Paksiw na Tilapia

Moving to another country (away from the best cooks in the world - Mama and Papa) lead me to learn how to cook menus I usually crave from the Philippines.

One of them is Paksiw na Tilapia.  We haven't had it for so long because there was 1 month this year where we always have this once a week because Max loves the tilapia cooked in vinegar (actually, she likes anything with vinegar, so Ilocano, heheh, the shih tzu Ilocano).  So after long time, I cooked this one again and she did have a few bites coz she was already full from her dinner.

Whenever I cook, I do not usually follow the measurement of the condiments (except of course, when baking).  I follow the list of ingredients, but with measurement, I follow my taste buds. :P

So here is another #lutonieds recipe:

Paksiw na Tilapia (Tilapia in Vinegar Sauce)

Ingredients:
Tilapia (cleaned thoroughly)
Garlic
Onion 
Ginger
Vinegar (I use Heinz ACV, which is close to the Ilocos Vinegar)
Bayleaf
Pepper and Salt to taste

Optional:
Eggplant
Bittergourd
cooking oil
Green Chili
 
1.  In a cooking pan, arrange the garlic, onion, ginger and bayleaf.  This would be the base of the tilapia.

2.  If you are putting in the veggies and chili, arrange the veggies around the garlic, onion and ginger.

3.  Arrange the tilapia.  Add water.  It would be better if the tilapia is arranged such that the water level is almost covering the tilapia.  This will make it more tastier.

4.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

5.  Add the oil to make the sauce nicer and thicker.

6.  Cover and bring to boil then lower the heat.  Cook until the fish is cooked.

7.  Serve with steaming rice and optional fish sauce with the cooked chili as dip.

Reminiscing the Days

The past few weeks have been very stressful for me, esp. last week since I had to do a training (its part of the job).  Honestly, I didn't see myself being so confident in speaking in front of many people since I was a shy girl back in school.
I can still remember every time there is a piece to be memorized and then have it recited infront of the entire class, I will be the last one to volunteer :P  And when it's my turn, I just recite it as if I am just reading it (without any emotions or whatsoever).  That was me growing up.  I cower when it comes to public speaking.





Anyway, counting the days til Thursday and I will be off to a long weekend.  It's Hari Raya on Friday plus I'm on leave the following Monday since it's my love's birthday :) The first time we will be going on a trip solo since we had Max with us.  The first time we will be splurging in a hotel considering it's just a weekend getaway (he does not want to leave Max in the pet hotel for so long).  So I guess, my next entry will be my review on Shangri-la's Rasa Sayang Resort in Batu Ferringhi, Penang.





I can't wait (this is how excited I am,lol).

Reinstating my love for Writing

It's been so long already since I have written another post in my blog. 

I guess since there is nothing much to do and I have no other outlet to tell my stories to, or shout out my stress (aside of course when I am slaving myself to the gym), that I push myself to reinstate this blog of mine.  It has such a nice name to just leave it out as it is.

I am so anticipating the long weekend to come and counting the days (2 more days) before I will be able to catch up with my sleep, my series and my household work.  It's not really a relaxing weekend though since when I am at home, I always end up doing more than I intended to do, thus telling the same litany to myself that weekends are not enough and that I wish I could just live up domestically with the quips of getting a salary as what I get now being an office worker :D

Being a career woman, a partner (to Neil), a mother (to Max our little shih tzu baby, yes I know, what can we do she is too cute), a household worker (at home since I ), it just dazzles me to home much capacity one human being can have to perform so many roles as what I do.  Constantly, I grumble and say that I am so tired and I give up working and just want to stay at home.  But I salute those mothers out there (perfect timing since Mother's Day is just around the corner).  They are the ones who have the most difficult job in the world - being a mother, a wife, a career woman, name it and she can do it, without any qualms at all.  But I know for a fact, that they too will be on that verge of saying, they are tired, but only speak of it when they are alone.   

Let's take for example Mama, my mother.  She will wake up very early to fix our breakfast.  After which, she will go to the market to buy something to cook for lunch and dinner, with whatever snacks (morning and afternoon) that she can also buy.  In between breakfast and the market, is cleaning the house, or washing the clothes (if it is laundry day), or ironing the clothes (if it is ironing day).  Once at home from the market, then she prepares the food for lunch, while having the morning snack with Coke (yes, she can't live without it).  Then we'll have lunch.  Then afterwards, either wash the dishes or clean the table.  Just a short time to rest and then have the afternoon snack, then it's time to prepare for dinner again.  This goes on daily without any complains whatsoever.  I am just imagining, what more if my mother goes to the office.  Then it's going to be so much work to do, juggling the time left upon arriving at home from work to the time that finally one can go to sleep, to prepare for dinner, make sure everything in the house is in order, etc. 

I do not know if I am making a clear statement, but, I guess, I took from my mother the way I do now at home.  I make sure that everything is in order, running the house.  Oh, now I have OCD.

With all of this, I thank Mama for all that she has done for me and Con (my sister).  I just miss spending time with you back home.  Thank you for everything and my gratitude and love to you is everlasting.

To all the mothers out there, thank you!!!

P.S.  Still contemplating on what this blog would really be.  It is having such an identity crisis now P