Guidelines for Using the Recipes in This Book

You can trust these recipes... they work. I have tested them numerous times. If followed, they will provide you with authentic flavors of Southeast Asia. That said, ingredients vary, and their overall flavor attributes such as color, taste, and texture are not standardized (thank goodness). In addition, each kitchen is different and variables such as the heat output on each stove differs. The cookware we have is shaped differently and made of different materials, so the cooking that results is not consistent, even if you follow every step. That’s okay; just use your common sense and the food will come out tasting delicious as you adjust your cooking techniques and seasonings to your liking.