Episode 3 - Baked Salmon

You will need the following ingredients: (serving for 4) 

* 1/2 pack of imitation crab sticks (preferably use Japanese crab sticks)

* 2 salmon fillet 

* 1 cup of mayonnaise (use real mayo not reduced fat) 

* 6 teaspoons of masago 

* 1 cup of mirin 

* 1 cup of sugar 

* 1/4 cup of soy sauce 

Step 1 - Crabmeat Filling 

Take your crab sticks and use your fingers to separate or shred the sticks apart. Once your done take a knife, cut your crab sticks into cubes, and then separate the crab even more with your fingers. Put 

your crab in a bowl and add 1 cup of mayonnaise. Mix it well. Then add 3 teaspoons of masago and 

start mixing all the ingredients together. I like to add an additional 3 more teaspoons of masago for 

extra flavor and color. Mix more. 

Step 2 - Prepping the Salmon 

Be sure to wash and pat dry your salmon fillets. Take a sharp knife and begin slicing your salmon into

thin slices. (Please be very careful not to slice your fingers off.) Slice your salmon until you reach the skin. Discard the skins. 

Step 3 - Assemble 

Look for one nice wide salmon slice and begin shaping the slice into a semi-circle. Use your fingers

to spread the salmon. Take a scoop of your crabmeat filling and put it on top of your semi circle slice. 

You want to shape the crabmeat filling into a dome. After that take more salmon slices and begin to cover the sides of the crabmeat filling. Make sure it's firm and shape it into a circle. 

Step 4 - Baking 

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Take out a pan and cover your pan with aluminum foil. Carefully take a spatula or knife and tranfer your salmon to the pan. I like to use a toaster oven vs. a conventional oven. If your using a conventional oven I found the baking time is a bit longer so be sure to monitor your salmon. Bake the salmon for 15 minutes. Once your done add a little bit of masago on top and drizzle your salmon with the sweet brown sauce. Adjust your oven to a broil setting. Put the salmon back in the oven and allow it to cook for 5-8mins or until the top is a little bit burnt. 

Sweet Brown Sauce Recipe

Turn your heat to medium. Add 1 cup of mirin, 1 cup of sugar, and 1/4 cup of soy sauce into a small saucepan. Stir the ingredients until the sugar has dissolved. Allow the ingredients to cook until alcohol (mirin) evaporates and becomes slightly thick. Turn heat off and let it cool off. You can store it in a tupperware and refrigerate for a few weeks. 

Episode 2- How to make easy sushi rolls

You will need the following ingredients:

* 1 pack of imitation crab meat (I used Osaki Brand in my video) 

* 1 pack of smoked salmon 

* 1/2 cup of mayonnaise 

* avocado 

* mango 

* cream cheese

* masago  

* sushi wrap

* 4 cups of sushi rice 

* 1/4 cup of rice vinegar

* 1 tablespoon of sugar 

* dash of salt 

* cold water 

Kitchen Utensils: 

* bamboo sushi rolling mat 

* saran wrap 

* 1 large wooden bowl 

* plastic utensils 

* plates

* bowls

* rice cooker 

* scissors

* small saucepan 

Step 1 - cooking the rice

Add 4 cups of sushi rice into your rice cooker bowl. Rinse the rice with your hands several times in cold water. Allow the rice to soak in water for about 15 minutes. Once soaked, drain the water, and add 4 1/2 cups of water into bowl. Begin to cook rice. 

Once rice is cooked, open lid, and allow the rice to sit for an additional 15 minutes. After 15 minutes take your rice and transfer it to your large wooden bowl. Cover the rice with a paper towl and set it to the side. 

In low heat take out a small saucepan. Add your vinegar, sugar, salt and stir until sugar and salt has dissolved. Continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Turn off stove and allow vinegar mixture to cool off. 

Once vinegar mixture is cooled carefully pour the mixture into your bowl of sushi rice. Mix well with a plastic spoon. 

