Saturday Morning Mindfulness: On Practice

I like Saturdays best when taken with great patience, perhaps at a slower pace but not necessarily, enjoying more deeply each moment and activity at-hand while giving as little thought as necessary to "what's next." Very little planning actually occurs. There's no rush. Not that there is no rhythm to the day - for instance, we know that at some point in the middle of the day our bodies will need nourishment and so we'll take a lunch break. We can be prepared for this and accommodating, but we don't need to worry about stopping everything at one o'clock precisely as if lunch must be made then or else the universe will fall apart. After all, rhythm can be extremely nurturing and reassuring in such a crazy world where we feel we have little control. But rhythm is not the same as a schedule. Taking my Saturdays moment by moment, I feel it allows room for everything from my week to sink-in and settle. If I don't allow myself this one day of remaining in the "now" to contrast with my work week in which I'm steadily one or two or five steps ahead of the present, my weekend passes me by and I start Monday again wondering what have I done with the past seven days? No matter how productive I had been, those days just disintegrate and disappear and I feel caught in a whirlwind feeling powerless and lost. I'm probably not unique in this notion.

Sometimes the first day of the weekend just doesn't happen that way. Some Saturdays seem to carry on right where Friday left off, with chores and errands and appointments, and sometimes even making plans for leisure can feel like they're part of a to-do list. Anyone else get that? Funny, though: Most of those Saturdays full of pre-scheduled plans find me making as many last-second cancellations as possible because I feel bogged down by obligations, so despite a list of good-natured intentions, nothing actually gets done in the end. And on the other hand, some Saturdays can be extremely enjoyable and relaxed while at the same time even allowing room for great productivity. I can do much-needed chores and run errands that can't be put off until Monday. But so long as I approach each activity independently, with patience and with flexibility, allowing myself the freedom to do only what I can do at that one moment instead of worrying about the end-result (not setting up some day-long bulleted task-list), things just fall into place as they feel natural and at the end of the day I find I've accomplished a whole lot without the feeling of being "worked."

This particular Saturday, throughout all of my thoughts - from my groggy-eyed waking and rising off my bed, to my regular morning read-through of favorite blogs with less rush than other days in the week, to a walk and then breakfast out with my husband - I find that I'm fixated on this common thread: Mindfulness. Being in and experiencing the present moment exactly as it is, without judgement, without plans, without nostalgia or regret for past moments...and giving myself the freedom to just. be. in. the. present - with eyes open, with compassion (most importantly toward my self, because how can we begin to show compassion for others if we can't do so towards our own vulnerable selves), and with open heart and room in myself for all the possibilities of whatever comes next (but not trying to predict or pass judgement on what that will be). When my thoughts kept returning to the importance of mindfulness, the notion of 'practice' arose. Mindfulness is a practice that takes practice to achieve. I thought, I can't continue on in life being mindful only on Saturdays. Yes, it would do me good to be mindful on every Saturday, but one day a week is not enough.

There's this small part of me, born from old habits and assumptions learned as a child in grade school, that automatically thinks the phrase "practice makes perfect." But in truth, in life, there is no such thing as perfection; there is just practice, which may lead to some improvement of course, but the practice is never done. Even the greatest maestros, bodhisattvas, gurus, and champion athletes need to keep up their practice.

Some days it's extremely difficult to keep up practice. "No time" commonly gets in the way. Some days life just won't slow down long enough to allow for mindfulness and living in the present, no matter what techniques I utilize to stay centered and present. Other days I lack the compassion and forgiveness within myself and feel like a failure or that my current efforts are not good enough. But that's when practice can be most beneficial and needed. No matter how hard it is today, no matter what excuses we may make to avoid practice, it will not get easier without the practice. If I don't have a mindful Saturday, I feel lost, I know this much. That's enough to clue me in that it is so very important to me to cultivate mindfulness whenever I can.

