Veggie Sushi

While observing a friend make sushi at a party a while ago I was inspired to create my own veggie recipe...it's so easy and fun to make, and a good combination of healthy ingredients is just as tasty (if not tastier!) and filling, without the fish.

I have since made it on at least a 1/2 dozen occasions, for my family, parties and pot lucks, and the feedback is always very positive, so I decided to share the recipe here.

Ingredients:
Roasted Seaweed - each sheet makes 5 pieces

(best value is buying 50 in a bag at an Oriental Food Market)
Brown Rice
Lentils

Thin, matchstick-like pieces of carrots, cucumbers, sprouts

(you can use avocado, red pepper, tomatoes, etc.)

For the sauce blend the following:
2 handfuls of walnuts
2 stalks of celery

1 Tbs lemon/lime juice
1 minced garlic
2 shakes of curry powder

* Optional -Sea Salt

Also use:

Ginger dressing (homemade or from the market)

Bragg (Healthy Soy Sauce substitute)

Cook rice and lentils together - 3/4 cup of brown rice and 1/4 cup lentils to 2 cups water.

When water has boiled, put in rice and lentils on medium low for approx. 20-25 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare your vegetables and sauce.

When all is ready, mix the sauce with the rice and lentils.

Lay out the Seaweed Sheet on a mat, flat plate or cutting board.

Drop a spoonful of the ginger dressing and spread all around.
Put 2 Tbs of the rice mixture along the edge closest to you, and lay a few pieces of vegetables.

Start rolling it away from you until it's done, and set aside on a plate.
Continue the same with each one and then put the plate full of your rolls in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes to 'settle'. (Can be longer, but not shorter than that or they may fall apart when you slice them.)

With a very sharp knife, slice each end of the roll off, and then slice your pieces to about 3/4".

To present your sushi attractively, place on a white tray or plate with space between each piece, decorate with garnish and perhaps a few sprinkles of Soy Sauce.

Tastes extra great dipped in Soy Sauce so have some available in a little bowl on the side. Use your fingers, or some chopsticks, and enjoy!

Make Your Own Healthy Gourmet Pop Corn

Do you like snacking on something with a 'crunch' when you are watching a movie, your favorite TV show, or hanging out with friends?

Have you noticed that there are hardly any healthy snacks you can buy in the supermarket that do not include loads of salt and MSG?

I have found that plain ole' popcorn is one of the best snack foods around. It's low in calories, high in fiber - which is good for helping the digestive system to function - and is a perfectly delicious, healthy and nutritious choice for between-meal snacking. It’s not only economical, it’s also fun to eat, plus you can consume a lot and not worry too much about your waistline.

I personally prefer to eat popcorn plain, made in a Hot Air Corn Popper.

It's quite tasty and satisfying.

If you feel like enjoying some extra flavor, however, 'dress it up' with some healthful toppings...

Here are a few suggestions:

• Bragg spray (Liquid Aminos - tastes like soy sauce but much healthier with natural sodium) http://www.bragg.com/products/la.html
  
• Lime - slice in half and squeeze over popcorn.
• Melt unsalted butter with cinnamon, agave (or honey) vanilla, ginger, nutmeg.
• Melt unsalted butter with garlic powder, onion powder, dill, basil, oregano.
• Olive oil - drizzled or sprayed.
  
• Sesame oil - drizzled or sprayed.
  

* If you must add a little salt, make it sea salt.

Benefits:

• It's a great snack.
• Easily affordable for anyone.
  
• Takes just a few minutes to make.
• Easy enough for kids to make.
• You don't pay for packaging.
• You control what goes in.
• No MSG, additives, preservatives or excess salt.

Tips:

• Keep plenty of popcorn kernels on hand.
• Have a big plastic bowl.
• Make sure to floss well afterwards.
• Yellow kernels make bigger 'puffs' than white kernels.
• At the bottom of the bowl you will find un-popped kernels...don't throw them away, put them back in the machine, they taste even better popped the 2nd time around!
• The air popper tends to be a bit on the 'wild side' once it nears the end of its cycle... you may have popcorn flying all over the place, and I do mean all over, so be careful to turn it off in time before everything becomes a popcorn mania.
• At the movies you pay so much for hot buttered popcorn; who knows what the actual ingredients are? By making and bringing your own you will save money and calories.

Good To Know:

• One cup of popped popcorn, eaten plain, contains about 31 calories, 1 gram of protein, 6 grams of carbohydrates and 1 gram of fiber.
• Because popcorn is a good source of fiber, it provides many health benefits and is often recommended by health and medical associations, including The National Cancer Institute, The American Dietetic Association and The American Dental Association.
• Popcorn is healthy for the wallet, too. One cup of plain popcorn costs only pennies.
• Hot Air Corn Poppers are available at stores like Walgreens for around $10...a great investment.

Create healthy eating habits starting today.

Happy Popping!