Beignets!

Mardi gras has come and gone, but not before we tried something new, delicious, and so appropriate for the day!  Fried food is practically taboo in this household, partly from the obvious unhealthy reason, but also from a slight fear mom has of frying.  So I agreed to man the hot oil and we successfully made Princess Tiana’s famous “man-catching” beignets.  Unfortunately pictures cannot convey taste, so you will just have to accept my word that they were delightful!  Now, with lent upon us maybe I can finally drop those pounds I promised to get rid of on New Year’s Eve.  I wonder if any of the beignets will be left in the morning . . .  

The concerned ones wore safety glasses.  I was the rebel.

Beginning.

Middle.

End (Yes, I know the previous picture had four 
and this one has five, but that is editing for you!)

Dust with powdered sugar for a hint of sweet 
and you are truly done.

Ah!  The perfect conclusion.

Sushi

Last year I discovered the wonders of sushi.  I have never been a big fan of Asian cuisine, but I also make a point of trying new things.  I loved it!  I also discovered the incredibly hot deliciousness of wasabi.  Being able to feel every sinus in your head as the heat floods through is also quite the experience.  Since eating out is a treat, and sushi is one of the pricier items in our little town, I decided to attempt making it.  I did have to purchase a specialty tool; fortunately the $2.98 bamboo mat didn’t break the budget.  So thanks to my new tool, a few special ingredients, and several YouTube tutorials, I made sushi.  It was delicious!  It was not very hard, and you can put any combination of fillings that strike your fancy.  The favorite combo of this first attempt consisted of smoked salmon, avocado, and cream cheese; delicious!  With the new year here and chugging along, it is nice to have one new thing already marked off my “To Do/To Learn” list.         

Nori and Rice

Add fillings

Roll

Readjust

Squeeze

Slice

Nearly done

Serve and enjoy!