Ahhh… Sushi.
An old Japanese proverb says we will live 75 days longer if we are lucky enough to eat something we’ve never eaten before. So naturally I began to wonder how much longer I would live if I learned to MAKE something I’d never made before!? Hmm….
Shortly before our Indy grandgirls arrived for their annual visit I saw an unopened sushi making kit and cookbook at my favorite local thrift store. I looked at it for a moment but I put it back on the shelf when I decided I didn’t have time to master a new technique.
After the grandkids arrived, I was discussing the types of cooking the girls would like to do during their visit. Somehow sushi popped into the conversation. I told Lolo about the sushi making kit I had seen at the thrift store. We decided to head back to that store to see if it might possibly still be there. I assured her it was probably gone…but we decided it was worth the trip.
Imagine my surprise to see that box still sitting there! It was fate! We decided we were meant to learn how to make Sushi. And learning a new skill together in Meemaw’s kitchen was a priceless bonus.
We headed to the checkout counter and then out to the car where we cracked open that new cookbook. After a few minutes of study we headed off to the store to buy all the ingredients we needed to make our very first California Rolls.
The most important ingredient is the type of rice. Regular long grain rice won’t work. You need sushi rice because it gets very sticky after it’s cooked.
We headed home to get started on our Sushi. First the rice.
The cookbook recipe for that rice was quite complicated, so we took a chance and simply followed the directions on that bag of rice. That turned out to be a welcome shortcut. And the rice turned out perfect anyway!
I measured 1 1/2 cups of uncooked Sushi Rice into a sauce pan. (The bag directions even skipped the cookbook step of rinsing the rice, so I didn’t rinse it.) Then I added 2 cups of water. I brought the mixture to a soft boil. I reduced the heat to low and I covered and simmered the rice for about 15 minutes. I removed the pan from the heat and I removed the lid so I could place several layers of paper towels across the top of the pan. Then I replaced the lid on top of the paper towels. (THAT trick will help you make perfect rice every time…no matter what kind of rice you’re cooking!) I allowed the covered pan to sit for 5-10 minutes, Then I removed the lid and fluffed the rice. We allowed the uncovered rice to cool completely. While the rice cooled I prepared the fillings for our sushi rolls.
I split a cucumber in half and I scooped out the seeds with a teaspoon. (Thanks to Lolo I had both hands free to prep our ingredients while she snapped the photos!)
Next I sliced the unpeeled cucumber into long, thin strips.
Next I scooped out the flesh from a ripe avocado and I sliced it too.
We assembled all the ingredients and arranged them on the kitchen table.
Then I took a deep breath…and I jumped right into the assembly line! First that sticky rice.
I arranged a piece of plastic wrap on top of the sushi mat and I began to press the rice onto the plastic wrap.
I immediately understood why it was important to have a bowl of water nearby since I needed to keep my fingers wet to work with the rice.
Next came a sheet of nori. (That’s dried seaweed.)
Then I spread mayonnaise on the lower third of the nori sheet.
I realized I had not cut the crab sticks into sticks so I took a minute to do that next. (I never said I was perfect!) 🙂
Then I added a strip of cucumber and slices of avocado to the crab sticks.
Then I took another deep breath…and I began to roll! And guess what? It was really quite EASY!
I used my sharpest chef knife to cut the slices…and the first slice wasn’t picture perfect.
But I must admit I was pretty darn proud of the rest of them!
The last step was stand the sushi piece on it’s side and roll half of the edge in toasted sesame seeds.
We poured some soy sauce in a small dish for dipping and we grabbed some chopsticks to make it as authentic as we could.
And the verdict for our maiden voyage of sushi making?
I rest my case.
Next it was time for Em and Lolo to try their own hand at making a sushi roll.
They did an awesome job!
They called Little Sis to give it a taste test…and she approved 100%!
Yup. I think we all added days to our lives when we learned to make sushi. And we’re always on the lookout for dishes we can make together. Because those kitchen memories will last forever…unlike that plate of sushi. (THAT disappeared in record time!)
