NETFLIX AND SUSHI

Currently writing this blog post from my computer outside in the sun... very thankful that the weather is starting to get better; tomorrow Bert and I will have our first BBQ of the season. Since yesterday I have started to feel increasingly worse; exhaustion, dizziness, thirsty and fainting spells...basically like shit (I don't have Corona but I'm happy that Bert is home to help me with the day to day).

Self(ie) Quarantine

It was nice to "work" outside with Huck and Jacky running around being idiots and hearing the horses from the surrounding farms... Geraardsbergen is very beautiful.

Huck enjoying the warm weather ...

And eventually taking over my spot!

Both Jacky (Pitbull -middle) and Huck (Pressa Canario - left) are happy that both parents are home for the week and are milking every moment than can to get extra treats and affection.

We've started crate training with Huck to improve his house manners and to avoid accidents in the house if we cannot get him outside in time. Were his first (and only) family, so he's still learning. Its probably not the best idea, especially at a young age, to let him sleep in the bed with us... but sometimes in the morning i let him up...so cute.

Anyways! So, because im feeling under the weather i'm going to share my sushi experience from a couple days ago because i'm not feeling very much in a cooking mood today. Also I wanted to prove to my mom that yes, I have used her sushi kit that she sent me for Christmas.

The kit includes, a bamboo rice paddle/spoon and rolling mat along with some confusing instructions that i did not bother reading.

For ingredients, you need:

- nori - sushi rice (we only had basmati) - rice wine vinegar, pickled ginger (optional) - soy sauce (optional) - salmon (choice) - avocado (choice) - cucumber

These are the ingredients I had so you can choose what you want in your own sushi.

After putting the water on to boil for the rice I began slicing the cucumber into thin long strands and stripping the brine off. The salmon was cut in thicker pieces lengthwise, and the cucumber also in strips. 

After the rice was cooked (10 min) and drained I added it back to the put along with rice wine vinegar and a sprinkle of sugar. After the rice is mixed, you take a small ball of it with the wooden paddle and add it on top of the nori paper on the rice mat and begin to spread it all over. Add enough to cover the whole of the paper and careful not to rip the nori.

Once the rice is evenly spread, start to add your salmon, avocado and cucumber in the middle of the roll. You can always add more salmon or cucumber but be aware of how much so that you can still roll it shut. When everything is inside, you can start with the roll! Begin by taking the bottom of the rice mat and bringing it over or on top (essentially rolling) of the avocado/salm/etc until you're about halfway. Then squeeze the mat overtop of the (half) sushi to form a rounded curve and continue to roll in the same direction until the nori seams overlap. After this you can seal the sushi roll by adding a small dab of water with your finger or rubbing the cooked rice into an almost paste.

Once you have your roll you can cut it up in 1 inch (again preference) pieces and and add either Masago, wasabi mayo, or sesame seed wasabi powder...i used them all.

I hope everyone is staying safe and practicing social/physical distancing from one another... i'm going to be doing just that with a bottle of Miraval tonight.

No Corona!!!