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Chicken, Dinner ideas, Quick and easy recipes, Skip the takeout

Vietnamese Salad Vermicelli

This Vietnamese Salad Vermicelli is made with rice noodles and is the Ultimate Summer Dish that is always served with fresh veggies that are then topped with a grilled meat of your choice and has an authentic fish sauce / dressing for serving.

Looking for more Thai dishes?  Try my Vietnamese Shrimp plating with Spring Rolls, Sweet Thai Chili Chicken, Thai Red Crab Curry, Thai Basil Mussels or Red Thai Chicken Curry.

Never made a Vietnamese salad before? No problem! This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process of creating a delicious, healthy salad in the comfort of your own kitchen. It also will show you how to make homemade Vietnamese Salad Dressing to go on top of this salad. 

WHAT IS VIETNAMESE NOODLE SALAD CALLED

(Bun Bo Xao) in Vietnamese. Vietnamese Salad Vermicelli is a refreshing and healthy dish to serve on a hot summer day.

This flavorful and versatile recipe is packed with fresh herbs and veggies, protein, and a tangy dressing that will satisfy your taste buds and keep you feeling refreshed.

Thai Vermicelli salad can also have the addition of grilled pork and shrimp as well. If you would like to create that, simple grill some shrimp or sliced pork and season with salt to serve. 

WHAT IS VIETNAMESE SALAD

Vietnamese Noodle Salad is served with warm or cool noodles, fresh cold vegetables and cooked meats of your liking. Typically grilled pork, shrimp or beef. The noodles are always Vermicelli rice noodles that come with a light Thai inspired sauce. 

It’s fresh, filling and just like they serve in Thai restaurants.

If you have been to this blog before you will know that I’m a fan of Thai food and eat it often.

I used to go out to enjoy this food at least every other week, but now make it more at home. Because it is easy to do and saves me a ton of cash at that too!

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Vietnamese Salad Vermicelli with Shrimp

HOW TO MAKE VERMICELLI SALAD

  • You will want to make two marinades, one for the chicken and one for the sauce that you will serve alongside these bowls.
  • Fresh lemongrass is very important here for the chicken marinade, it gives it that really intense lemon taste. So be sure to get your hands on a few stocks that you will simply chop and place into the marinade.
  • The longer you marinade the chicken the better. If your making it for dinner then simply marinate it in the morning or the night prior. Then basically the rest of the dish can be pulled together in less than 30 minutes. Easy peazy!

What makes these rice bowls so good is the fresh ingredients and the authentic Vietnamese Salad Dressing.

WHAT IS VIETNAMES SALAD DRESSING

It is a traditional dressing that is used on almost every type of Vietnamese salad dish and the recipe can be found below. It serves very well over cold salads, that are then topped with a marinated then grilled meat protein of your liking.

VIETNAMESE SALAD DRESSING

Also know as “Nuoc Mam” sauce which is a sweet, salty, sour and spicy dressing.

  1. 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  2. 1/2 cup cold water
  3. 1 lime (juiced)
  4. 2 tbsp rice vinegar or white vinegar
  5. 1/4 cup fish sauce
  6. 3 tbsp sugar
  7. 1 red chili (de-seeded and sliced, or substitute 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce or Sriracha)

This makes enough for roughly 2 people. 

Substitute for Nuoc Mam sauce?

Soya sauce mixed with some red hot chili pepper flakes

The first time I ordered this salad, I was not expecting much.

That was years ago, I remember the day to a tea. I was with my aunt and she took me to this whole in the wall restaurant that I was not expecting to become my favorite restaurant in town. 

Fast forward 10 years later, you will find me going to the same restaurant ordering the same dishes. 

So, whenever that Thai salad craving hits and I’m not heading out to a restaurant. 

I will simply make this dish in the comfort of my own home. 

Trust me it’s pretty darn easy too!

So follow along and soon you will be a master chef in making Vietnamese rice bowls at home just like me 🙂

WHAT IS IN A VERMICCILI SALAD

  • Carrots, cucumbers, fresh herbs such as cilantro, shredded iceberg lettuce and a meat protein of your liking.
  • Thai marinade and Vietnamese salad dressing

Feel free to add other veggies such as Beans sprouts, fresh herbs, jalapeno peppers. 

Now doesn’t that sound healthy and fresh? This is one of the best salads if you ask me.

IS VIETNAMESE SALAD HEALTHY

Yes, it is packed full of fresh vegetables and herbs along with a lean protein such as shrimp

Keep in mind though the soya sauce and fish sauce has a high sodium content so you may want to use a lighter soya sauce or less dressing on your salad.

If you like a bit more heat to your vermicelli rice bowls.