Dear Readers…I know I posted LOTS of photos in this blog post. PLEASE take a minute and make a comment to let me know if you would prefer less photos in my stories. I don’t want to bore you with too many details!
XOXO
Meemaw
Actually love the photos so we can almost be there too!
Thanks for your comment Patricia!
XOXO
Meemaw
Meemaw: Sushi lesson 101!!! I say, “Perfect” Those girls are tres adorable and No…..the pictures are NOT too much. Love seeing all of your adventures. And the learning experience is forever for the girls.. Keep it up. It even makes me want to try my hand at it sometime. The ingredients sure looked yummy. I look forward to all of your e-mails. Thanks for being so much fun.
Awww…Thank you SO MUCH Jackie! Your comment warmed my heart! 🙂 Sometimes I feel like I am writing in a vacuum, so it’s feedback like yours that makes me smile! I’ll keep writing and snapping photos…and you keep reading. Deal??
XOXO
Meemaw
I think pictures help tell a food story. It just seems to help relate.
Thanks so much Rod. Your comment is much appreciated!
XOXO
Meemaw
Loved all the pictures!
Thank you Anne! I always appreciate your comments and your feedback!
XOXO
Meemaw
Like all
The pics
Will you do sushi for tailgating???!!!
LOL! Thanks for your comment Jan! I’m not sure how sushi would “go over” at a tailgate, but I might consider it. Especially if we decided to tailgate in our own driveway! 🙂 (For those who don’t know…we live just a few blocks from Kinnick Stadium…home of the Iowa Hawkeyes.) 🙂
XOXO
Meemaw
The pictures are great, the more the better!
Aww…Thanks Jeff! I’ll keep snapping photos if you all keep reading my posts! Fair enough?? 🙂
XOXO
Meemaw
Oh no! You are fine with the amount of pictures you posted. Its wonderful all the great things you are enjoying with grandkids and how they had cousin get togethers. Building relationships and family time are important. I would like to learn to make sushi too. The amount of pictures was just right for the post. Its nice to see all you do, and it reminds me of some of my own childhood memories.
Oh Julie…what a kind comment! Thank you so much! It warms my heart to know that my posts bring back special childhood memories for YOU. 🙂 Family time is precious…and with each passing year it becomes even more so…
XOXO
Meemaw
Love the pictures!
Awww…Thanks so much Kev! I appreciate your comment!
XOXO
Meemaw
Meemaw, I love your sense of adventure. I used to live in Japan and cook other Japanese dishes (you should try tonkatsu – a shallow-fried breaded pork cutlet!) but have never tried sushi.
Did you give any thought to other ingredients? Asparagus is nice, so is scallion. My husband can’t eat avocado or cucumber, so I would have to get creative!
Thanks so much for your kind comments Elizabeth! And that Japanese breaded pork cutlet you described sounds exactly like what we call our breaded pork tenderloins here in the Heartland! (Food has a way of making us all one big worldwide foodie family!!!) 🙂 Asparagus and scallions sound wonderful. My friend Monica said she has also used shrimp and sweet potatoes in her sushi rolls, and cream cheese too! I’m sure the sky is the limit on the ingredients you could experiment with! I’ll let you all know what ingredients we try next time…and there WILL be a next time, god willing! 🙂
XOXO
Meemaw
great pictures!
of course i think that…
i am those girls grandpa
keep up the good work meemaw!
Hey Grandpa B! Thanks so much for your vote of confidence! 🙂 And be very glad to know you will probably be on the receiving end of some of the GrandCamp baking experiments in the future! These three girlies sure do know their way around the kitchen!
XOXO
Meemaw
I had never heard that Japanese proverb, but they DO have one of the longest life spans, so good idea! While I’m probably too old to even be your daughter, I would still love to have you be my adopted Meemaw so I can come over and get some of this delicious sushi!
Awww….Thank you Sage! And FYI…You’re ALWAYS welcome in MY kitchen…no matter how old you are…or aren’t! 🙂
XOXO
Meemaw