Japan: The Origin and "how to" of SUSHI!

We are BIG fans of food around here so every time we explore a new country, the cuisine is one of our favorite topics.  (if not THE favorite topic.)  Exploring Japan this month, naturally we thought of sushi.

The origin of sushi dates back many decades when fermented rice was wrapped around raw fish as a technique of preservation. It was called nare-sushi. Eventually the Japanese acquired a taste for the raw fish/rice cuisine and calling it seisei-sushi, this technique of preservation eventually became a cuisine.

During the Edo Era between the 1600’s and the 1860’s haya-sushi became what is popular today; raw or partially raw fish wrapped in rice and seaweed accompanied by vegetables and vinegar. Many modern sushi restaurants serve these “sushi rolls” today.

In the 19th century, when Japan was still calling its era the Edo Era, a new form of sushi was developed named nigiri-sushi. This is the most common type of sushi in restaurants as it is a mound of rice topped with a piece of fish.

How to make a sushi roll:

*It is important to remember that consuming raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, shellfish and eggs may increase the risk of food borne related illness. Fresh fish should be frozen at under -4 degrees Fahrenheit for a significant time in order to kill all the parasites.

1. Place nori (seaweed) on a bamboo mat with the shiny side down.
2. Spread pre-cooked rice thinly on the nori, thinly enough to see nori underneath.
    a. Leave half an inch space on nori (furthest end from you) to dab warm water on; this will help hold the roll together.
3. Place all ingredients (fish, vegetables, etc) in the middle of the roll.
4. Start to roll the sushi away from you with the bamboo mat until it comes together.
    a. It is recommended to push the rolled up sushi bundle with medium pressure to tighten the roll and combine ingredients.
5. Cut the log in the middle and each half into sections.
6. Enjoy!

For more detailed information on how to properly cook the rice and on how to make sushi, visit the following website http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-make-sushi.

*Busy Bee ...

This last weekend was a Crazy one. I feel like time is flying and the chances of us catching up are slim to none. So we'll just enjoy the moments that we can and try to write down the ones we can't so that when we get a free moment ... we will! Here goes.
   I sold my car - to my mom. I loved the civic. I really did. Zero problems, incredible gas mileage, and totally cute. It was my dream car. However it wasn't my dream to hold on to memories that were holding me back. I officially have nothing physical that I must look at or use everyday. I'm moving on. - it's a process.
I headed to the bank and took out a loan for a new car. Colb and I have been car shopping for some time now. I wanted a mazda and then i wanted another Honda and then I wanted an audi and then a murano and then nothing and then I wanted a jeep liberty, and then a mazda again. I could go on the on. Last week I stopped at Colb's house and he had been on ksl.com 'just looking' He had printed a few ads he knew I'd be interested in. He found a jeep liberty that was a screamin deal. We called the seller and decided to head to lehi to check it out. I fell in love. We handed them some cash and told them we'd be back. Four days later we were driving our new car home. I couldn't be more ecstatic. I'm in heaven. I can't wait for our first snow fall next winter. I've always had a hard time with the snow and feeling safe. Now I have a reason to enjoy the snow.

Adorable. 

While we were in Lehi we made a pit stop and Colb's good friend James' house. I got to meet his sweet wife and their cute little family. We couldn't stay long but the 20 minutes was a lot of fun. While we were there they told us that non-family members needed to sign their wills and asked us to do the honors. hilarious. I still think this is so funny.  I guess we're friends for life now right?
We watched lots of conference, Atteneded the last session,  spent way too much money and enjoyed our easter weekend. Lots more blogging and updates headed your way!
  

   Two and a half more weeks and I'll be a Mrs.

Japan: What to Pack

With its eclectic blend of modernity and antiquity, Japan holds wonder after wonder. Here's a guide of what to pack for Japan without developing traveler’s stoop.

Bags – The general consensus among travelers is that backpacks are best - they're often hardier and are much easier when you get to steps or uneven pavements.

Documents – Your passport and visa should be top of your to-pack list. On your to-do list, add: Photocopy passport, and put copies in main bag and hand luggage. Leave another copy with a parent or someone reliable - if you do lose your passport, it'll make things much easier.

Clothes – Most places in Japan get cold in the winter, when the temperatures can fall well into the minuses, so warm clothes are needed if you're going then. Take something waterproof if you're going to be there during the June wet season.

Shoes – Pack footwear that's comfortable and suitable for whatever time of year you're going. If you're buying shoes especially for your trip, wear them a few times before you leave to minimize the risk of blisters.

Camera – Pack a good quality camera and lots of film or memory cards and you can click away at the cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji!

Toiletries – You can probably buy your brand of toiletries, and hundreds more, in Tokyo and other cities. If that seems like a waste of time, pack the essentials. Buying travel-size bottles might seem like a good idea but unless you buy a few, and throw them away as you use them, it's worth packing normal-sized ones. Conditioner can be used as shaving gel, facial wash as shower gel, moisturizer as cleanser etc. If you're traveling with someone, you might want to share toiletries.