Then go ahead and serve along with some “hot chili sauce” or if you prefer a sweeter dish try a “sweet chili sauce”.

LIKE THAI FOOD AS MUCH AS ME? 

Then you will want to try my other Thai inspired recipes on this website!

Sweet Thai Chili Chicken

 Thai Red Crab Curry

Thai Basil Mussels

Red Thai Chicken Curry

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

If you make this recipe, I would love to hear about it! You can leave a 5 star review in the comments below! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Curries, Dinner ideas, Quick and easy recipes, Seafood, Skip the takeout

Thai Red Curry Shrimp Recipe

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Skip the takeout tonight with this Thai Red Curry Shrimp Recipe. This dish is super simple to make and is ready in less than 20 minutes.

I make this dish often, it’s one of our favorite Thai dishes.

WHAT DOES RED THAI CURRY TASTE LIKE

Red Thai Curry has hints of spice, tang and sweet flavors. It really is something special and this recipe has all the same tastes that you would find at your local Thai restaurants too!

WHAT’S IN RED THAI CURRY PASTE

  • Galangal – like ginger
  • Kaffir lime leaves – tastes similar to limes
  • Dried red chilies
  • Lemongrass
  • Garlic
  • Shallots
  • Cumin
  • Coriander seeds

HOW MUCH RED THAI CURRY PASTE TO USE

  • 2 tbsp per 400 grams of Coconut Milk

The ONLY brand I will use!!

WHERE TO BUY RED THAI CURRY PASTE

I buy mine from the REAL CANADIAN SUPERSTORE, it is by far the best curry paste out their. 

VEGETABLES THAT GO GREAT IN RED THAI CURRY

  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Red, Green, Yellow or Orange peppers
  • Swiss chard 
  • Asparagus
  • Mushrooms

PROTEINS THAT GO GREAT IN RED THAI CURRY

  • Shrimp
  • Chicken
  • Tofu

Now there are plenty different ways to make Red Thai curry.

That is because you can add just about any type of vegetable or meat protein to this recipe.

Such as: spinach, mushrooms, bean sprouts, broccoli etc.

And the main ingredients are always the same. Such as Coconut milk,  “Lemongrass”, “Galangal”, “Kaffir lime leaves” OR replace that will pre – made “Red Thai curry paste”. Which has everything you pretty much need already in it!

Now if you are not familiar with all those ingredients, don’t fret.

You can find them all at your local Asian grocer or right in the international aisle which will sell Red Thai Curry paste in packages and or jars (see picture) above for the “Red Thai Curry paste” we use.

HOW TO MAKE THAI RED CURRY SHRIMP

  • You will want to start with some freshly chopped vegetables.
  • Then pull out all your ingredients; such as cooking oil; coconut milk, red Thai curry paste, fish sauce, brown sugar, kaffir lime leaves and a lime.
  • Next, cook some white rice on the side to serve. 
  • Then pull our your wok and get to cooking, you will find the easy steps to this recipe in the card below!

And the nice thing about cooking Thai food is that once you learn to prepare.

You will then have all the necessary ingredients and know how to prepare it again.

Before you know it you will be a TOP CHEF in your kitchen, cooking Thai dishes like a Pro.

IS RED THAI CURRY SPICY

Yes, however when you cook it down in the coconut milk and other ingredients it becomes more of a balance of flavors. That become, sweet, spicy and sour. 

WHAT IS IN RED THAI CURRY

  • Red Thai Curry consists of some kind of protein, some kind of vegetable, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and Coconut milk and Green Curry Paste.
  • Traditionally that paste is made in a mortar and is comprised of shallots, garlic, dried red chilies, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves among some other ingredients and spices. 

As you may know I love Thai food and make it a lot in our home.

Actually I make it every week, because I crave it that much.

With any of my Thai recipes, you will learn that you really only need a few ingredients in your fridge and pantry to make any of them easily.

Making homemade Thai curry at home is really easy once you have all the basic ingredients! 

IS RED THAI CURRY GLUTEN FREE

  • YES!

IS RED THAI CURRY KETO

  • Yes

IS RED THAI CURRY HEALTHY

  • YES, Thai Curry is very healthy for you!

If you love Thai food as much as me, then you will want to try my other Thai dishes! All are AMAZING and really are some of the best ways to make Thai at home in a fraction of the time. 

