What do you it’s going to be like tonight? It’s going to be hot and wet. That’s nice if you’re with a lady, but it ain’t no good if you’re in the jungle!” from the movie, Good Morning Vietnam

Day after day the temperature keeps climbing into the mid-90s, and the forecast isn’t changing anytime soon. In this kind of weather, my interest in standing over a hot stove or grill cools down in direct proportion to the heat index’s rise. I want to make things that are as easy, light, and cool to prepare as they are to eat.

Southeast Asian cooks are expert at developing recipes that cope with their intensely hot and humid weather. Here are two favorites.

Summer rolls are commonplace in American Thai and Vietnamese restaurants; unfortunately most are sadly bland, relying on their dipping sauce for taste. There are myriad versions and combinations that burst with flavor; this is just one.

Don’t be afraid to “roll your own.”

Probably your first tries won’t be perfect (mine never are), but you’ll soon get the hang of it – and those mangled attempts taste just as good. Children are usually entranced by the process, and love to participate (see above about less-than-perfect rolls).

I’ve made lots, but my husband, Peter, is the real expert: he estimates he’s made hundreds – or even thousands – while camping at music festivals. It’s been a great way to feed friends he’s traveling with, and friends he meets. His two main tips are to not overfill them (they’ll never make a neat cylinder), and that it’s OK to take the wrapper out of the water while it’s still a little stiff – it’ll soften up as it sits.

Contact Julianne Glatz at [email protected].