DINNER: Tuesday, March 11, 2003

Tonight, we ate a traditional Chinese rice dish brought to us by our neighbor, whose mother makes these at home. We don't know what they're called — can anyone help?

It's sticky white rice with meat, fish, nuts, dried shrimp, and other items mixed in. An amount of the rice mixture approximately equal in size to a burrito is pressed together then folded into large green leaves, then tied with string.

To heat these packets, they're dropped in boiling water for several minutes (though our neighbor confessed that they will heat them in the microwave), then the leaves are removed. They are excellent with soy sauce, and are very filling.