Notes: 

  • Keep in mind a good coconut milk, will be half solid not watery.
  • “Lemongrass”, “Galangal” and “Kaffir lime leaves” can be found in most Asian stores. “Thai Red Curry Paste” can be found in most Supermarkets, Thai Red Curry paste has all the above ingredients in it needed to make this dish.
  • Add in the lime last, you do not want to cook the lime because it will ruin the flavor.
  • Do not eat the “Lemongrass”, “Galangal” and “Kaffir lime leaves” there just for flavoring, if you’re going to use these instead of the Thai Red Curry paste, make sure to bruise each item before adding to the pot.
  • Want more heat, simply add in some Thai Bird’s eye chilies or Thai Chili Paste. Caution when preparing Bird’s Eye Chilies, these chilies are very hot and can burn the eyes.

I’m thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! Thank you and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Chicken, Dinner ideas, Quick and easy recipes, Skip the takeout

Easy Green Thai Curry

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This Easy Green Thai Curry can be pulled together in less than 30 minutes! 

WHAT DOES GREEN THAI CURRY TASTE LIKE

Green Thai Curry has hints of spice, tang and sweet flavors. It really is something special and this recipe has all the same tastes that you would find at your local Thai restaurants too!

You may have thought that making Thai curry at home would be complicated, but I am here to tell you it is not. 

However I have found a healthy paste product that contains all those foreign ingredients that is out of this world amazing.

It will not only taste the exact same way as making it all from scratch, it will save you all the hassle of learning to do that and time.

What am I talking about? My favorite GREEN THAI CURRY PASTE! You can see that below!

Green Thai Curry is just a bit milder than Red Thai Curry, however both taste similar. There are plenty different ways to make Thai curry and that is because you can add just about any type of vegetable or meat protein to your dishes.

WHAT IS IN GREEN THAI CURRY

  • Thai Green Curry consists of some kind of protein, some kind of vegetable, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and Coconut milk and Green Curry Paste.
  • Traditionally that paste is made in a mortar and is comprised of shallots, garlic, green chilies, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves among some other ingredients and spices. 

This one here is made with Chicken breasts, Asparagus and Swiss Chard.

As you may know I love Thai food and make it a lot in our home. Actually I make it every week, because I crave it that much. With any of my Thai recipes, you will learn that you really only need a few ingredients in your fridge and pantry to make any of them easily.

And that is because, I have been making homemade Thai recipes for years. And have learned all the tricks to making it quickly and healthily for just about anyone who loves it. 

Making homemade Thai curry at home is really easy once you have all the basic ingredients! 

Once you picked your vegetable and protein you will simply want a quality coconut milk product (the less liquidity) the better and a pre-made green Thai curry paste along with some fish stock, sugar and salt. 

WHAT’S IN GREEN THAI CURRY PASTE

  • Fresh Green Chilli 
  • Lemongrass
  • Garlic
  • Shallots
  • Galangal
  • Cumin
  • Coriander seeds

HOW MUCH GREEN THAI CURRY PASTE TO USE

  • 2 tbsp per 400 grams of Coconut Milk

The ONLY brand I will use!!

IS GREEN THAI CURRY GLUTEN FREE

  • YES!

IS GREEN THAI CURRY KETO

  • Yes

VEGETABLES THAT GO GREAT IN GREEN THAI CURRY

  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Red, Green, Yellow or Orange peppers
  • Swiss chard 
  • Asparagus
  • Mushrooms

PROTEINS THAT GO GREAT IN GREEN THAI CURRY

  • Shrimp
  • Chicken
  • Tofu

IS GREEN THAI CURRY HEALTHY

  • YES, Thai Curry is very healthy for you!

So what are you waiting for?

Skip the takeout tonight and make this quick and easy dish right in the comfort of your own home. 

Something to be savored!

Some people like to use one can of coconut for their Thai curries. I will do that at times too, however for this recipe I used two cans of light coconut milk which helps to make this dish go father and serves more people.

One can typically serves two people for dinner, two can’s can serve three. Being I adore Thai food, I will eat it all to myself if I can.

Another reason I like to use light coconut milk is because it’s healthier and being that I eat this dish almost every other week. It works well for me! 

However if your wanting a thicker sauce, you can use full fat coconut milk. Both work really good in this recipe and is something I do use at times. 

Before you know it you will be a TOP CHEF in your kitchen, cooking Thai dishes like a Pro. 

WHAT GOES WITH GREEN THAI CURRY 

  • Jasmine Rice
  • Vermicelli Rice

If you love Thai food as much as me, then you will want to try my other thai dishes! All are AMAZING and really are some of the best ways to make Thai at home in a fraction of the time. 

Note: Want more heat, simply add in more Thai Green Curry Paste.

I’m thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! Thank you and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Quick and easy recipes, Soups & Stews

Quick Chicken Pho Soup

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Warm up to a BIG Bowl of “Chicken Pho Soup” it’s super simple to make guys. And is great for kicking or preventing the common cold? give it a try!

