Sort of Sushi

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of sushi rice
1/2 sesame seeds (I mix black and white and will send you some - they're cheap in chinatown)
1/3 cup of seasoned rice vinegar (Asian food section of the supermarket)
pinch of salt
pinch of sugar
wasabi paste or powder (to taste - it's hot, a little goes a long way - Asian section of the supermarket)
ripe avocado, cucumber, carrots
pickled ginger (optional)

Directions:

Cook rice. (Get a rice cooker at Target!)

While rice is cooking...

• add the salt and sugar to vinegar - heat it in the microwave and stir until the sugar and salt dissolve
• prepare vegetables - slice avocado and cucumbers, shred carrots
• get a cold cup of water

When the rice is done:

• stir gently with a spoon or spatula you've dipped in the cold water. (Dip periodically to avoid sticking)
• add vinegar and stir to incorporate
• stir in sesame seeds
  

Assemble in individual serving dishes.

• a layer of rice
• a layer of wasabi (you may want to thin with water to make spreading easier)
• arrange vegetables on the wasabi
• finish with a layer of rice.
  

Eat right away with soy sauce and some pickled ginger for garnish.

If you want to save, wet a piece of plastic wrap slightly and cover. It seems to keep nicely for a few days this way.

Confession: I really don't bother with the other vegs, this is just a way to eat avocado around here. Today I was running out of rice, but had one avo threatening to go overripe, so I had 3 parts avocado to 1 part rice. MMMMMmmmmmm.

Also, really good with edamame beans on the side.