Sushi Making 101

I recently treated myself (plus my friend, Celeste) to a sushi-making class at Sushi Yoko in Fort Worth. I purchased the deal on Groupon, plus making sushi is on my 2013 Resolution List. For $75, Celeste and I each had a cocktail, iced tea, an appetizer, sushi roll, and nearly three hours of personal instruction from the sushi chef and restaurant owner, Lamar. A couple from Dallas and two ladies from Fort Worth were also in the class. Together, we had a wonderful evening full of laughs and great sushi.

The boxes in the photo above are holding chopsticks belonging to families and individuals who eat at Sushi Yoko frequently. The boxes are arranged along several walls inside the restaurant and I think it’s the neatest idea for customer appreciation! Lamar promised me my own set of chopsticks on the wall if I bring more friends for another class …. I’m getting a box on the wall!!!!!

Making sushi is an art and it has quite the colorful history. What most consider sushi began humbly as a way of preserving meat and fish with vinegar-soaked rice. Sushi rice (the most important component) is carefully prepared according to the strict instructions of the itamae (or sushi chef), and every sushi restaurant has its own “secret” recipe using short-grain rice, sugar, salt, and vinegar. To appease our palettes, sushi rice in the United States is much sweeter than its counterpart in Japan, which is made with more vinegar.

After a thorough lesson in the history of sushi, and explaining different types of rolls and assembling techniques, Lamar showed us how to make a traditional California roll with sushi rice, nori (seaweed) paper, cucumber, avocado, and imitation crab. The first step is measuring a palm full of sushi rice and forming a tight, but not “squished” ball of rice in your hand, and retrieving a sheet of nori.

It’s important to not over work the rice as it could quickly turn the consistency of mashed potatoes. Lamar expertly demonstrated how to spread the rice on the sheet of nori, starting down the center of the paper and gently pressing it down, and pushed the rice over the edge about a quarter of an inch. To arrange the filling, Lamar began with the softest food (avocado), then spread the crab meat and neatly arranged several strips of cucumber.

With thumbs positioned on the bottom, and fingers holding the filling ingredients in place, Lamar lifted his wrists and rolled forward in one slow motion.

Without lifting the bamboo mat completely, reposition and roll a quarter of a turn. Then apply slight pressure to seal that perfect edge!

Done … except the edges need to be cleaned up. Lamar used the bamboo mat to hold the roll in place while he “flattened” the edge with the palm of his hand.

You’ve now reached the point in the post where we transition from the professional (Lamar) making sushi to the amateur (Yours Truly). =)

In case you had any doubts, sticky rice is really sticky. There is pomp-and-circumstance required when rolling a bamboo mat covered in plastic wrap too, it’s not as easy as it looks!!!

I pride myself in decent knife skills, but nobody can easily cut through plastic, fresh salmon, and several layers of rice, nori paper, and filling with a regular ol’ steak knife. Because I was a good student and asked questions, took lots of photos, and promised positive promotion for his business, Lamar let me use his chef’s knife. It sliced the roll like warm butter!

I wish I could tell you that my Alaskan roll turned out pretty, but the truth is I am not Picasso in the world of sushi art. But hey, it tasted great!

If you are a sushi eater, what are your favorite rolls? Have you ever taken a food prep class? Tell me in a comment!!!

Touring the Holy Land

I’ve made you wait long enough for photos from my trip to Israel. It took longer than expected to eliminate the blurry, over-exposed, and repetitive photos from more than 2,500 images on five memory cards and at least 400 more on my tablet. There was a minor major hiccup when I accidentally deleted photos from my camera before downloading them to my laptop. However, I’m not too upset because I have plenty of pictures to remember the trip, and even more memories to savor until I can return to Jerusalem.

Before I boarded the plane in Newark, New Jersey to Tel Aviv, Israel, I upgraded my seat from Coach Economy to Coach Plus (definitely worth $107) and swallowed a sleeping pill. I was asleep before take-off. Ten hours later, I watched the sun rise over Athens, Greece {thanks to a handy-dandy map app on the 10-inch screen attached to the seat in front of me}. Still tired, I slept through breakfast too. On the return flight (from Tel Aviv to Newark), I upgraded to Coach Plus again (this time it cost me $127 for a wider seat, more leg room, + a window seat) and slept 10 hours.

If you have plans to visit the Holy Land, may I offer these three suggestions:

1. lose all expectations
2. become a dry sponge willing to soak up all the sights, sounds, and experiences
3. wear comfortable shoes

In regards to expectations, it is important to remember that the Holy Land has endured battles, uproars, disagreements, wars, and power struggles for thousands of years. Modern ideals (i.e. religious law, gender roles, clothing, food, etc.) must respectfully take a backseat during your visit. I also suggest you dust off your history books and religious texts.

