Chocolate Sushi

Look at what I've been playing around with. Chocolate Sushi. We like to celebrate Chinese New Year's Day here at home. You see, we've got a very special member of the family that we celebrate with. Our niece Malia-Lin. My brother Jose and sister-in-law Linda adopted Malia at the tender age of 1 straight from China. She's an absolute love (she's 11 years old now) and smart as a whip.

The Chinese New Year begins on January 26th, 2009. It is the year of the OX. I was born in the year of the OX many years ago, so this celebration is very special to me.

I hope you enjoy this whimsical recipe of mine. It's quite tasty and makes a very cool dessert after a dinner of Sweet and Sour Pork and General Tso's Chicken.



Chocolate Sushi

1-cup long grain rice
1-cup evaporated milk
1 ½ cups water
1-tablespoon sugar
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon shortening

Combine milk, water, sugar, and cinnamon stick in pot. Bring to a simmer. Add rice. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick. Allow cooked rice to cool for 15 minutes. Cover a cookie sheet with plastic wrap. Spread cooled, cooked rice in a thin layer over plastic wrap. Melt chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon shortening in microwave for 1 minute. Stir chips. If they haven't completely melted, microwave for an addition 30 seconds. Remove from microwave oven and stir until chocolate is smooth. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.

Spread melted chocolate over rice on cookie sheet. Using a spatula, spread chocolate completely over rice. Being careful and going slowly, lift the long edge of plastic wrap until rice and chocolate combination start to roll. Start rolling towards the center, lifting plastic wrap out of the way. Continue to roll until you reach the end. Secure the roll in the plastic wrap and refrigerate until the sushi roll sets, about 1 hour. Remove roll from refrigerator and carefully unwrap the plastic. Slice into 1 inch slices and serve.