Step 2- Prepping the bamboo sushi rolling mat 

Take out your bamboo sushi rolling mat and your going to cover the entire mat with saran wrap. I usually wrap 3 times to assure the bamboo is entirely covered front to back. (Helpful tip #1) If you have a gas stove you can seal your edges by carefully placing the mat above the flame. The heat allows the saran wrap to shrink and by shrinking it actually seals it. You can also try a blow dryer or just use scotch tape to seal the edges. 

Step 3- Snowcrab and Philly

Snowcrab Mixture 

Shred and chop the imitation crab meat. Once chopped put your crab meat into a mixing bowl. Add your mayo and 1 teaspoon of masago. Mix ingredients well. 

Philly 

Slice your smoked salmon and cream cheese. 

Go ahead and slice your avocado and mango. 

Step 4- Arranging your rolls 

Take your sushi wrap and cut about 2 inches off. Place the wrap on the rolling mat, add sushi rice, and carefully spread the rice all over the wrap. (Helpful tip #2) Use a plastic spoon or knife to spread the rice evenly. The rice is very sticky and using plastic utensils makes spreading easy. After your down flip the wrap carefully and be sure the flat side of the rolling mat is faced up. 

Snowcrab roll add the following:

1. snowcrab mixture 

2. avocado 

Philly roll 

1. smoked salmon 

2. avocado 

3. Cream cheese 

Add your desired ingredients. Carefully roll your sushi and press lightly to seal. Use your rolling mat and begin to tightly roll your sushi. Start at the side nearest you and begin to roll and squeeze towards you. Be careful not to press too tight or else your sushi will fall apart. (Helpful tip #3) You can wet your hands with water to assure the rice won't stick to you. 

Step 5- Decorate by adding toppings

Take one of your sushi rolls and spread masago all over. The red color makes the sushi attractive and also it makes the sushi yummy. 

Try fresh mango for a different approach. It's wonderful on either snowcrab or philly roll. 

Be creative. 

Step 6- Preparation

Warning: Please be very careful when handling sharp objects. 

Use a sharp knife to cut the sushi to 6-8 pieces. I usually don't use the sushi ends. Also I find dipping the knife in cold water makes slicing easier. You get a cleaner cut in my opinion. Plate. Serve. Enjoy.

Special thanks to my roomie Ai for sharing her sushi tips :) 

Quick Crispy Breaded Tilapia Recipe

You will need the following ingredients: 

 * 2 tilapia fillets 

 * extra virgin olive oil

 * 2 cloves of garlic, minced

 * 2 tomatoes , one sliced , one chopped

 * 1/2 cup heavy cream 

 * kosher salt 

 * black pepper 

 * 1/2 cup of flour 

 * 2 eggs, beaten 

 * 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese

 * 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

 * 1 teaspoon of garlic powder 

 * 1/2 sliced yellow onion 

 * bag of fresh spinach 

Rinse and pat dry the tilapia fillets. Your going to season both sides with kosher salt and black pepper. 

Take out 3 plates and prepare your battering mixture. The first plate will contain the flour.  The second plate will contain the beaten eggs. The final plate combine parmesan, panko breading, and garlic powder.

Dredge the seasoned tilapia in the flour. Shake off excess. Next dip in egg. The final layer add the parmesan panko mixture. 

Drizzle about 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once olive oil is heated 

add garlic, sliced tomatoes, and heavy cream.  Allow mixture to cook for about 3-5 minutes. Reduce 

heat to low and allow sauce to simmer for 15 minutes. 

Next, heat 3-4 tablespons of olive oil in a large frying pan. Once oil is heated place your filet in the frying pan and cook for 10 minutes per side. Fish should be golden brown. 

When your fish is cooked carefully remove and allow the fish to rest on a plate of paper towels. 

Clean your frying pan or take out a new large pan. Drizzle the pan with about a tablespoon of olive oil. 

Add your onions and allow the onions to sauteed for about 2-3 mins. Once onions are ready add your spinach and sauteed for an additional 5-8 mins. until spinach has shriveled in size. 

In a small bowl add your chopped mango and tomatoes and mix well. 

Add your spinach mixture on a serving platter and lay your fish on top. Pour the garlic tomato sauce over the top. Add your mango tomato salsa on the side. Serve. Enjoy.  

Next episode .. How to make Easy Sushi Rolls :)