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You could imagine how proud I was that my daughter asked if she and her friends could make “sushi” at her

8th birthday slumber party. Although we would sandwich our sushi-making bonanza between other activities, such as bouncing in the trampoline, swimming and a movie – we were pretty sure that it would be a hit.

Earlier that afternoon, I prepared a few simple ingredients:

• sushi rice, doused with some seasoned rice vinegar for that “authentic sushi flavor”
• julienned cucumber, carrot and bell pepper
• shredded seaweed

I set up a few tools:

• bamboo sushi mats
• plastic molds for shaping rice (2 different shapes)
• bowls of water to moisten hands before working with rice (if you handle sushi rice with dry hands, you end up having a rice-claw for a hand!)
• flexible cutting mats for each child to use as a work surface (makes clean-up a snap!)

And we got to work! The kids had a ball and kept my husband and I hopping – between getting each child enough rice, helping them roll their seaweed, and dishing out tobiko…

The feast was fantastic! In addition to the sushi, we also served steamed dumplings, spring rolls and edamame. After swimming, we had berry pie ice cream for dessert.

Of course, with a slumber party, I couldn’t forget about breakfast. Instead of stressing that I would have to rush around the kitchen in the morning, I got everything ready after the children went to bed: I started some steel cut oats to soak overnight, and made the batter for popovers. I washed some strawberries, fresh from the farmer’s market and set out glasses for orange juice. Voila – breakfast was prepped!

Popovers

4 eggs
2 cups milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
Butter, jam, syrup or honey, for serving

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Grease 12 large muffin tin cups or 12 custard cups.
3. Break the eggs into a bowl and beat well.
4. Add the milk, flour, and salt, and beat until just blended.
5. Fill the muffin tin cups 3/4 full with the batter.
6. Place the pan on the center rack in the oven.
7. Bake for 30 minutes without opening the oven door.
8. Serve the popovers hot with butter, jam, syrup, or honey.