Fresh Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

• 1 package spring roll rice wrappers (12 large 22 cm circular sheets)
• 1 package vermicelli rice noodles (3 oz)
• 18 medium shell on shrimp (3/4 lb)
• 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned
• 1 - 1 ½ Persian cucumber, peeled and julienned
• 1 large red bell pepper, julienned
• 1 - 1 ½ cup loosely packed mint leaves
• 12 pieces of butter lettuce, stems removed
• Room temperature water for rolling spring rolls 

Peanut sauce

• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• ¼ - ½ cup filtered water
• 2 Tbs rice vinegar
• 2 Tbs soy sauce
• 1 ½ - 2 Tbs maple syrup (Can sub with brown sugar)
• 1 tsp toasted sesame oil 

1. Prep the peanut sauce: Start with ¼ cup of water, add all ingredients, and mix together. If the sauce is thick, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired thickness is reached.
2. Cook the shrimp: fill a medium saucepan or small pot with water and turn on high heat until boiled. Once water boils, add shrimp and cook for 2 minutes. Remove shrimp from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes before peeling the shells. Lay the shrimp on its side on a cutting board, gently press the shrimp down with one hand, and use the other to slice the shrimp in half horizontally until all the shrimp are sliced in half.
3. Cook the noodles: Fill a large saucepan or small pot with water and place it on high heat until boiled. Turn off the heat and add noodles, and let sit for 5-8 minutes. Double-check instructions on packaging. Once noodles have softened, drain and rinse the noodles under cold water. Optional: cut noodles into shorter slices with kitchen scissors
4. Roll the spring rolls: Fill a large bowl with room temperature water. Dip the rice paper into the water and let it soak for 5 seconds, and lay it onto your plate. Layer 1 lettuce, 1-2 pieces of cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, and mint leaves along the center of the rice paper. Then add 3 shrimp, about 1 ½- 2 inches below the top edge of the rice paper. Fold sides of rice paper over the ingredients and pull the bottom side up and over the ingredients, rolling it up like a burrito. Serve spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce.