Chances are I will never be a sushi chef.

Why, you ask? Two reasons:

• My knife skills could use a little work. Just ask my sister-in-law, Dawn, who has one hand on the phone to dial 911 every time I pick up a knife to cut a vegetable.
• As I mentioned yesterday, I don’t eat sushi. Raw fish kind of gives me the willies.

BUT, I recently ran across nori seaweed at my local grocery store, you know the green stuff that’s used to wrap up sushi. Seaweed is a mineral powerhouse, in fact, according to Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra…

“Seaweed contains all fifty-six minerals and especially idodine, which are needed for the thyroid gland.”

Not only that, nori seaweed contains protein, calcium, iron, potassium, and more vitamin A than carrots, according to Dr. Jonny Bowden in his book The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth.

I’ve been using nori seaweed sheets in place of bread or tortillas to make lower calorie, lower carb, easy to make, kinda-fun-to-eat, sandwich wraps.

The other day I cut up (gasp!) carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, and red onion and generously piled the veggies inside of a 10 calorie(!) sheet of nori seaweed along with some leftover edamame hummus. I then rolled it up like you would if making sushi, sealed the edge with a little water, and cut the wrap into three pieces.

For lunch over the weekend I made egg salad sushi rolls. I can say with great confidence that sushi chefs all over the world are cringing at this very moment. But get this, I didn’t have to do any cutting this time. Dawn will be relieved! I tossed two hard boiled eggs, 1/4 of a red onion, honey mustard, salt and pepper into my Vitamix and in about 10 seconds I had perfect egg salad.

I’m sure you can fill up these wraps with just about anything. Except ham salad, because that’s just gross.

Does it taste just like the sandwich you’d buy at a sub shop? Not quite. In fact, the seaweed texture takes some getting used to as it’s a bit chewy, but it’s not a deal-breaker. I’ve found if you make these wraps and stick them in the fridge an hour or more before you eat them, they soften up a bit and are easier to eat.

Now I really must go hit the gym before I hit the point of nori turn.

A few months ago I was having dinner with some of my fabulous girlfriends at our favorite sushi restaurant. I don’t actually eat sushi, but that’s not important right now. Anyway, going out with us is what it would be like going out with the girls from Sex and the City…we’re a bunch of characters!

That night we ordered edamame hummus as an appetizer and we loved every bite. Ever since I’ve been wanting to try to make it myself. Yesterday, I hit up Google and found this recipe on the Food Network site. Since I had tahini leftover from the last time I made pumpkin hummus, I was good to go. Fitness & Spicer’s, here’s a really good recipe for…

Edamame Hummus

• 1/2 pound frozen shelled edamame, about 1 1/2 cups
• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
• 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons), juiced
• 1 clove garlic, smashed
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (Dangit! I totally forgot to add parsley!)

Boil the beans in salted water for 4 to 5 minutes, or microwave, covered, for 2 to 3 minutes. In a food processor (I used my Vitamix) puree the edamame, tahini, water, lemon zest and juice, garlic, salt, cumin, and coriander until smooth. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and mix until absorbed. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the parsley and drizzle with remaining oil. Chill. Serve with English cucumbers, carrots, or toasted pita bread.

The hummus we had at the sushi restaurant was made with sesame oil and was garnished with sesame seeds, if I remember correctly. You might try that, too, if you’re feeling fancy.

I think this hummus would be a perfect snack to serve at your Sex and the City movie party, or even better…Shrek’s!

Now I really must go take a dip and get ready to have some green cuisine!