This Chicken Pho Soup is allot like basic chicken noodle soup, in the sense that it has chicken broth and chicken along with noodles in it. However it has a Vietnamese twist that your sure to love.

Anyone can make Vietnamese food and this soup is no different. The difference between this soup and those that come from the street vendors in Vietnam is the stock. In Vietnam they make the stock from scratch which I am not going to lie is delicious, but time consuming.

Making any kind of Pho Soup from scratch can take hours.

My recipe will have this soup on the table for you in under 30 minutes, so I encourage you to use your favorite chicken stock for this recipe. The better the stock the better the soup of course.

I like to spice my soup up by adding chili paste! If you don’t like spice just omit the chili paste.
 

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear how it turned out! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Chicken, Quick and easy recipes, Soups & Stews

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

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This Thai Chicken Noodle Soup is allot like basic chicken noodle soup, in the sense that it has chicken broth and shredded chicken along with noodles in it. 

The main differences here are the addition of bean sprouts, spinach, lime juice, and chili paste that helps to spice it up! If you don’t like spice just omit the chili paste, simply enough.

Now there is a possibility that you were searching for a basic chicken noodle soup recipe and accidently stumbled upon this recipe.

And you may be thinking… “Thai Chicken Noodle” never heard of it? but that sounds good.

Well don’t let the name scare you, even if your not feeling so great this soup is sure to make you feel just as good as the traditional chicken noodle soups out there.

There are several ways to make a Thai chicken noodle soup, you can also make it with some red or green thai paste and coconut milk also if you’d like.

I have done that before and so you can find that recipe below! Otherwise if your looking for just a clear and more close to the original chicken broth soup you will want to follow this recipe.

I tend to make this soup more over the traditional chicken noodle these days. The elements of this soup are chicken broth, shredded chicken, rice noodles, green onions, bean sprouts, cilantro, chili paste and lime juice.

So if you like all those Thai flavors your sure to enjoy this soup. 

I can literally eat this for days, it’s that good! So if you like Thai food as much as me then you are sure to enjoy this soup. Don’t forget the lime juice it just works, trust me.

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear how it turned out! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

 

Chicken, Dinner ideas, Quick and easy recipes, Skip the takeout

Spicy Chicken Pad Thai Recipe

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What makes Chicken Pad Thai different than other popular Thai dishes is the crushed peanuts and tamarind along with a few more important spices. 

This dish can be pulled together in under 30 minutes so follow along.

This recipe is inspired by my partner’s favorite Thai dish = Pad Thai!

Pad Thai is also one of Thailand’s most famous stir frys and whenever we go to any new Thai restaurant, it’s the first thing my Man will order.

I can hear it now, what do you two want to order. PAD THAI!!

I like Pad Thai too, it’s just I find most restaurants make it way to sweet and I much prefer recipes with a little bit of heat.

So I decided to create the same dish but with the addition of a little more heat to make it more suitable to my taste.

If you prefer a more sweet Pad Thai simply omit the red chilies. 

And well my partner in crime… he is just super happy I now make it for him at home.

If you prefer the more sweet Pad Thai recipes, then you can simly up the sugar in this recipe by 2 tbsp.

Which will make a dish quite similar to those restaurant style pad thai dishes.

After all it’s your Pad Thai and I want you to make it how you like it.

So what gives mine the extra heat? It’s the chili powder and the “red chili paste”. Easy enough eh?

HOW TO MAKE PAD THAI

Make sure you are using Tamarind Concentrate vs the paste.

You will know the difference because the concentrate is sold in small containers vs the paste which is actually a pulp and has to be soaked in water and strained prior to using.

 

When in doubt, just read the tamarind directions prior to purchasing.

If you love Thai food as much as me, then you will want to try my other thai dishes! All are AMAZING and really are some of the best ways to make Thai at home in a fraction of the time. 

Note:  Feel free to use shrimp in replace of the chicken or just enjoy it as is.

I’m thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! Thank you and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

 

 

Curries, Dinner ideas, Quick and easy recipes

Vegan Thai Coconut Green Curry

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This Vegan Thai Coconut Green Curry is definitely on my list of all time favorite vegan meals. It’s super simple to make and is absolutely delicious. 

Now of course you can add some chicken or shrimp to this if you’d like.

But why would you? when you have this amount of flavors coming from an already AMAZING dish.

You can make it more like a soup, like I do or you can make it more of a dry dish. To make it more like a soup you will want to add in more liquid than just the coconut milk.

I stuck with vegetable stock to keep with the vegan theme. Also if you want to keep it purley vegan, be sure to omit the fish sauce, but keep in mind the taste will be slightly different from most Green Thai tastes. 