A long time ago, people with power and deep pockets ordered the construction of churches, cathedrals, and temples to be built on holy sites. I do not doubt the validity of these locations because in the big scheme of things, it doesn’t matter to me. Instead, I’m savoring memories like these: walking where Jesus walked; remembering my baptism at the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (but I don’t think John was a Baptist); and praying in the Garden of Gethsemane beside olive trees confirmed to have been present in Jesus’ time. We don’t have to agree, but that’s just plain cool!

According to tradition, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (also called the Church of the Resurrection) sits atop Golgotha (Calvary). Visitors can kneel at an elaborate altar and touch the stone believed to have held Jesus’ cross. There is also a large stone slab in the Rotunda where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial, the Anointed Stone. Despite the extremely low light inside the church, photos of massive tile mosaics turned out better than expected. Another photo miracle came while standing in line to see the tomb of Jesus. I stared at a bronze angel for several minutes before taking its picture. The photo even has bokeh.

Once in Tel Aviv, we visited the coastal city of Jaffa. It was pouring rain so some pilgrims {fancy term for tourists in the Holy Land} stayed on the bus. Jaffa, I learned, is the oldest port in the world. According to the Bible, Jonah set sail from Jaffa before encountering the whale (or was it a fish?), and it was in Jaffa where Peter raised Tabitha from the dead.

Inside most temples, cathedrals, and churches were the most beautiful tile mosaics I have ever seen. Along the Via Dolorosa, I saw this incredible mosaic of Jesus carrying his cross. Every tile had to have been cut and polished by hand, then very carefully arranged to create this beautiful image. I’m still in awe.

The hill of Mount Zion, the highest point in Old Jerusalem, is dominated by the Church of the Dormition (bottom left photo). According to Christian tradition, it is the place where the Virgin Mary died. Nearby is The Upper Room, where Jesus washed his disciples’ feet and served The Last Supper before being crucified, and King David’s Tomb. In the main area of the tomb, before the split between men-only and women-only areas, a grandmother-like woman grabbed my hand (no kidding!) when she saw my camera. Afraid I might take pictures (which I would not do after instructions from our tour guide), she escorted me through the room and back to the exit on the opposite side. She didn’t speak an ounce of English, but she made sure I followed the rules!

The Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu (bottom right photo) is a stone’s throw from The Upper Room, located on the lower east side of Mount Zion. This Roman Catholic Church takes its name from Peter’s triple rejection of Jesus. The church has been rebuilt several times, the latest construction in 1931, and further connects Peter with the golden rooster on the roof. Inside are multiple underground caves and crypts. Some believe Jesus was imprisoned here. On the north side of the church is an ancient staircase that leads to the Kidron Valley and many Christians believe Jesus followed this path down to the Garden of Gethsemane.

There were so many wonderful, magical moments on this trip. I had a blast following the footsteps of Jesus and visiting places important to his ministry. However, walking along the stone streets of Old Jerusalem put so much into context. I don’t know if it was the conglomeration of three major religions (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) or the sense of old world charm in a bustling metropolis, but I loved every minute of it. Luckily, my tour group spent the last day of our pilgrimage in the Old City — and shared the Sacrament of Holy Communion in the Garden of the Empty Tomb — the perfect way to conclude our trip! Even though the final day focused on the Via Dolorosa, I intentionally stayed at the back of the pack (like I normally do in large group settings) to capture lifestyle shots. Anybody can Google the places I’ve seen, but I wanted photos that captured the essence of the people who live, work, and thrive inside the ancient city walls. There were open-air markets and street vendors selling shawarma (meat prepared on a rotating spit), brightly colored scarves blowing in the breeze, a variety of candies and sweet treats on display tables, and more fresh produce than this country girl could ever imagine!

Where there is water, I usually find a way in. I swam floated in the Dead Sea and now I’m a frequent shopper of AVAHA Dead Sea products. My daily skincare routine includes cleansers, toners, scrubs, masks, and hydrating lotions packed with black mud or saltwater from the Dead Sea. After dining on Saint Peter’s fish (similar taste and texture of tilapia) at a family-style restaurant along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, I snuck away from the group to dip my feet in the (very cool) water. The large rocks provided perfect coverage for my secret mission. Moments later, the group discovered my location as they began boarding a large cruising boat for another tour. The skies were a perfect shade of blue, the water was nice and calm, and the captain turned off the engines and played a soft melody of It Is Well With My Soul over the speakers.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When you have the opportunity to sit atop a camel, just do it already! There were 54 adults standing and gawking, talking about how cool it would be to ride a camel, but nobody was willing to get on the furry animal until Yours Truly demonstrated it was perfectly safe. I’m glad to take one for the team … and do something I’ve never done before!!!

