This is how we roll

By Giselle Wedemire

Going out for sushi is one of my favourite things in the world. Funnily enough, going out and spending money is one of my least favourite pastimes ever.

Inspired by my sudden onset of frugality and my boyfriend's recent purchase of the ultimate vegan cookbook (Veganomicon), he and I decided to try out one of the book's more ambitious recipes: Spicy Tempeh Nori Rolls. 

Though they have a mean learning curve, these tempeh sushi rolls are worth the time and effort once you get the hang of rolling sushi.

Being our first foray into the recipes found in this cookbook -- which is practically the vegan bible -- we didn't know what to expect. 

Normally I love everything the book's co-author Isa Chandra Moskowitz creates, but I was somewhat skeptical because of how labour-intensive this sushi recipe appeared in print (plus, rolling your own sushi by hand for the first time is pretty darn intimidating).

Would this take forever to make? Will our failed nori rolls cause us to curl up into a fetal position while refusing to carry on cooking? Will this recipe require a million weird ingredients that only hippies know of? These were all questions we were initially asking ourselves.  

However, once we got everything going, it wasn't as tiring a feat as I had anticipated.

The only real trouble we got into was when we attempted to use the recipe's instructions when it came time to assemble the rolls. The instructions weren't nearly demonstrative enough, which led to a bit of huffing, puffing and kitchen-related grumpiness. However, a quick visit to YouTube showed us how to craft the sushi, and we were well on our way to having a fancy dinner at a minimal cost.  

All in all, the sushi turned out amazingly and they were absolutely delicious and filling. Whether you're interested in trying the recipe itself or the book in its entirety, I highly recommend you give these rolls a try. (Though I have one caveat: this recipe is messy. If you're a neat freak, you might be better off sticking to the routine of ordering your sushi from your favourite restaurant).