Let's Roll
Last weekend I was able to spend the evening with my family to celebrate my birthday. My daughter had invited, my son, daughter-in-law, me, and her boyfriend to the city for dinner. She wasn’t going to be making and serving the meal, she revealed it would be an interactive experience. We’d be creating our own sushi rolls. Excellent!
I’ve only recently considered myself a sushi fan. I was never able to get past the green layer of seaweed (a.k.a. nori). The problem was I tried to eat the piece of sushi in more than one bite and I could never get the nori to rip apart. It usually ended in a chewy sea-weedy mess. I finally understood I needed to put the whole damn thing in my mouth.
After having delicious sashimi in Maui, I was ready to give sushi another try and went to dinner with a friend and loved it. I was kinda hooked. So, when my daughter suggested sushi for my birthday dinner I was excited, albeit a little leery of using raw fish at home.
Hannah had chopped, peeled, sliced, julienned, and mixed everything we needed to build the sushi rolls. Ingredients included: sushi grade ahi tuna, sushi grade salmon, smoked salmon, crab, cucumber, cream cheese, avocado, mango, sushi rice, nori sheets, soy sauce, and spicy mayo. We each had our own bamboo mat for rolling and rice paddle for spreading. She gave us a quick lesson and told us to be as creative as we wanted.
To make: spread a thin layer of the sticky rice on a sheet of nori, making sure to lay it on the bamboo mat (shiny side down) with the lines going vertically. Leave one end without rice, add your favorite ingredients in a line horizontally. Use the mat to squeeze gently and shape the roll as you go. Slice the roll using a sharp knife, wiping it to keep from becoming sticky…..and VOILA!
We had a fun evening outdoors celebrating with Japanese mule cocktails, ladder golf, laughing, making and eating sushi, opening presents, and sitting by the fire. When I thought the night was ending Hannah reminded us she still had ramen to make……OH MY GOSH. She made the most delicious ramen which included yummy pork shoulder Crystal and Andrew brought. By the time we were done, we couldn’t eat another morsel…..or maybe just a spoonful or two of coconut gelato. Next time Hannah says let’s roll, I’ll grab the bamboo mat and paddle. Spending time with friends and family is definitely my love language.
xoxox…..Sheryl
PS….Everything was so fresh, very tasty and a little spicy!