I come to think of another 'practice' I'm working on these days: In my yoga class two Tuesdays ago, my teacher asked if any students were working with injuries or had any areas to address in particular on that day in their yoga practice. I mentioned my on-going shoulder stiffness and pain and asked if we could keep Downward Dog to a minimum that day as it is a problem pose for me to hold and maintain for very long. She told me what her teacher used to tell her when a student "complained" (in her words). "Just do the practice." My shoulders will not heal and Downward Dog will not get any easier without practice. Of course, I was reminded by my teacher to be ever-present and mindful of my own limitations, not to push myself further than I know I can go, but also not to go too easy on myself. I needed to stick to my practice. Good idea, probably.

So I come back to my Saturday, with mindfulness and practice in my thoughts and intentions as I do everything, from drinking a cup of Earl Gray and enjoying the taste and the warmth and the immediate release of tension as I drink it, to being conscious of posture and lifting my heart and dropping my shoulders as I type at my computer (I'm a habitual sloucher). From experiencing something new and opening myself up to learning and personal growth by attending a local workshop on seated Zen Meditation (how relevant and fitting that I should be discussing mindfulness, I know!), to recognizing and getting through a moment in which I feel panicked and stressed about having to make introductions to a group of complete strangers in an unexpected social interaction.

I come to this sort-of conclusion without exactly trying to conclude anything: It's a never-ending project, I am ever-aware of my need to be more "in the now" but I will try to be compassionate with myself when it just doesn't happen. I will not beat myself up, both figuratively and literally by having higher than realistic expectations. I will try not to hold any expectations. Either way, it's gonna take a lot of practice.

Photos are of an art piece by an unknown artist in the Portland area, left as free on the curb. I altered the color and quality of them.

Thanks to the artist for their beautiful work now being displayed in my living room

and for unknowingly allowing me to use and alter your piece.

A Happy-Time Sunshiney Good Drink

Even at dusk in late February, I can feel the warm rays

The verdict is still out on what to name this yummy beverage. My husband offered up "Orange Amazing," Mr. Brown, whom we got this recipe from, calls it an "Orange Delicious" (because that well-known title "Orange J@li@s" is a legal trademark), and I have to agree with you there that my idea, "Happy-Time Sunshiney Good," is a tad wordy and takes something out of you every time you have to say it three times fast. But say it nice and slow, leisurely, between fatty-straw slurps of this cold frothy drink and then... well, you'll come to the conclusion that you don't particularly care what it's called. You're just gonna drink it.

To make your own, you'll need these:

A blender

An ice cube [shape of choice] tray

1 cup orange juice, divided

1/2 an orange, zest of

1/2 cup whole milk

1 tablespoon powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Then you do this:

Freeze 3/4 cup of orange juice in an ice cube tray, ahead of time.

Toss the frozen juice, the remaining 1/4 cup of liquid juice, and the rest of it all in a blender. Whirrrrr it up.

Pour it in cups, some for you, some for me.

Drink it, share it.

Smile.

Makes enough for two persons*.

*Truth be told, after the initial loving/savoring with the first few sips you'll probably slurp it down pretty quickly, and as soon as your giddy brain-freeze is melted away, you'll want a bit more. So I suggest doubling the measurements, unless you're not sharing. Keep in mind, sharing is caring!

Notes on pow-sugah: Prior, my husband and I wouldn't have called ourselves even recreational users of the stuff. Not our thing, really. But our home pantry now contains a 1 lb bag, pure, solely for the purpose of making this concoction. If you don't have it and don't have a dealer who can hook you up, you certainly can skip this and you'll still have an awesome creation to imbibe, but your drink will lack a certain somethin' somethin' that granular sugar or agave or whatever just can't provide (it has to do with how quick the sugar dissolves in cold liquid, and the corn starch that exists in the powdered variety makes for a much smoother froth).

Do enjoy!

nice bumping in to you!

