experience), their side item to the sandwich was a spring roll.  Not the fried kind--The cold, basil, mint, noodle,...

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salsa to change it up

My MIL had this when we visited a few weeks back.  I didn't write anything down, but I did remember a half bottle of "robusto italian" dressing.  It must be Robusto.  It makes a big batch, but it doesn't even matter if it sits in your refrig all week, because the flavors just keep getting better and better.  I bought a red-yellow-orange package of the bell peppers, so I used all 3 of them.  I  freaking love bell peppers.  But if you don't like left-overs or you're afraid the other halves of your peppers will go bad, just choose 2...

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Meatless Meatballs? Really!?

I just discovered the most wonderful meatless invention ever: meatless meatballs.  Veggie Patch frozen meatballs...with no meat!

They are GOOD and filling.  I think they would even be good in an appetizer...you know the ones that Southern folks serve at parties in their crock pots?   The ones you eat with toothpicks and chase around your plate with a slightly sweet sauce on them?  I have no idea what those are called, but I would bet these would be good in that, too. Mix 'em with some marinara and noodles, and oh my!  I had wanted to make this another...

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