The amazing flavors in this dish come from the Green Thai Curry paste which has the traditional ingredient of “Lemongrass”, “Galangal” and “Kaffir lime leaves” in it.

You can add a few Thai bird’s eye chili slices into this also if your wanting additional heat.

However that is something I don’t always recommended because they are very hot and if not handled correctly can burn the hands and eyes.

So instead, I would recommend just a pinch of some Red Chili Paste instead. The Thai basil and cilantro is used at the end for a garnish and added flavor.

Even though we use the premade “Green Thai Curry paste” in this recipe, which has crushed Kaffir lime leaves, I also like to add a few kaffir leaves too.

Plus I always have them on hand in my freezer for when I am cooking anything Thai.

I find they really enhances the dish, however you do not have to add any kaffir lime leaves if you don’t have them. Because like I said before the s“Green thai curry paste” already has them crushed inside.

Oh and be sure not to forget to squeeze  some lime juice in at the end. It will adds that extra element of tang that is needed to create an authentic thai dish.

Once you get familiar with the basic ingredients of thai cooking, you will be shocked at how easy it is to prepare these Thai dishes at home.

Literally you can have almost any thai recipe on the table in under 30 minutes.

Our favorite “Green Thai Curry paste”.

One of our favorite Coconut Milks or look for an Organic Kind

Keep in mind a good coconut milk, will be half solid a half watery. One that is all watery does not work as well for this dish, typically organic varieties or Thai have the best products.

Notes: 

  • “Lemongrass”, “Galangal” and “Kaffir lime leaves” can be found in most Asian stores. “Thai Green Curry Paste” can be found in most Supermarkets, Thai Green Curry paste has all the above ingredients in it needed to make this dish.
  • Add in the lime last, you do not want to cook the lime because it will ruin the flavor.
  • If your wanting to use fresh “Lemongrass”, “Galangal” and “Kaffir lime leaves” do not eat them. There just for flavoring, if you’re going to use these for added flavor, make sure to bruise each item before adding to the pot.
  • Want more heat, simply add in some Thai Bird’s eye chilies or Thai Chili Paste. Caution when preparing Bird’s Eye Chilies, these chilies are very hot and can burn the eyes so proceed with caution.

If you love Thai food as much as me, then you will want to try my other thai dishes! All are AMAZING and really are some of the best ways to make Thai at home in a fraction of the time. 


I’m thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! You can post a review, picture below or via Instagram and by doing so you will be automatically entered into our seasonal CONTEST to win one of our great prizes. Winner will be notified via email within a week after the contest closes. Thank you and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox!

Dinner ideas, Quick and easy recipes, Skip the takeout

Beef Vermicelli

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These Beef Vermicelli noodles are super simple to make and are packed full of flavors from Thai food that you have come to expect and love.

Because everyone thinks i’m some kind of highly skilled Asian chef, when really im just following some basic steps to obtain this lovely dish. 

This recipe is very easy to prepare and has red and yellow peppers along with bok choy in it among some other very important ingredients. 

I used to order this often from my local Vietnamese restaurant, now I make it myself.

Today you can find many different types of ways to prepare this popular dish, this is my take on this delicious recipe.

I hope you give it a try and let me know what you and your family think. 

Some people like to make this dish with shrimp, chicken or pork. 

And others like it purely vegetarian, which is good also. So do what works best for you, after all it’s your meal. 

You will want to start marinating the beef first and while its marinating you can then soak the vermicelli noodles.

Also preparing the vegetables around this time is perfect too. Since the actually cooking part takes less than 15 minutes.

To me this vegetable mixture is perfect, peppers and bok choy works so well.

The only traditional ingredient I didn’t add here was thai basil which you can top this dish with at the end if you’d like.

You can always substitute Thai basil leaves for regular fresh basil leaves.

I didn’t have any on hand today so I used cilantro instead which works good too.

Also I like to use Garlic chili sauce, which gives it the right amount of heat vs cutting up fresh whole thai red chilies.

They are just to hot for me to handle, and I always end up with burning hands.

I like to add 2 tbsp of this Garlic chili sauce to my recipe, however for this one I used 1 tbsp in the ingredients section because I’m sure more people prefer a milder dish.

ENJOY!

I am so thrilled you are reading one of my recipes, if you made this recipe i’d love to hear about it! Thank you very much for reading and until next time see ya in the kitchen. Don’t want to miss a recipe? Sign up for our NEWSLETTER delivered right to your inbox every Month!

The best way to get ahold of me is through the comments! I absolutely love hearing from my readers, and I respond to each and every comment I receive.