Oh heyyy there, buddy. Long-time-no-see! How are you these days, life treating you well? Oh, me? Have I been ill, you ask? Erm, no, fit as a fiddle. On vacation? Not quite.... not really, at all. What have I been up to? I must be incredibly busy with umpteen projects and tasks, right? Well, not much, doing just the same-ole, working a bit and keeping house - the usual routine - truth be told. But hey, enough about me, how have you been?! Ok, fair enough, so you're feeling hurt, maybe abandoned a little bit and wondering whether 'friend' is an accurate term to describe this relationship we have going here. Friends don't just hole away for months on end without ever paying a visit, I know that. Friends stay in touch and are there with you through the tough times as well as the sweet moments. Yes I'll admit, I'm a terrible friend [blogger], I'm as fair-weather as you get. You can never count on me to be there, I know that. But hey, if we're playing the blame game and making apologies, let's not fail to point the finger in your own direction. Have you really been there and listening [reading] when I've wanted to call you up to talk [write a post] about my latest decorating style for the apartment (wabi sabi), or to share our upcoming plans for Yuki's birthday celebration (she'll be one this week)? Sometimes, I just... feel like I'm talking [blogging] to a wall. Then what's the point? I mean, who cares about my boring day-to-day, surely you don't? I'm totally replaceable as a friend, anyhow, there are tons of folks out there who are just more interesting to hang out with [read about]. That's all I'm sayin'.

Ok, so I'm being a wee bit melodramatic, perhaps. But even as I write this, I honestly feel a little queer and schizophrenic about it all, as though I really am just writing this for myself. Really I only might, maybe, get lucky to have one reader today that stumbles upon this post by accident and then realizes it's not what they were looking for. But maybe that's ok? Well, even if there isn't that one reader out there (but if there is and you're still with me, let me thank you and you are welcome here!) , a lot of people blog just for themselves, to jot down ideas or to remember things, to keep a history of their days, like a digital diary. Nothing wrong with that and no shame in it. I never expected to be in any way "famous" for my blog, never hoped for as much readership as the handful of homespun/earthy/mama/housewife blogs I read religiously every morning to get inspiration, relate to, and brighten my day. Nonetheless, it's been hard for me to find the motivation to post anything these days, even for my own enjoyment. I guess I've just been too self-critical and now I'm having a little pity party about it! Indulge me. And since we're getting overly personal here (I can do that without fear, you know, since I'm the only one reading this), I've been feeling this way in general, lately. A little lonely, a little like I'm replaceable, preferring to hole up and be a shut-in because there's no one who will miss my presence anyhow. I mean no one besides my wonderful husband and best friend, of course, whom I am never lonely around and am almost never apart from besides when we're at work. He's amazing and holes up with me in our blissful little home together! And therein may lie part of my problem. I'm too terribly cozy with him, and our life together just too damn comfortable and perfect. So it's hard to venture outside of this beautiful rosy box of mine into the scary world and [blogosphere] to try to make friends or put myself out there when it's so easy to just stay in.

Well, it's good for me to come out once in a while, to socialize, to take risks and to make and keep connections. Just know it is hard for me, but I'll work on it more. I promise. I really would love to hang out and get to know you more.

Oh yeah, I do like to draw.

I had forgotten. I am (sometimes) creative!

And fittingly, I found my reminder out there in the blogosphere. A couple days ago, I was reading one of my favorite blogs of late in an attempt to become inspired. I was looking not for inspiration to draw but rather to write (makes sense, you know, reading to get started writing). As any regular followers of Cozy Little Life know, the posts come in spurts. I get urges, write one or two posts, and then fizzle out. So I was looking for some sort of kick-start and that day's post was all about how the author realized her own talent and enjoyment in drawing while helping motivate her daughter's creativity. Her family declared it an Art Weekend (how great is that?)!

Well, it made me think about my own drawing project I had abandoned many months ago, and the others that never even got their starts because...because why? What happened to my creative mojo? I've always been a pretty creative person in nature, rather than a very logical or analytical one. Art, music, writing - my brain has always just understood them. I played an instrument all throughout grade school, took etching and drawing classes in college, and I wrote half a novel for my thesis. But after my days of the classroom came to an end, these old interests seemed to end, too. It would be easy to blame my grown-up responsibilities as the killer of my creative side because even after several job changes and successful efforts to make more time for me and my 'muse' to bond together, I still stopped creating. Too much time had passed since I last tried, or maybe I got burnt out, all of my creative juices spent. Mostly, I think I let the big scary thought of drawing or writing or whatever (and the daunting end-product I was working towards) stop me from even starting a project. This too often has been the case for me, in life. Is it a self-doubt issue? Probably.

