Winter 2012, First Snow

A snow covered street, in front of our house 

After putting Fredi to bed, I went downstairs and looked out the window. I let out a sigh when I saw a beautiful white blanket on the ground and on rooftops gleaming in the dark. It was one of the most beautiful snowfall I've witnessed in Japan. The view outside, with the snow in the dark, just gave me a sense of peace and serenity. The snow was still falling, in big little clusters, the kind that is dry and light. In times like this, how I wished the boys were up so we could go outside and throw snowballs at each other. 

I grabbed my camera for I HAVE to take photos of the scenery, post them onto Facebook so my family and friends in Singapore and other countries could see what was going on. And here they are, the snow fall at night, and the morning after. Enjoy!

Shit! We forgot to cover our bicycles. 

The trees, right outside our door 

The morning after: Some snow had melted but it left a frozen ground. If not careful, one could slip, fall and get hurt 

Our bicyles still standing, thank goodness!

Time to play and dig some snow 

Simple fun is best 

Tip it all off and do it again!

Mummy trying to break the ice and clearing snow off the street: that was my morning workout and it aint light!

You're a great helper Fredi with that small spade!

Ah! Daddy popped out to have a shufty 

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Salmon in Spicy Coconut Stew

I had been getting rather fishy last week. Since my craving for sweet stuff had more or less subsided, I had been rather inclined to eat more fish. This shouldn't be a bad thing as eating Omega 3 fats from marine sources is good not only for the heart, but also the brain and eye. This, of course, should be done regularly, as part of your daily lifestyle, not something you eat once in while. I try and make healthy eating second nature to me, like brushing my teeth. I think I have been a good girl so far. Yes, I do eat sweet stuff every now and then, but I don't think those little sweet treats will do much damage to my body because I eat real whole food 80-90% most of the time.

Tasty and great for the body: Salmon in Spicy Coconut Stew 

The Sri Lankan Fish Curry I made previously was lovely, it was light and pleasant. This time, I want something richer to go with my favourite oily fish, salmon. What came out was a surprisingly tasty Salmon in Spicy Coconut Stew. 

I used: 

• 400g salmon (with bones or steak, whichever you perfer. I used both)
• 1 can (400ml) coconut milk (full fat)
• 250ml water
• Juice of half a lemon
• olive oil
• 1 medium size onion, chopped 
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped finely
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 4 small or 3 medium size tomatoes, quatered
• 2 chilli (optional)
• Tumeric powder
• A bunch of fresh coriander leaves
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Sprinkle and rub some tumeric powder and lemon juice on each side of fish. Marinate for 30 minutes
2. Heat some olive oil, about 4 tablespoons, and fry the salmon on each side for 2 minutes. You just want to brown it, not fully cook it. Place browned salmon on a plate.
3. Using the same oil, sauteed the onion until almost transparent. Add more oil if necessary.
4. Add the tomatoes, chilli, garlic and ginger paste and fry for another 2-3 minutes, until tomatoes are almost but not completely break up 
5. Add the coconut milk, water and stir
6. Add the salmon in a single layer, coriander leaves and salt in the coconut stew. Stir gently to incorporate the salt. Cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes, until salmon is cooked.
7. Test taste and adjust seasoning.
8. Serve hot with steamed rice and your favourite vegetables!

I'm not sure which curry I like better, but Roy said the salmon in spicy coconut stew is the winner! I agree!

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Sri Lankan Fish Curry

When I read the recipe on The Pefect Health Diet, I told myself that it is so easy I have to do it soon. The original post was about the health benefits of eating Omega 3 fatty acids from fish, and that the recommended consumption is 1 pound (450 grams) of oily fish per week. I don't eat as much oily fish as recommended, so I take Omega 3 supplements (EPA & DHA) everyday without fail. 

Sri Lankan Fish Curry, adapted from The Perfect Health Diet

My favourite fish has to be salmon. But this time, I used mackerel, another good oily fish, simply because they were selling them cheaper than usual. I was a little hesitant because of the bones, and Roy is particular about them. I went ahead and bought the fish with bones anyway!

The original recipe can be found here. This is my version, with a slight differentiation because I don't have some of the ingredients. In most of my cooking, I don't really measure. Do you ever see celebrity chefs measuring their ingredients when cooking? Not always! I depend on my instinct, unless I'm baking, so the measrements here are approximate.

I used:

• 4 tablespoon olive oil (more oil if necessary)
• 450g mackerel
• 1 medium onion
• 2 small garlic
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• a bunch of corriander leaves
• 1 red chilli (optional)
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoon black mustard seeds
• 2 tablespoons cumin powder
• juice of half lemon
• 2 vine ripe tomatoes, quatered
• 2 cups water
• salt to taste

Method:

1. Sprinkle and rub the cumin powder on the fish. Add the lemon juice and marinate the fish for 2 hours in the fridge
2. Heat the oil and fry the fish for 2 minutes on each side. You just want to brown the fish, not fully cook it
3. Place fish on a plate
4. Using the same oil in the pot, sautee onion, garlic and mustard seeds together. Add more oil if mecessary. Sautee for 5 minutes, or until onion turns transparent
5. Add tomatoes, ginger paste, chilli and chilli powder. Cook until tomatoes start to break up
6. Add water
7. Add the fish on a single layer, corriander leaves and salt (abut 1/2 teaspoon). Cover the pot and cook for 7-10 mins, or until fish is cook
8. Test taste and adjust seasoning to your liking

Dinner is served, Sri Lankan Fish Curry

 
My favourite veggie: Stir fried cabbage, with spinach, garlic and dried anchovies 

We ate the curry served with steamed rice and my favourite stir fried cabbage. Roy had it with steamed broccoli. Despite the bones, Roy said it was lovely. To me, the bones added to the taste, and I had no issues eating boney fish as I grew up eating it like that anyway. I liked the flavour, it was light and pleasant, not overpowering on the spiciness. I prefer it to be hotter but I liked it the way just it was. Will definitey be making it again, but without bones next time!

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