How Not to Make Sushi - or - The Great Rice Disaster

A girlfriend and I took a sushi rolling class last week.  After sampling some delicious sushi, and some saki, the chef did a fairly quick demonstration, then let the 47 of us roll our own.  It was a bit chaotic, but fun, and I was surprised at how nice my sushi looked (and tasted!).

So I went out and bought up all the necessary ingredients to make my own:  Sushi rice, sushi rolling mat, rice vinegar, wasabi, nori, cucumber, avocado, imitation crab, and some Sriracha mayo.

First step was of course making the sushi rice. Following a recipe I found online, I rinsed the rice, then put in a saucepan with the water, on high, to bring to a boil.  NOTE TO SELF:  When making sushi rice, do not walk away, no matter how briefly.  The water will boil faster than you think!  I went downstairs to get something, came back, the rice was boiling and some had already burned on the bottom.  Okay, I had only made a small amount, just start over.  NOTE TO SELF:  DO NOT POUR RICE DOWN THE DRAIN. Not even thinking, I poured the water and rice down the drain, started the garbage disposal, and guess what?  Clogged.  Super Clogged. GREAT.  I tried a plunger, blocking one side and running the disposal, nothing moved.  Then, I go get the little plastic snake, try to  jam it down the drain, IT BREAKS IN HALF. Fabulous.  I decide I will come back to this later.

Anyway, so I make another batch of rice, WATCH IT CAREFULLY, once it is done add the seasoning and let it cool.  I slice up an avocado, some cucumber, do my best to make the roll the way I had the previous week.  The rice wasn't cooperating a whole lot, wouldn't stick very well, but I managed to get it together and roll it up:

The rice was also a bit underdone, but I was so afraid of burning it again.  For a first homemade attempt, I was happy with the result, of the sushi anyway.  Note the sushi rice was already made when we made our rolls in class.  The rice is the trickiest part of the whole process, in my opinion.

Once I ate my creation, it was back to the sink disaster.  Let's just say I was able to half complete the job.  I got the pipe off, the rice is in the trap as I suspected, I got the broken piece of plastic out, but for the life of me I cannot get the other half of the pipe off to get the rest of the rice out.  My hubby is currently ice fishing, so until he gets home, we don't have a kitchen sink.  Lesson learned!!