Well an hour or two after reading that blog post, I pulled out the unfinished project, my charcoal pencils and powder, and sat down to draw. And it felt AMAZING. I didn't worry about how it will look in the end, about how long it might take to complete, about whether or not I will keep on drawing a day from now, or next week or next month. I might fizzle out again. But I tried not to think and just let myself enjoy the act of drawing. I was right away more peaceful and content and meditative with every scratch of my pencil over the paper.

I thought of a young boy I babysit. He's four, and he loves to draw. But also, a lot of the time, he gets upset and stressed out about how "good" he can draw, and then it's not enjoyable for him. Sometimes he won't even start a drawing because he already thinks it's going to be "bad" in his mind. It's saddening to witness his joy squandered by an arbitrary notion of talent that he picked up from where? Contrast that with his little sister, who's 18 months. She loves to draw and loves the act of drawing. She doesn't yet know what talent means. She probably doesn't even have an image in her consciousness of what her picture will be or is once it's completed. Drawing is still so pure for her. Is her own self-doubt as an artist inevitable? It it that perhaps unlike her brother, she's just more creative by nature and will continue to enjoy drawing even when she's four and still as she's older? I can't guess.

Why is it that we (the greater we, everyone, society) should suddenly give up coloring and crafts when we leave grade school? I believe it's both Waldorf and Rudolf Steiner, two approaches to education, that foster art all across the curriculum as a more innate tool of expression and learning that everyone can share in and utilize throughout their lifetimes. As opposed to the notion that art is one separate subject, with boundaries, that becomes reserved only for the gifted, "talented," once we reach a certain level of education.

Well, maybe this discussion is a little bigger than one post can handle. I started out writing with the intent to discuss imitation and it's ability to inspire. Monkey see monkey do. It digs a bit deeper, though, and begs for thorough pondering.

Kss.

Kss.

Kss.

Kss.

Listen to the leaves falling one by one.

Kss.

Kss.

Kss.

Kss.

Listen. Listen.

Walking home this evening from a late afternoon movie, fall was definitely announcing its presence to us. Even donning my wool pea coat and with legs sheathed in my new purple fall tights, I folded my arms across my body and held on a little bit tighter to fend off chill. No longer just a smattering of leaves are upon the sidewalks but in some spots now the paths are entirely obscured by their browns and reds and yellows. It's time to start switching gears, to begin moving a little slower and settle in a little deeper.

"Then there were THREE in the family..."

How much do I love them, my cozy little family? ALL OF IT! That's a lot, I know. Just one month ago, Austin and I adopted (our first!) and our couldn't-possibly-get-better lives got so (so very!) much better. We named her Yuki, meaning "joyful."

You could have asked me before if I'd fall in love with this little bundle of pure tenderness, and of course the answer would have been a resounding "yes without a doubt!" (well, more like "yaaay kitteeeeee!") but the moment she stretched out her tiny little arms and legs and yawned and I saw her pink little tongue and her eyes closed so tight... I melted.

Of course I can't resist all the cuddles and the kisses, the snuggle-her-up-so-close-next-to-me scrunched up nose kisses because she's just so damn CUTE!

There's nothing sweeter than the deep peace I feel when I stare down at her as she naps beside me on the couch. Oh! And I can't get enough of how unbelievably soft she is. I'm really hooked.

Who can blame me? Aren't you in love with my baby, erm kitty, too?

For Those Pesky Lookie-Loos Outside your Loo: Contact-Papered Windows (Shoji-Screen Style)

My husband and I live in a rented apartment.Now, in said apartment the bathroom's single medium-sized window (which I feel is quite large for any bathroom) is placed so "cleverly" as to allow me to gaze out into the beautious world while I sit ever-so-peacefully on the toilet, taking a poo. Nice, eh? Picture it. Not only can I bird-watch while I eliminate, but birdies (and people alike if they come to pay a visit) can return my gaze (!) since the window in mention is also situated alongside our front door and facing the front stoop which is shared by a neighboring apartment. I feel so exposed.