First aid kit – Having a basic first aid kit can save you trips to the chemist - consider packing diarrhea treatments, band-aids (including blister plasters), scissors, painkillers, bandages, tweezers and antiseptic wipes.

Guide books - It's entirely up to you how much you use a guide book. Some people follow their recommendations religiously while others prefer to discover the best restaurants and sights for themselves.

Pen and paper – Writing materials will probably become more useful than you think - for annotating your guide book, jotting down bus times or directions, writing postcards or a game of Pictionary when words or sign language fail!

Adapter – If you want to plug in chargers or any other electrical items, you'll need an adapter as the voltage is different from the USA.

*List -er-oo

I love making lists. Mostly I love crossing things off my list. I was reading a blog today. One that I love. A lot. She mentioned this List and I knew I had to check it out. It made my day. I bet it makes yours too. It's worth the whole read. I promise.

*Revenge?? ...

Yesterday I woke up, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. As I put putting on my favorite face lotion, I felt a little bump. Left side, jaw line. Half way between my ear and my chin. I knew immediately what it was. I prayed for a huge zit anyway. I left it alone and continued praying for acne. My prayers were answered. Heavenly Father said no. The pain in my ear started today. My shingles have returned.
  I used to think the rash came with an ear infection but I now know that the shingles come and it brings nerve pain. The pain takes up my whole outer ear. About every 42 seconds all the nerves in my left ear freak out. I like to think of it like this: You have a cup full of ice cubes. You only want one but no matter, You'll get more than one. It's as though the biggest ice cube says "hold, brothers, hold" and then when you least expect it, they all come at once. And you're surprised every time.
 Just like that. All the nerves in my ear stay calm together and when I least expect it, they hold a mini seizure party. I grab on to whatever is close by (tonight it was colb's hand) and I squeeze. Hard. Until the pain is gone. 42 seconds later the routine is repeated. It hurts. Really bad. The worst part? The shingles rash isn't even bad yet. We're just getting started. I don't doubt that I can handle it. I do this about 5 times a year. Champion shingle-r or not. I hate them. Clearly, they hate me as well.

Remember this picture? This was last August. 

This is outbreak #2 since I took this one.

Someone's else' turn maybe? 

 

*Riley..

Best friend had a baby boy. I hear he is sweeter than sweet. Every time I get 30 seconds to go meet him I'm sick. Sore throat, cough, chest congestion, ear infection, nausea, or a cold. Mr Riley is holding out for me. I can feel it. I promise it'll be this week. If i'm not better, I'm coming with gloves and a mask. I can't wait to meet the little guy. I know he's adorable.

Distilled Offense

a great article out of Monroe (near Ruston) explaining how simple Louisiana Tech's Air Raid has become.....

by Ethan Conley

Talk to a few players and you’ll get the impression that Louisiana Tech’s old playbook was the college football equivalent of War and Peace. The new playbook? It’s more like a pamphlet.

That’s if you could even call it a playbook. The players don’t necessarily refer to what they’re running as plays, but “concepts.” Change a few details and a single concept grows into an offensive attack that looks overwhelming to opposing defenses, but could be executed by the Bulldogs with their eyes closed. Eventually, anyway.“Last year we had a lot on our plate with that offense,” quarterback Steven Ensminger said. “We had to learn a lot, we had to know a lot. This year it’s real simple. Everybody works together, everybody knows their assignment, and it’s working real well.”

Tech’s new philosophy is simple: If an offense practices a play 1,000 times that play is going to be very difficult for a defense to stop, even if it knows exactly what is coming. Execution beats variety. And if variety is needed, a little window dressing — different formations, sending a man in motion — can turn a single play into multiple plays.“You want it to look complicated, but to really be simple,” Dykes said. “What offense is all about is that it doesn’t really matter what kind of offense you run. It’s all about execution and having something to hang your hat on.”

Dykes left Texas Tech to be Arizona’s offensive coordinator in 2007, and stuck to the basic principles from the offenses at Kentucky and Texas Tech. He kept it simple. His offense at Arizona was built on just 23 basic plays: five run plays, seven intermediate passes, five quick passes, three play-action passes, and three screen passes.Now that philosophy is at Louisiana Tech.“It’s way less (plays),” running back Roosevelt Falls said. “It’s only a few. It’s only the details that you’ve got to remember in the plays. Little things change about the plays. It’s the same plays, but little things change about them — the formation, where you’re running your route from, who they’re tagging.”Another key concept in the offense is speed — and not just when the ball is in play. The Bulldogs rarely huddle, and instead make their calls at the line of scrimmage. They minimize the time between snaps and keep the defense on its heels. It’s essentially a two-minute offense for all 60 minutes.And it’s only going to get faster.

Dykes said he’d like to run 85 offensive plays each game. How fast is that? Only two teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision averaged more than 80 per game last season: Houston at 82, and Texas A&M at 81. Dykes’ offense at Arizona averaged 70 plays per game, and Franklin’s offense at Middle Tennessee State averaged 73.