Craving a California Roll?

Since sushi is so delish and also so expensive, we have started making our own. It is a great adventure and can be a litle messy, but here is how we did it. First we tuned in for some lessons on YouTube. Just type in "Sushi Making" and get schooled. Here is a list of what you will need for a no-fail California Roll:

Sushi Rice
Rice Wine Vinegar
Sugar
Salt
A hand fan (I got mine in Taiwan)
Nori Pads (Seaweed)
Sesame Seeds
Avocado
Cucumber
Crab
Mayonaise
Pickled Ginger
Soy Sauce
Wasabi Powder (For the best results, go to the Asian Market and get the powdered kind in a can that you add water to.)
Rolling Mat

Believe it or not, we got all of these ingredients at our local grocery store in Cedar City. Basically, cook the rice according to the directions on the bag (be sure it is short grain sushi rice). While the rice is cooking, mix the rice wine vinegar, sugar, and salt (see recipe). Fan the rice to pull the moisture out. Cut the Nori Pads in half with scissors. Take a ball of rice and spread onto the nori pad. Sprinkle generously with sesame seeds and then flip it over onto your rolling mat that is covered with plastic wrap.

Meanwhile, mix about 1 tsp mayonaise with about 1/2 cup lightly chopped crabstick(mayonaise is optional). Slice avocado and cucumber into long, thin stips.

Place crab, avocado, and cucumber along the center of the nori. Roll it first using your fingers and once a roll is formed use the rolling pad to roll it tighter and make it more firm. Using a very sharp knife slice the roll into bite size pieces and serve with soy sauce, ginger, and wasabi! In a restaurant a California Roll is $5 per roll and we can make them for about $1 a roll.

P.S.
I want to start a cooking blog, but that must wait until after graduate school...