Sushi!!!

So this evening began as many evenings after work do. A hungry stomach + Vegweb.com= delicious dinner ideas! As a lover of sushi, I decided to make California rolls-homemade! Something I have never learned before but definitely a welcome skill to save on those expensive sushi restaurants!
As many food endeavors begin in Sacramento, I headed to the beloved Sac Co-Op. Upon entering the co-op, drooling over sushi became drooling over cute indy employees. After making a few more rounds roaming around the eye candy, I snapped myself back into sushi mode before I could be labeled a 'suspicious' character. Yea, excuse me cute indy boys, Im trying to get this whole shopping thing done, so if you could just remove yourself from my eye site that would help a whole bunch!
Attractive employees aside, I grabbed myself a bag of sushi rice(yes its specific), cucumber, carrot and avocado. I was worried that the co-op wouldnt have nori sheets or the wooden mat. Shazaaamm!!! the co-op exceeded my expectations and sold nori sheets WITH the wooden mat....genious!!!!!!!
I headed home happy and excited knowing that soon delicious homemade sushi will soon be hittin the ol' taste buds. To my dismay- after arriving home and reading the rice bag, I found out that the rice must be soaked for 30 mins. crackers. By now the time was nearing 9:30pm- dangerously close to that strange time of night when compulsive snacking becomes unbearable. So I knew that healthy things would have to happen soon! I promptly rinsed the rice and soaked it. Immediately after soaking I started boiling the rice and water, once reaching boiling, lowered and simmering for 20 mins. Then let stand for 10 min, sprinkled some rice vinegar and sugar, mixed and shoved it into the freezer to become manageable for sushi making.
While waiting for the rice to cool I julienned the cucumber, carrot and chopped avocado. I placed the nori sheet on the wooden mat and read the directions for rolling sushi. After the rice was cool I took a handful and spread it all over the nori, leaving a gap at the far end. I place some cucumber, carrot and avocado in the middle, took one end of the nori, wrapped it over the filling and tucked it under. I pressed down to seal it and rolled it up all the way to the end. Victory!!! First Roll complete!!!
I sliced it up and it looked as pretty as Matsuri sushi. YAY! It tasted delicous! The nori provided that subtle 'fishy' taste, the rice was seasoned perfectly and the crunchy and creamy filling was addicting! I made two rolls, one to eat and one to save for lunch--and finished before that scary time at night :-)
Making sushi was super fun and easier than you think! I am definitely so glad I learned how, now I can have delicious sushi without spending an arm and leg!

First Blog

Hello there! If you are reading this blog you are one of the few chosen to view my personal blog. I decided to start a blog because I feel like I have embarked on a new time in my life--almost feeling reborn. This journey started after graduating from SF state and spending 3 months in the Sangre de Christo Mountains(NM). My time here was the first time in my life I felt true freedom and the feeling that 'the world was my oyster'. My enthusiasm for exploring and learning felt refreshed. Everything just seemed so clear and simple in those mountains--be kind to the earth and people, be open to new experiences and seize the opportunities to learn new skills. Living in the forest for months with limited clothes and supplies really changed my ideas of living simply and helped me to analyze my consumer tendencies.
During my time in New Mexico I began painting watercolors-which I discovered Im actually decent at. One of my tasks on my 'bucket list' is to learn to play fiddle, and in New Mexico a gracious staff member allowed me to practice with thier violin and I taught myself to read from a beginning fiddle book. I fell in love with the fiddle and bought one at a antique shop in Raton, NM. Since it has been repaired I have been learning new songs and joined a bluegrass jam group while I was living in Sacramento.
But one of the most poignant discovery happened while reading the book "Deschooling" by Matt Hearn. I bought this book before I left for New Mexico due to my growing distrust in public schooling. I didnt know that this book would change my life! Looking back Im so grateful that I read it at that specific time. Basically the book compiles articles critiquing compulsory education and demonstrating the efficiency of democratic schools. There is a whole range of democratic schools which are schools that allow the child freedom. They do not have curriculum, tests, or grade but allow the child the freedom to learn at their own pace and following the ebb and flow of their motivation. Its ironic to me that although we live in a society that preaches freedom, it is completely absent from our educational institutions and ideas of child rearing- as if freedom is something to be obtained later in life. The idea that children cannot make decisions for themselves permeates our society. How about instead of viewing the child as 'inferior' why dont we accept the fact that they can make decisions for themselves and just like other humans- they can learn from mistakes and consequences of their decisions. Of course there is a difference between freedom and license(Summerhill). One is allowed freedom to live how they like as long as it doesnt affect the freedom of others. This entire book was really an "Ah-Ha!" moment for me. It just made so much sense to me. I always got along better with children and felt awkward enforcing rules that I didnt believe in. My recent experience working in a Montessori school really cemented my feeling that I could never work in a coersive environment with children again. This book changed my life, molded my ideas of education and jump-started an exiting journey to unexplored territory.
I apologize for the super long entry but felt it was necessary to explain. This blog is to share new experiences and ideas that I discover on the journey of self-actualization.

Thank you!