Being on a tight budget, as most of us are these days, I couldn't just go out and buy window treatments. I had to keep the purchases to a bare minimum or make do with stuff I already had at home. So at some point, probably while I was in a receptive and prone position on the toilet, I had this brilliant idea of custom painting a removable window film with clear contact paper and cheap acrylics. I already had a roll of contact paper in my craft cupboard (I like to use it for laminating various things, you know, when you randomly need to laminate) along with an assortment of paintbrushes to choose from... all I needed was a new paint color, and with a short bike-ride to the craft store I was able to pick up a small tube for 97 cents. With simple supplies spread all around - a ruler, a pencil, a handful of clothes-pins, paintbrush, paint, and contact paper - like a kiddie in grade school I plunked myself down on the kitchen floor and got to work.

I have to admit, I can't take credit for the idea of using contact paper on windows. I wish I could, because whoever figured it out is a smartie. As materials go, it's cheap, easy to adhere, and totally removable. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I came across the source, so I can't give credit where credit is due. But I did use my pretty little head to imagine a design, however simple. I wanted something akin to a Japanese Shoji-screen, using an off-white paint to look like rice paper...sorta. As to what design you choose, the options are endless - you might enjoy a a multi-colored stained glass replication, a black and white geometric pattern, or a soft Monet-like scene of flowers. I hope this gives you some inspiration to try it out in some form in your home (whether on a window, a glass curio cabinet or cupboard, or a glass coffee table, etc.)

Here's My Beautifully Imperfect, Homemade Shoji-Style Window Screen

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN REMOVABLE WINDOW FILM

Materials You Will Need:

• Clear* Contact Paper a.k.a Shelf Liner (*You can use opaque contact paper, but this will prevent light from filtering through, rendering your window useless. If your aim is to pretend you don't have a window there, then this would be a good idea I suppose.)
• Acrylic Paint* or Etching/Glass Specific Paint (*Some acrylics stick better to slick surfaces than others. If you're concerned about flaking/chipping, go with paint made specifically for glass. The cheapo acryclic I bought flakes off if I mess with it, but I touch the surface of the window pane as little as possible. I went for the temporary and frugal application option, but you can certainly make yours more lasting with an upgrade in materials.)
• A Paint Brush
• Measuring Tape
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Stencils (Optional)
• Clothespins or Stones or Whatever (to hold down the corners and sides of the paper as they tend to roll under on their own)

What You Do With Those Materials [is really up to you] :

1. Measure the height and width of your window pane, then cut out a sheet of contact paper to fit that size exactly. I recommend using a ruler and carefully marking off height and width at several spaced intervals along the sheet before cutting, to be sure you have an even rectangle. *Don't remove the paper backing of the contact paper.
2. Place a handful of clothespins or other paper-weights along the corners and edges of the contact paper to prevent the sheet from rolling itself up while you paint.
3. Go at it! Paint your window screen (on the side that is not the paper backing side), then let it dry. Using a hair dryer on cool or low heat speeds the drying process, if you're as impatient as I am.
4. When adhering the finished screen to your window, enlisting the help of a buddy is really nice. Peel away just a little bit of the paper backing on one side or corner and align the screen properly on your window, then press that small area down and smooth out the bubbles. Keep the screen partly rolled up, especially if adhering it alone, and unroll it a little bit at a time - this helped me immensely. Peel a little more away and press it down, peel some more and press it down, unroll some more, peel some more,...until you've got it stuck on completely. Using your hands, gently smooth out any remaining bubbles (if using the cheapo acrylic, you'll probably have to do this VERY gently to keep the paint from flaking).
5. And that's it! Enjoy you're new-found privacy and revel in the fact that you made this yourself!

Keep Crafting With Contact Paper! : Try painting your own decals and cut them out free-hand-style for unique and cheap seasonal decoration!

Note: Contact Paper is completely removable, but not really re-usable. The non-sustainable ramifications make me weep, but it's still a neat and resourceful idea if you ask me.

