Sushi- Cold cooked rice dressed with vinegar that is shaped into bite-sized pieces and topped with raw or cooked fish, or formed into a roll with fish, egg, or vegetables and wrapped in seaweed.
If you hate sushi, DON'T stop reading, I promise it will get better.
Sushi, and most people have a love /hate relationship, you either love it or hate it. If you are a hater, you will love my version by the end of my story.
When I decided to write about Sushi, I had to have a brief history lesson about it...so here you go...
In the 7th century, Southeast Asians introduced the technique of pickling. The Japanese acquired this same practice which consisted of packing fish with rice. As the fish fermented the rice produced a lactic acid which in turn caused the pickling of the pressed fish. Nare-Sushi is 1300 years old and refers to the finished edible product resulting from this early method.
However, due to its lengthy process, anywhere from 2 months to a year, an altered form appears through the 15th and 16th centuries. Nama-Nare refers to this more rapid process of pickling which cut the fermentation time while including the rice as part of the meal. Ancient sushi such as, Nare-Sushi and Nama-Nare were the foundation for what later became the delightfully tasteful sushi we are familiar with today.
Improvements through the centuries came about because of a few entrepreneurial Japanese who possessed the knack for recipe variation. The 17th century saw this delicate finger food complimented with vinegar. Matsumoto Yoshiichi of Edo (Tokyo) introduced the use of rice vinegar into the sushi rice. The vinegar was a welcome ingredient. It served to reduce the usual lengthy preparation while adding a pleasant flavor of tartness. Although the process of fermentation was shortened, the custom of aged pickling with the boxed or rolled method was continued until the 19th century.
In the 1820's Hanaya Yohei of Edo (Tokyo) brought to Edoites a recipe most similar to what we are served today. His morsels, which included Sashimi (fresh sliced raw fish) or seafood combined with the vinegared rice, were prepared and served for customers directly from his sushi stall.
This healthy and delicious mouthful saw its most recent transformation in the 20th century. Sushi now appears world wide with a United States popularity increase around the late 1970's.
OK there you have it a brief history lesson.
I love sushi, I wish my husband liked it, but he won't touch the stuff. The boys enjoy it, depending on what kind it is, and that actually surprises me.
One of the things my kids always ask me to make whenever we have to bring a dessert to a party is kids sushi. Yes I said kids sushi...I told you it would get better, even if you don't have kids...
Kids sushi is so fun to make and can be left to your imagination. But here are a few recipes that I always use...
Sushi recipe 1
Ingredients:
8 Fruit roll ups, any flavor
16 Gummy worms
3c Rice Krispies cereal
3c Marshmallows
3T Butter
Directions:
On a work surface, unroll the fruit roll ups and lay them flat with the plastic still on the bottom of them.
In a 3qt saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. With a wooden spoon, stir in the marshmallows and continue cooking and stirring until the marshmallows are melted. Stir in the Rice Krispies
Working quickly with damp hands, spread about 1/2 c of the Rice Krispy mixture over each fruit roll up all the way to the bottom and sides, leaving a 1 inch space along the top.
Arrange 2 gummy worms in the middle of the Rice Krispy mixture. Roll tightly, peeling off the plastic as you roll. Seal the roll with the 1 inch boarder at the top. Cut each roll crosswise into 4 even pieces.
SO YUMMY
Sushi recipe 2
Ingredients:
Miniature powdered donuts
Fruit roll ups-look for the red ones, but any color will do
Swedish fish
Directions:
Cut each powdered donut in half and lay a Swedish fish over the top. Cut the fruit roll ups in strips long enough to wrap around the donut and the Swedish fish.
EASY PEASY!!
Sushi recipe 3
Ingredients:
Twinkies
Fruit roll ups
Jellied fruit
Directions:
Cut the end off the Twinkies (eat them, or give them to the kids to eat. But that's no fun)
Cut the Twinkies lengthwise in 3-4 pieces
Cut the fruit roll ups to fit the width of the Twinkies and wrap them around the Twinkies.
Cut the jelled fruit in small bit sized pieces and place in Twinkies filling.
I told you it would get better, anything that says dessert has to be good!
I know this...In My Life using your imagination can be fun!!
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