This weekend we celebrated November Twentieth-first.

​What is this?? You may ask.

While we did plan to get married when I arrived in the U.S., we didn't really plan a date. I was hoping to do it on a certain fourth - to kind of match the day we became official, July 4th. I thought to myself, probably December 4th would be a good date. There is quite a long story behind it, but let's just say some no-good person was trying to get me in trouble and give reason to deport me so a wedding rush we had!

Bear's mom was eager to get it done, like right now! So what better day would be than the coming weekend, right? Of course! It's the day right after my birthday. On November 20th and 21st, 2015, we marked the first November Twentieth-first.

Some people may think, oh such a cute term! 

No. That's just Bear not remembering which was the birthday and which was the wedding day. Whether it's true or he's just playing with me, that's what he led on and I would assume the former that he couldn't really remember.

If there's one thing that I miss so much since I left the Philippines, it's eating seafood! Moving in the middle of the USA and closest ocean literally are hundreds if not a thousand plus something miles away, getting fresh seafood is almost impossible. When we discovered Island Sushi in Appleton, WI - because I was actively searching - I couldn't be any happier! A little over five years later, we still go there regularly but I've always thought... why not make it myself?

The biggest struggle is getting sushi grade fish. I don't trust eating the salmon and tuna from grocery stores raw. I also know that there is a freezing process involved to kill the parasites and bacteria. I only have a regular freezer that doesn't deep freeze so that's another story. Well, of course I can always use crab meat or shrimp, but I guess I just never had the motivation until I found this Korean store that sold Korean and Japanese goodies! There are many Asian stores here but they're mostly Hmong and the products are mostly Southeast Asian. I definitely have no complaints as they sell the food I want and need. But they didn't have much Japanese or Korean items so finding the Oriental Food Mart in Appleton was awesome.

I finally took the courage to create my own Maki Rolls! The catch? I cooked my salmon!
But why!?? I wasn't ready to risk getting parasites or getting sick. Did it taste any different? Not really. The texture is different consider that raw fish more gelatinous but it was still great (or so the Husband Bear says!). This will also be great for people who aren't fond of eating raw food.

Let's Get Started!
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