I hope you enjoyed this post and perhaps you learned a few things too. I’d love to visit Jerusalem and the Holy Land again sometime, especially with my Mom. Have you traveled to the Holy Land? The Middle East? What were your favorite spots? What other destinations are on your dream list? Someday, I want to travel to Africa and Asia.

Lovely Ladies | my first “real” photo shoot

Last Sunday, I was approached by a parent in a desperate situation. His daughter, plus five of her friends, scheduled a photo shoot together but the photographer cancelled. They needed somebody with a camera.

I said yes (because that’s what people who can’t say no do) and agreed to take pictures. I called a friend who’s a professional photographer and she gave me suggestions and encouraged me to have fun. Thanks to another lovely lady, I borrowed her Nikon D5000 (like mine) with a super-duper-fantastic 50mm lens.

Dear Santa, please bring me a 50mm lens. I’ll leave your favorite kind of cookies *AND* cupcakes out Christmas Eve! =)

Here are a few of my favorites from the photo shoot at the Fort Worth Stockyards:

Considering this was my first “real” photo shoot, I’m pleased. I learned valuable lessons and gained a lot of confidence. For one, I must check my camera’s settings more often. There was an incredible shot of the girls’ boots, but my ISO was too high. The sun was bright and the photo was washed-out and overexposed. Bummer.

The best thing for me to do now is practice, practice, PRACTICE!

J, S, A, J, E, and M … you are each beautiful and wonderful. Thank you for inviting me to take your pictures. Let’s do this again – SOON!

Washington, D.C. | a sneak peak

Y’all, this fat girl is TIREDDDDDDDDDD. Ohmygoodnessgraciousgollygeez. I think I’ve walked 100 miles since yesterday morning. Of course, I can’t forget to mention that D.C. is experiencing a RECORD HEAT WAVE this week. Sonofabiscuit, it’s really hot, y’all!!!!!

I’m keeping this short because Husband and I are going to dinner soon, but I had to share some of the photos I’ve taken in the D.C. area. Yesterday, I opened the gate of Mount Vernon (George Washington’s estate). No joke, I was literally standing outside the Texas Gate waiting for somebody to welcome me to the property. While waiting, and hoping no one was watching from behind a tree ( or worse! ) a security camera, I used the self-timer on my camera to take a photo of myself. It was quite the event, let me tell you. At least I got one worthwhile shot in the endeavor. Inside the welcome center, I watched a video, narrated by Pat Sajek (Wheel of Fortune, anyone?), inside a 200-seat auditorium. It was a private showing just for me! Later on,
I enjoyed a “private” cruise on the Potomac River via the Spirit of Mount Vernon.
Seriously, I was the only person on the boat!!!!!!

After spending the morning with George Washington (not literally, you know he’s dead, right?),
I drove to Arlington National Cemetary. I had to make a detour because I got confused at a traffic circle and went the wrong way. I eventually got to where I wanted to go though. Darn road signs in bad locations! The cemetary was crowded but I walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and watched the Changing of the Guard.

This morning, I left early – butt crack of dawn kind of early – and a very nice man from the facility drove me to the METRO train station, about 10 minutes away. I boarded the “red” line and rode the train into D.C. I can’t say enough *GOOD* things about public transportation, especially transit/people movers. Buy a ticket, board a train, and off you go. Whoever developed that concept was genius. I spent the morning walking around the ENTIRE National Mall (and now have the blisters on my feet to prove it!) and was in line to go inside the National Archives before 10:00am. I can now say that I’ve seen the original Declaration of Independance,
the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. I also saw the original Magna Carta. Very. Cool. Stuff.

I ate lunch at Old Ebbit Grill and the crab cakes were DEEEEEEEEEEE-lish. They were so good I had two. I ordered a side salad thinking it would be small, but it was as big as my head.
The citrus vinegarette was tasty too. And Helen was my waitress. She was super-duper cool and awesome and helpful and insightful and diligent and attentive and concerned about my allergy and friendly and nice and wonderful …. if you know Helen that works at OEB, tell her I said hello. Thanks. Oh, and the plush velvet seat cushions felt oh-so-heavenly on my tired-tush.

Was that too much information?

