Our Sushi Date

On May 10th (nearly 3 weeks ago?!) I flew home to California for a brief visit with family and friends.  I remember rolling my luggage into class that Monday afternoon, sitting down to take my last exam of spring semester (the first year of grad school is done!), and then immediately hopping on the subway to Logan International Airport.  Boston, I'm outa here!  

 My week at home was filled with simple pleasures.  You know, the little things like saying goodmorning to your sister, singing hymns at church, returning to a favorite cafe with a friend (and irreversibly scalding your tongue on the hot chocolate).  Also, I had completely forgotten how good it feels to drive a car!  Turn up the music, roll down the windows, and let your hair go wild. 

However one of the sweetest memories was the sushi date with my mom.  What more can a girl ask for?  

First, we have Maki zushi*

*Sushi roll

Ingredients pictured above: imitation crab, sliced cucumber, lettuce, egg (it's in the bowl, waiting to be cooked), and Japanese mayonnaise (slightly sweeter and completely different than American mayonnaise).  Not pictured: sushi rice.  Sushi rice is short grain white rice seasoned with rice vinegar, sugar, and some sweet rice wine.  Pictured below: nori, or the seaweed wrap.

I always tend to overstuff my sushi by putting too much rice at the beginning.  The trick is to put a very thin layer of rice, leaving space at the end for rolling.

My mom demonstrates the rolling.  After gently squeezing the roll, just cut it into pieces!  Yum yum.

  Next, we have Temaki*

*Hand roll

My mom makes makizushi often, however neither of us have ever made temaki.  Luckily my mom's friend showed us some tricks for making these cones.  Thank you! 

Temaki is a type of sushi shaped like a cone.  In Japanese, "te" means "hand" and  "maki" means "to roll."  These "hand-rolls" are more casual than the traditional rolls or layered rice and fish (nigiri).

 

I have a splendid idea: I will host a temaki party!  The options for fillings are endless!

Give me some sushi love by telling me your favorite sushi rolls! 
Or, do you have any special memories with your mother?
Thank you Mom.
I love you,
Rachel