September 20, 2016

Girls Night In Sushi Night

Girls Night In Sushi Night

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The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

Girls Night In Sushi Night. Last Spring, a few of elementary school moms and I got together for a Girls Night In, and we had a BLAST! So, we vowed to do it as often as possible, when the kids were in school. We have kept our vow, and gone to movies together, had day “dates”, and most recently, we all got together for Van’s Egg Rolls, delicious cocktails, and homemade sushi!

When we were talking about what we would do for our next “GNO” we decided to have a Girls Night IN, and try our hand at making sushi. Once we decided what our theme would be, I ran to Walmart to gather supplies. I grabbed some of the most amazingly delicious egg rolls (in the deli section of the store) I have EVER had, Van’s Kitchen Egg Rolls. (click the link and join Club Vantastic for a $1 off coupon) I.am.not.joking! I love egg rolls, but these are undoubtedly the best I have ever had. Van’s Kitchen Egg Rolls is a family owned and operated company, run with girl power! A working mom, with teenage sons, so she makes sure the egg rolls are full of freshly chopped carrots, onions, celery and cabbage and 100% white meat chicken, lean cuts of premium pork, or delicious bites of shrimp. Plus, they’re low in fat and calories with no added MSG…which is good when you eat, like, 12, right?

Once I had the supplies I needed from Walmart, I ran to the Asian market and got some chopsticks, bamboo mats, and other fun treats. Then, I went to the liquor store for some Saki.

The night before the girls came over, I made some candied ginger snacks, ginger syrup, and the sushi rice. We did our GNO IN during the day at my house, when the kids were at school. I had all the supplies ready when the girls came over around lunch time. I pre-cooked the asparagus, and sliced the cucumbers and carrots. I even fried up some tempura shrimp. On the other side of my counter/bar, I set up the DIY drink station with club soda, ginger syrup, bottled ginger beer (though we didn’t even touch that), a bottle of saki, mandarin orange zest peels and juice, and gorgeous cracked glass glasses.

Only half of us had ever tried sushi before, and none of us had made our own, so it was a fun activity. We all laughed so hard making it. The rice was CRAZY sticky, so on the second roll we used a little olive oil spray on our hands before we touched it, and on the bamboo mat. Thankfully for those of us that didn’t like the sushi, the Van’s Kitchen Egg Rolls (follow them on Facebook too!) were easy to make and super yummy!

Even fewer of the girls had ever tried saki, so we were all in for a treat with our cocktails! These cocktails were so good, I have already gone back to the store for more saki. I used the recipe for Ginger Fizz, but I substituted saki for rum. I also tweaked the ginger syrup recipe some too.