After lunch, I went to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church for its mid-week worship service at noon. I listened to some great music, a powerful sermon, and met some fantastic folks. I was so engrossed by the old architecture, stained glass windows, and pleasant conversation, that I didn’t take a single photograph. EPIC FAIL.

Did I mention that I walked 21249481 miles today?

Alright, that’s all you’re gonna get tonight. I’m starving and Husband is ready to leave for supper. I hope you’re having a fan-tabulous week wherever you are and staying cool. I was told by two separate individuals to take this heat back to Texas ASAP. It was cool and comfortable last week but as soon as the Texans arrive, the mercury goes above 100. Don’t worry, folks, we’ll be gone before the weekend!

~ Nicole ~

 

when Husband says get your camera

YOU GET THE CAMERA!!!!!

There were big storms in the Metroplex last night, even reports of large hail in several Dallas neighborhoods, but we didn’t see any of it south of Fort Worth. We did, however, have quite the show in the sky. Check out these cloud photos!

me + monthly photo challenges = a bad combination

I am a failure at monthly photography challenges.

This morning, a post was published *ACCIDENTALLY* for the May photo challenge. That would have been all fine and dandy except for it contained no photos. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

The next time I get a wild-hair up my @$$ to participate in some month-long event, somebody please remind me of the following:

• Your cell phone is from the 15th century. It makes calls, receives calls, and features a clock. It does *NOT* have photo-taking capabilities.
• You don’t take your camera with you everywhere. If you did, people would think you’re the paparazzi at the grocery store. Not a cool thing.

• Instead of signing up for a month-long photo challenge, go read 50 Shades.

Enjoy your day. Maybe I’ll go outside and take a picture of something.

#photoadayMay – Group 3 and Group 4

Thanks to fatmumslim, I’m participating in her #photoadayMay this month. Want to join me? Check out her site!

Because I’m running behind (I told you this photo challenge was difficult for me!), here is group THREE and FOUR (well, at least parts of them):

May 11 — kitchen

I got nothin’.

May 12 — something that makes me happy

As much as I love calla lilies and hydrangea flowers, there is nothing more beautiful than a gigantic magnolia tree. It reminds me of my great-grandmother, Nannie. Just thought of her makes me smile. And that, makes me very happy.

May 13 — MOM!

I saw this hen turkey near a friend’s house and she was walking along the county road with her 12 chicks. Such a cute feathery family!

The photo of the baby chick doesn’t count for this photo challenge, just consider it a cherry on top of your photo sundae. I’m nice like that.

May 14 — grass

Husband is the best, he mowed. Again.

May 15 — love

Sorry, no picture. I got nothin’.

May 16 — what I’m reading

If I told you my “twitchy palms” were stowed would you know what I’m reading? My inner goddess is prancing around dripping in diamonds … and a grey silk tie.

Any guesses?

May 17 — snack

This is a reminder that I owe a particular set of kiddos at church a batch of strawberry cupcakes. They’ve been asking The Cupcake Lady (ahem, yours truly) for cupcakes and I have yet to deliver. I have the ingredients. Must. Make. Cupcakes.

May 18 — something I’ve made

I’m really proud of my “accomplished” Pinterest project. These paint chip drink coasters (for tutorial, click here) are so colorful and festive, plus I already have the materials to create more with initials and monograms, team spirit and sports teams, plus some really gorgeous prints.

May 19 — a favorite place

The good ol’ U.S.A.

May 20 — something I can’t live without

Again, I got nothin’. No picture, that is. What can I not live without? Hmm … besides the obvious (water and food), I’m not sure. I know I could live without scorpions.

I’m hanging my head in shame. Good day.

That’s all.

Road Trip to Cleburne, Texas

Don’t get too excited about the title of this post. I’m using the term “road trip” very loosely. Cleburne is less than 10 miles down the road, I didn’t need luggage for this mini-vacation!

I was in the area because a dear friend (here’s another shout to Rev.L) was invited to play golf and I promised her that I would come to the course before she began the round. My pre-round pep talk went something like this:

Make sure you drive the cart. Keep your head down. Don’t make a “chopping” motion on your down swing. Stay loose. Smile. If everything else fails, you look fabulous in that outfit!!!!!

I’m a wonderful cheerleader (minus the uniform, of course) and friend. My golf game, however, has lost its luster. But, who knows, perhaps I’ll pick it up again.

Anyway, back to this post. I had my camera with me and couldn’t help but stop and marvel at the beauty of these neighborhood streets lined with tall trees. Minus the trash cans and political campaign signs, it was dreamy!