Self-Proclaimed, A Granola-Eatin' Peacenik

Good for the belly and good for the soul - Homemade granola is quickly becoming one of this health-conscious housewife's household staples because it's a perfect breakfast for those mornings when we're short on time and don't want to prepare a meal, it's filling enough to give us energy and keep us satisfied for most of the morning, and it's cheaper than store-bought granola or other cereals. Making granola at home also means that I can add whatever ingredients I choose, based on what I have on hand or what's on sale, and I can control how much sweetener is added (personally, I like a less sweet, more savoury granola). Thus, it's extremely versatile. Even more awesome is that I don't have to follow a complicated recipe to make it, because once you've made granola you know how to make granola. Think oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Throw in a little bit of this, a little bit of that, add some oil and sweet stuff, and get it all toasty - it's just that easy. Here's an example of a delicious granola recipe you can try:

Mix in a large bowl:

3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 Cup Dried Coconut (Grated)

1/4 Cup Sunflower Seed Kernels

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 Cup Pistachios

1/4 Cup Almonds

1 TBSP Sesame Seeds

1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil (of your choosing)

1/8 Cup - 1/4 Cup Brown Rice Syrup (or sweetener of your choice, like agave, honey or maple syrup)

Pour the mixture into a non greased baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes on 350 degrees, stirring every 10 minutes. When oats are toasted a light brown and smell oh so yummy, remove from heat, and stir in:

1/4 Cup Dried Apple Chunks

1/4 Cup Raisins

1/4 Cup Dried Date Chunks

Let it come to room temperature, then scoop the granola goodness into an airtight jar or tin and store in a cool, dry place until it's devoured. Then make some more!

Oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit.

Drizzle Drip Go the Raindrops

I wait with longing for cloud-break. Damp and musty, the walls are swollen and seem to press in as if they're listening for a whispered secret. Hush, go ahead.

Here's an Apartment Eye-Spy while we wait for the sun to grace us with its presence again. (UPDATE: It's 9 am and there's a soft glow about the trees - I daresay, the sun may be rubbing its eyes and leaving the pillowy clouds after all...or not.)

::

paper umbrell mobile, from powell's books in portland, oregon
::

old tincture bottle serving as makeshift vase for the sweetest little flowers picked outside our apartment

::

cutting of a pothos plant, at home in a stone-filled jar, adorned with a re-purposed bamboo window shade

"My Sushi Was Home-Rolled...How About Yours?"

How to Host Your Own All-You-Can-Roll Sushi (Makizushi) Night

You might be asking yourself, "But isn't it difficult to roll sushi?"

In answer: "Yes, masters often must first apprentice for years and years in order to have the sole privelage of making sushi rice and then maybe later they learn to roll, but also no, really anyone can do it. Haha. It's actually a fairly forgiving process, once you get the basic concepts down. There is some, a little finesse involved in not over-stuffing the maki rolls so they stay sealed and in getting them to look all neat and tidy for presentation, but who truly cares what your sushi looks like as long as it tastes good, right?"

Short answer: "Lighten up! Don't take things so seriously." That's what I say.

Anyone can do this! If you must obsess about presentation, put any ugly dud-rolls on a separate plate or eat up your mishaps as you go along. Keep the atmosphere light-hearted and laid-back, laugh and chat while you roll, compare unique filling combinations you may come upon with the rest of the group and after piling the finished sushi onto a couple of platters, feast until your hearts and stomachs are content. You'll delight in the surprises you get when tasting eachother's handiwork.

Aside from your imagination and a sense of adventure, the Essential Tools You'll Need are:

• Sushi Rice (see recipe to follow) - ingredients for sushi rice include Short-Grain Sushi Rice (white or brown), Rice Vinegar, Water, Sugar (or sugar substitute), Salt
• Rice Cooker to make the rice, or a solid pot and fitting lid... I mean, c'mon, you're just making rice. No biggie. But I'll probably be shunned for saying that.
• Nori Sheets (Toasted Seaweed Sushi Wrapper) - one sheet makes about 5 or 6 pieces of maki or 1 hand-roll
• Sharp Knife for cutting maki
• Fillings, to taste (more ideas to follow)
• Wasabi, to taste
• Soy Sauce, to taste
• Pickled Ginger, to taste
• A Healthy Appetite (without this, you're lost)

I've found that some Helpful, But Not At All Necessary Tools include:

• Bamboo Sushi Mat for assisted rolling. I don't use one. I roll with my bare hands. Yep, I'm hard-core, can you handle it?
• Wooden Spatula for spreading the sushi rice. I use my fingers, wetting them with water first to minimize sticking. Whatever floats your boat, though.
• Several Shallow Dishes or Plates to cool and present the sushi rice, enough for guests to use conveniently without reaching too often in front of others (or everyone can just take turns - that works too.)
• Bowls of Water and Dish Towels to wet/rinse fingers off and wipe hands.
• Mini Shallow Dishes for serving soy sauce and wasabi.

