Well It Tastes Like Sushi

If you think sushi is easy to make think again. I was excited about making my first vegan California rolls. I bought the mat, the seaweed, and the precooked Japanese rice. I watched the videos , studying the exact way to slice up an avocado. Did it work out? Well, the end result did taste like a California roll.

It does start with the rice and seaweed sheets. I used Shirakiku precooked rice straight from the container. Big mistake there.I should have microwaved it first. Then there was the seaweed, Hagoromo's split sheets of nori. I think this was my second mistake.It should have been a solid sheet. This was not easy to roll up on the new sushi mat

This is the mat drying now.

I was proud of the avocado slicing along with the cucumber peeling

I bought shredded baby carrots.

These are the three essential ingredients in a vegan California roll. It's a matter of flattening the rice with the sushi mat and then flipping it. There has to be knack to it. I did manage to roll the veggies into the rice and nori.

However ......

It looked like Godzilla stomped on it  Yet it did taste like the Cali roll I get at Sarku.It just needed a little soy sauce and it was a delicious treat.  I now know to use whole sheets of nori and microwave the precooked rice for more malleability. I won't give up. 

The perfect California roll is out there.It's just going to take more practice along with the right ingredients to make the ones I love. From there, it's on to other tastier sushi rolls.

Can Fast Food Be Diet Food

We've been constantly told that fast food is bad food. Everyone from doctors to diet gurus warn of its' side affects. Yet some places do offer healthier , sometimes lower calories . Can these smart choices help in shedding pounds? Possibly.

Many of us love Wendy's . It's  fast food that tastes almost like home made. You can eat healthy here. Their famed baked potato is only 270 calories if there's nothing loaded on top. If you want something  to top it then go for the free sour cream and margarine. The bacon cheese potato is 480 calories.. Have it with their Honest iced tea which is thirst quenching and diet perfect at only five calories. Wendy's also offers salads. One of the most filling and good for anyone watching his or her weight is the Power Mediterranean Salad which is only 250 calories for a small portion. This is a mix of  quinoa, chicken feta and hummus.If you,re craving more meat then settle on their Buffalo ranch slider at 220 calories or their grilled chicken sandwich which has 270. Dieters can  even have their beef and eat it too.Wendy's has a junior double cheeseburger that's only 280 calories.Are the other famed fast food restaurants that calorie conscious? Chck-Fil-A and KFC do have food that can fit into a regimented meal plan.KFC has a combo of grilled chicken and mashed potatoes for 430 calories. Chick-fil-a has unbreaded chicken nuggets for only 240 calories for five pieces.

Other fast food places can also be advantageous too. One of the best for low calorie food with a lot of flavor is Sarku. Their miso soup is only fifty calories, a perfect lunch on a cold, rainy day. They also offer shrimp and sushi which are surprisingly hearty fare despite the lightness. Th shrimp comes with white or brown rice along with a good scoop of green vegetables. Their California roll sushi is only three hundred calories but packed with flavorful shards of crab meat and avocado. Panera Bread can also offer some low calorie  foods, despite the fact it primarily sells calorie rich breads,. muffins, and cookies. Yet their breads are between 120 and 160 calories a slice - however, it's hard to just stop at once slice. Their loaves are beyond delicious. Luckily the chain offers smaller versions of their soups and salads along with half sandwiches, Their  halved Mediterranean veggie sandwich on tomato basil bread is only 220 calories. Wash it down with ten calorie Spindrift raspberry lime seltzer. Finish it with a mouthful of their coconut macaroon at only 140 calories. Or have the last with a five calorie espresso for a quick afternoon pick me up. Panera's flavored coffees are only twenty calories a cup and you can probably get it iced as well as hot.

Fast food can also be a dieter's food. It's just choosing wisely with your mind - not your stomach. Then you can enjoy a meal out without any guilt

Teterboro's' Restaurant Row

Mention the town Teterboro to anyone from North Jersey and they'll say  "That's where the airport is." Now  it's home to an exciting row of chain restaurants. These are a welcome arrival to those living in southern Bergen County, giving us new eateries to try and enjoy.

For years' the southern part of New Jersey's most prosperous county  had mostly privately owned restaurants, offering the usual Chinese or Italian fare. Once  in a while an all you can eat buffet cropped up.Thnaks to the tearing down of the old Bendix Building , acreage opened up in this busy section of the Garden State. Wal-mart and CostCo took over and in front of them two , smart, shiny new strip malls. Locals can now enjoy everything from pizza to halal, from Japanese to frozen yogurt. There are even two chain restaurants , one the famed Texas Roadhouse and the other is BJ's. These are great burger and steak places that also offer pasta and tacos. I have yet to visit these but they 're on my must see list. I'm especially looking forward to Texas Roadhouse , known for their sumptuous steaks and  their cactus blossom, their take on the Bloomin onion. Their rattlesnake bites, namely jalapeno poppers also look intriguing while . their steaks are very impressive looking too.

I have eaten at most of the smaller restaurants, starting with Habit Burger. I reviewed it a year ago when it first opened, and was not happy with the result. I am planning on returning to see if they improved their recipe. One of the better eateries there is Sarku, a Japanese fast food place that features teriyaki along with sushi. Their shrimp and beef is excellent as is their chicken. Another good place to eat is Blaze Pizza where everyone gets an entire , freshly made pie I have to admit I did have reservations about this place, thinking it would be just blah generic stuff . Boy, was I wrong. The pizza tastes exaclty like the ones I've had in Italy. . Just a perfect marriage of sauce, cheese and crust. I also love the cherry soda they serve too.. The Halal Guys are another tasty stop,with pitas filled with chicken and tahini. They also have very good falafel too. The meal ends with a trip to Panera Bread. Nothing beats their cappuccino and holiday mitten cookies. That's another place I want to try for lunch too. There's also Sixteen Handles which has the best frozen yogurt and toppings. Try their Chocolate Brownie with a big blob of whipped cream.

If you're in southern Bergen County, visit the new Teterboro Lamding. Yes, you can shop at the Wal-Mart and CostCo, but try the wide variety of restaurants that are there. They are fun and different, perfect for a meal out.