If I had to describe my great-grandmother, Nannie, in one word, it would be magnolia. Just like the tree, Nannie was a woman of large stature. She was full of Southern charm, grace, and I swear she could make an artificial flower bloom. The woman had a green thumb like none other. In addition to her impressive collection of African violets and a fern that spanned more than six-feet across (I’m not kidding!), Nannie always had a fresh flower bouquet on her dining room table. When the magnolias were blooming, she would collect several branches with the shiny green leaves and three flowering blooms.

When arranging flowers, Nannie always told me to have an ODD number of blooms to balance the vase or container. Since she owned her own florist for several decades, I took her word.

After leaving the golf course, I drove by a city park and noticed this buffalo statue. Since the weather was so nice, and I had the time, I stopped for some photos. There were lots of school-aged children at the park on a field trip, but this particular park is quite large and the walking trails were clear. It was the perfect opportunity for a stroll through the park.
I walked quietly to not disturb the residents (i.e. the geese, squirrels, and ducks) too.

This particular morning was absolutely gorgeous but there wasn’t a breath of wind, so this flag was not moving. I was intrigued with the bright blue sky as well as the flag’s position.
I don’t know why it was at half-staff but I think it still made a beautiful photo.

Have a great weekend, Y’all. Hopefully, I’ll get caught up on laundry and this blasted photography challenge that has consumed my thoughts but not my camera.

 

#photoadayMay – Group 2

Thanks to fatmumslim, I’m participating in her #photoadayMay this month. Want to join me? Check out her site!

Here is group TWO of my photographs:

May 6 — ME!

I really hate for my photo to be taken. I cheated and took a photo of my Facebook wall on the computer screen. Let’s move on.

May 7 — someone that inspires me

There are so many people that inspire me. I’m blessed with incredible people from all walks of life that guide me, teach me, challenge me, entertain me, and nurture me. For the sake of this post, I’m breaking the rules because I did not take this photo of Lisa. Besides, it’s hard to take a photo of someone who lives in Virginia. Please, visit Lisa’s blog and tell her I said hello.

May 8 — a smell that I adore

It’s hard to describe the smell in the back woods of western Kentucky. Luckily, I have this picture from a trip to Kentucky last summer ….. I’m on a roll of breaking the rules, so forgive me …… that takes my breath away every time. The trees, the water, the sky, it’s peaceful, sacred, and, most importantly, it’s my Kentucky home. I miss it. A lot.

May 9 — something I do everyday

Humor me. I doubt the world is ready for the offspring Husband and I have the potential of creating. It’s better for everyone that I take these pills every day. Seriously.

May 10 — a favorite word

Again, my sense of humor is on overload.

This photo challenge is really difficult for me. I don’t take my camera with me wherever I go on a daily basis and I’m always scrambling to complete this goal. I envy those with cell phones that take pictures. I won’t bore you with the ancient features of my cell phone: it dials numbers and receives incoming calls. Is there an app for that?!

Anyway, happy shootin’ and see you next week for Group 3 photos!

An Evening in Kentucky (before and after)

In between running the vacuum, dusting the furniture, emptying the dishwasher, folding clothes, mopping the hardwood floors, and scrubbing toilets today, I found some pictures from a trip I took to Kentucky last summer. It was strictly by chance that I found these files because they were poorly labeled and buried in folders hidden away on my laptop. (Note to self: you really need to get your photos organized … asap!)

I took this photo one late afternoon at a friend’s house, located on a hunting lodge in western Kentucky. The home includes a very large upper deck with spectacular views of a lake and hunting grounds. It’s one of my favorite places to visit and sit in solitude. Every once in a while large hawks will sweep down and catch a fish or, if you’re lucky, deer will appear from the woods and drink at the water’s edge. Unfortunately, my original photo looks terrible.

See?

The photo is over-exposed and everything is washed out. It screams HELP ME!

I put my big girl panties on and opened the original file (RAW format) in Photoshop and played around with the settings. I’m not comfortable (or knowledgeable) with Photoshop.
I don’t know what all of the settings and buttons mean, and, I’m afraid I’ll do something and lose the original file. I’m obviously a skeerdie-cat when it comes to Photoshop. I can’t help it.

In my juvenile attempts, I adjusted four settings to the photo:

1. Decreased the exposure
2. Decreased the brightness
3. Increased the vibrance
4. Increased the saturation

After doing these four things, I think the photo looks better. What do you think?

The water and sky are actually blue and they contrast with the green foliage. The sun setting provides nice golden tones too.

Do you think this photo is frame-worthy?

It definitely makes me miss home. I’ve got to schedule a trip to Kentucky soon.

Until then,

Nicole