To Make Sushi Rice:

You'll need 1 lb. short-grain rice (white or brown), 2 1/2 cups of water, 5 tbsp rice vinegar, 3 tbsp sugar (or desired sugar substitution - I use agave), and 2 tbsp salt.

Place the rice in a rice cooker, add water, and follow the manufacturer's directions for cooking. Or

place the rice in a pot with lid and add the water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer very low with steam for 15 -20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Taste-test a grain or two to check for chewiness. If it's still crunchy and not softened/sticky yet, add more water and continue a low simmer. I usually have to add an additional 1/2 cup of water because my rice cooker heats up too quickly. Remove the rice from heat and spread it out on plates or in shallow dishes, so it can cool evenly. You may try fanning it with a magazine or something similar to cool it quicker.

While the rice is cooking, mix the vinegar, salt, and sugar in a saucepan and heat gently while stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove this from heat and let it cool before drizzling it over the rice. Run a spatula through the rice gently to evenly distribute the mixture through the grains.

To Prepare Nori Sheets with Rice and Fillings Before Rolling:

Lay nori sheet smooth side down (one side is slightly rougher/textured) on a rolling mat or table surface, vertically so it's tall rather than wide in front of you, and spread (press down) a very thin layer of rice on the bottom 3/5 to 3/4 of the sheet (leave a strip at the top for overlapping to seal). I personally like to go with the 3/5 ratio for slightly smaller maki that is more pop-in-your-mouth sized, and this also helps me prevent over-stuffing or seam bursting.

Across your rice (halfway between the top of the rice and the bottom), horizontally lay your fillings in a narrow strip grouped together like tiny logs, keeping the diameter of the combined "logs" to no more than 1/2 inch.

A General Idea of How To Roll:

Roll from the bottom to the top, gently pinching the fillings together for tightness and gently squeezing the nori roll as you go to keep uniformity. Stop when you've reached the end of the rice, and moisten the remaining nori with water or soy sauce using your finger tip. Continue rolling and seal the nori.

Cutting the maki is slightly easier when the roll has set for a minute. Clean or wet the knife in between cuts to allow for a smooth glide through the maki. Note: Even if you don't have an awesome sushi chef's knife or your knife is not ultra sharp, you can achieve a cleaner cut without smooshing your roll by doing a tenderly slow sawing motion (sooo tenderly) until you've sliced through.

As for the goodies within...

There are a million possibilities of sushi filling variations. I try to add one off-the-wall ingredient each time:

Sometimes I hit upon perfection, sometimes the flavors are just "meh"then my tongue says, "Whatever, not impressed,"and rarely I make something that's just too weird for my buds to handle. Recently I sampled my own ochra, sprouts, and pomegranite vinegarette sushi which I wasn't so keen on - the okra was too slimy - and luckily I didn't subject any other innocent folk to those odd-ball rolls. Also not a fan of hard-boiled egg and celery in my sushi. But I've hit upon some tasty pairings, namely the addition of crunchy, dried, fried garlic bits, which I found come in a jar at the asian market (in the seasonings section) for quite cheap. Scrambled eggs are equally delicious paired with almost anything, especially with grilled salmon and cream cheese.Additionally, I've done a soft filling of pureed edame seasoned with curry and garlic chile sauce,and I'd give that a big huge thumbs up! Give your spice rack a once over and consider sprinkling in some curry powder, ground ginger, or cumin before rolling it up. Or try spreading on some hummus.

Common Fillings That are Golden include: Cucumbers, avocado, green onion, sprouts, daikon, shredded carrot, smoked salmon, tuna, crab, scrambled egg, tofu, cream cheese, Vegenaise, sesame seeds