Grilled 5-spice chicken: Marinate the chicken with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, 5-spice powder, turmeric, sugar, and oil. Just before grilling add toasted and ground star anise. I got a little over-enthusiastic with the grill, but I shall blame the 25-50 mph winds. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 
Vietnamese fried rice: This was interesting - no egg. Stir-fried onion and garlic, add the sauce (fish sauce, sugar, and Sriracha), and then the rice. I subbed Sriracha for the ketchup that the recipe called for. No regrets.
Soy-lemon dipping sauce, with bird chiles, garlic, and sugar, pounded in a mortar and diluted to taste. Recipe called for lime but lemons seemed most in need of using, so . . .
Mrs. C steamed broccoli with garlic, which was tasty.
