Do you want to hear the saddest little story (and see the most epic photo montage?)
Not once during the entire 4 months I was a camp counselor in Japan did a sumptuous piece of sushi ever cross my lips.
Sushi. In Japan. Where it was freaking invented.
I could smack my little 19 year old self in the face! What were you thinking? I’d like to ask her! How could you sit at all those conveyor belt restaurants and let the freshest sushi on the planet whiz right past you while you ordered…Miso Soup?!
(source)
How could you nearly barf after learning your roommate was savoring raw salmon from what you now recognize as the most delectable looking sashimi platter you have ever seen?
Luckily I came to my senses somewhere around 21, and enjoyed a healthy amount of briny, sweet, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sushi when my Mom and I returned for an unforgettable Mother/Daughter trip a few years later.
I’ve had a love affair going with all things raw and rolled ever sense.
I used to make sushi all the time a couple years ago, but fell out of the habit because, let’s be real, it’s kind of a pain in the butt.
Pressing out the rice for the inside of the rolls is super sticky, and I find myself not even hungry by the time I get a platter all ready to go, since I’ve eaten all the ends and mistakes along the way.
This weekend I randomly got a craving to give it another go, though.
Knowing I wouldn’t have the patience to spend time churning out rolls on a weeknight, I transformed my standard recipe for a California Roll into a California Roll WRAP!
I started by rinsing 1 cup sushi rice in water,
then cooked it according to package directions.
Into the hot rice, I drizzled 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar, 1 heaping Tablespoon sugar and a dash of salt that I had nuked in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Sushi rice is tre delicate so I mixed it up by making big “X’s” in the cooked grains with a wooden spoon.
Folding it every now and again to get it all mixed up.
I poured the hot rice on a platter to cool down, then got to work cutting up the rest of my California Roll Wrap ingredients:
Cucumber, imitation crab, avocado,
toasted sesame seeds,
and sliced nori.
I have found nori (the outside of a sushi roll) everywhere from Dahl’s to Super Walmart and specialty Asian Stores. I think it’s key to getting that classic, sushi flavor. :)
To assemble the California Roll Wraps I started with a large lettuce leaf. Any kind’ll do.
I spooned on some sticky, seasoned rice,
then layered on cucumber,
crab,
avocado,
sliced nori and sesame seeds.
(millions of less disturbing pieces, anyone?)
Drizzled with a little soy sauce,
wrapped,
and devoured!
Enjoyed with a side of laughter. :lol:
I think I inhaled some sesame seeds – HACK!!!
Ohhh, good times. :)
Totally loved this din-din. Less hassle, but all the classic flavors of that smooth and creamy California Roll. It’s great for sushi beginners too because there’s no raw fish!
ummm… perhaps i would tell my 19 year old self to GO TO JAPAN TO BE A CAMP COUNSELOR!! That is so awesome! Wish I had my head on staright at that age! :)
Your summer in Japan didn’t happen to be with Camp Adventure, did it? P.S. I live in Korea where seaweed paper is cheap and easier to find than lettuce, and I’m STILL going to try this! Yumm!
It certainly did! Best summer of my life!
I (unfortunately) tend to love the sushi that has cream cheese in it and is tempura battered and fried lol. But I’ve been making myself get other rolls.
And yes, Bravo has become one of my favorite networks! Their shows just sort of suck you in.
love love Bravo TV, and “Most Eligible Dallas” is by far becoming my most favorite, of course until Rachel Zoe comes back!!!!
Yum! My favorite sushi roll is a Spicy California roll. The hubs and I have a cheater way to make it at home! We mix chopped imitation crab with diced cucumber, avocado, and green onions with mayo and Sriracha sauce to taste (be careful – that stuff is burn-your-lips-off hot!). We then serve the “crab salad” over rice with soy sauce. So good!!
Thanks for all the yummy recipes!
I would tell my 19 year old self to not put off college!
This is a great idea! I’ve never made sushi, but I have a whole set of sushi plates and platters. I’ve just never wanted to go to the trouble, but I could TOTES do this.
If I could tell my 19 year old self anything it’d be to just be patient. And loosen up a bit :)
That looks delicious! I’m going to have to try it. My hubby and I make sushi at home and he’s really good at rolling it. We even got the bamboo roller thing and I just stand there and wait impatiently!
Bravo rocks. Nuff said.
My former 19 yr old self had a lot of grown up responsibilities very quickly due to an extremely ill mother. I learned a lot those early adult years and I wouldn’t change it. I had fun along the way too! :)
What a great idea! I can’t wait to give this a try.
I would tell my 19yr old myself to always use a good moisturizer and sleep in while I can.
I would tell my 19 year self that eating leftover jello shots on Monday morning in an attempt to postpone a hangover is NEVER a good idea. I would also remind her that she does not in fact know everything. If you sit back and listen once and awhile you may just learn something.
I’ve just rediscovered my love for sushi and making it into lettuce wraps is brilliant. Must make this very soon! Like, tomorrow! That would be a lot easier if we could use our stove ;) Its brand new so we need to make sure it wont melt the pots we have!
List of things my 19 year self should hear:
1) Put the credit card down. It’s not a novelty item.
2) Ask for help when you need it.
3) Put some room between you and the boy. If he’s not cool with it, that’s a sign.
4) Take the job on Mackinac Island. You blew it by wanting to stay with the boy for the summer.
And of course, stand up straight. It will do wonders for your posture and your self esteem.
Posture really is incredibly important! I would always roll my eyes when my grandma nagged me about this, but it really does take off 5 pounds. Not to mention the wonders it does for the back and neck.
Ahahhhahah love you. Cheater’s sushi. I like it.
I’d tell my 19 year old self to dump the controlling-douche-boyfriend and stop working so much after school and GO OUT AND HAVE SOME FUN!!!
Um, genius idea! Why have I never seen/heard/thought of this before? Totally cost efficient and easy way to make sushi! Another one for next month’s menu!!!
What would I have told myself at 19? Where to start is right! I would tell myself to get serious about my college classes and to transfer from my local community college to a university away from my hometown. I would tell myself to break up with my high school sweetheart because its not going to last anyway and I made way too many life decisions based on that relationship, and to keep my major of nursing and not become a police officer! (Love my job but nursing would’ve yielded much better quality of life in the long-run.)
Nicole, I can tell you now… go back to nursing!!! It’s not too late!