Grilled Tilapia with Pistachio and Tamarind Sauce

I was searching the internet for a Vietnamese fish recipe and I stumbled upon the grilled fish recipe.  Trout or snapper was used in the original recipe, I changed it to Tilapia.  And it was just supposed to be ordinary roasted peanuts, I only have pistachio at home.

Celina brought tamarind pods the other day, she said, we will make Tamarind juice or shake when she comes home from CDO and Camiguin tomorrow.  If fresh tamarind is not available, you can use tamarind paste in bottle which you can buy in the supermarkets.

Grilled Tilapia with Pistachio and Tamarind  Sauce



1 pc. Tilapia, cleaned and scales removed
shredded ginger
finely chopped shallots
2 t. lime juice
2 t. light soy sauce
pepper
oil
banana leaf or tin foil
leeks, sliced thinly
roasted pistachio or nuts, chopped coarsely

Marinate the fish in lime juice, light soy sauce and pepper for 15 minutes.  Stuff the cavity with the ginger and shallots.  Wrapped in well oiled banana leaf or tin foil.



Grill over hot coals.



You may also bake in the oven.

On a frying pan, heat oil over low heat, fry the sliced leeks, cover until it is soft.

Unwrap the fish carefully.  Top with fried leeks and chopped pistachio.



Drizzle tamarind sauce over the fish.

Tamarind Sauce



1 red chile, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 t. brown sugar
1 T. Thai Fish Sauce
1 T. water
3 T. fresh tamarind pods soaked in 1/2 C. hot water for 10 minutes.

Drain the tamarind pods.

Grind the red chile and garlic in a mortar.  Add the sugar then slowly add the tamarind juice.  Season with fish sauce and dilute with 1 T. water.

I never expected it to taste good!  Maybe because it is something new to my palette.  At first I thought the tamarind sauce was a bit bland, so I had to heat bagoong isda with fried garlic.



But it turned out, I did not need it.  The combination of roasted chopped pistachio, fried onion leeks and tamarind sauce was just perfect.

Yaya Hermie cooked Ginisang Patola.  Yum! The patola was so sweet.



She also made Adobong Hito, my dinner tonight, with Adobong Sitaw.



I think Hermie is a budding food stylist LOL  She cooked the little fish wrapped in banana leaves and wanted me to take a picture.



She said it is our dinner tomorrow with Mongo soup.

So far, my blood sugar level has been going down but not as fast when I was on a Vegan diet.  Slow but hopefully, sure.  It is a struggle for someone like me who enjoys cooking and eating.  I pray every morning that I do not get tempted and go back to my unhealthy dining habits.

Fish, fish and fish.

I have been eating fish lately.  As usual, still trying to bring down my blood sugar level.  Vegan diet is quite hard to sustain plus eventually, I will have a lot of vitamin deficiencies.  So my next course of action is to add fish to my diet.

I have also been exercising almost everyday for the past week. I am proud of my 5 + km. a day and started running last night again. Well, just in sprints .. walk ... run ... walk ... run ... which is actually good for the heart.

Sunday lunch today with PD was at Mogu, Serendra.

I had the Grilled Tuna Belly with Fried Rice and Barbecue Sauce.



We shared a plain pizza.



PD had the mixed Tempura



and

Fried rice.



Last night, my food was just Pinangat na SapSap



and

stir-fried sayote.



My blood sugar improved this morning.  I am happy with the results.

The other day, Hermie experimented with Tawilis wrapped in mango leaves with kamias.



I liked it. 

My favorite mollusk soup is Tahong with Fresh Corn.



She also made Pinakbet with no meat.

Ohhhh our neighbor gave us atis from Taiwan! It was so huge and sweet!!!!



Meat was really plump and almost seedless.



I will search for other healthy fish recipes and post it here.  It has be grilled, baked, steamed, poached or boiled.  Frying is a big NO-NO.

Hanaichi, Luxe Residences - The Fort

I had my monthly lunch today with the friends of my Mom and Pd. 



We ate at Hanaichi at The Luxe Residences - The Fort.  Good thing I made reservations, the place was full. Ohhhh lots and lots and lots of cute guys!!!!  Hahhahaha.  Expats and English speaking yuppies.

I gave them my Chocolate Crinkles with hearts and they gave me their Valentines gifts.







Tita Butchie and Tita Mita each got the Tempura Lunch Set.



PD ordered the Sukiyaki Set



and we shared an order of Uni sashimi.



I am still in my ramen obsession so I got the Tempura Miso Ramen which Tita Josie also ordered.



Everybody had an enjoyable time and we already set our next date.

Chocolate Crinkles

I baked a batch of Chocolate Crinkles tonight.  I have not done that in years!!! I think more than 6 years.  Whew!

I am having lunch tomorrow with the friends of my mom and we will do a Valentine exchange gifts.

I dug up my old, old recipe book.  I used to bake and take orders eons ago.  This is a very easy recipe, even the kids can do it. I do not even remember from which cookbook I got it.  No mixer needed, just an oven.

Chocolate Crinkles



2 C. plus 2 T. all purpose flour, sifted
2 t. baking powder, sifted
1/2 t. salt
1/2 C. cooking oil
1 3/4 C. white sugar
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/2 C. Bensdorp Cocoa (Cooks Exchange, Powerplant - Rockwell)
powdered sugar

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

In another bowl, beat oil and sugar with a spatula or wooden spoon.  Add eggs one at a time.  Then the vanilla and cocoa.

Gradually add the flour mixture and beat until well blended.

Refrigerate for at least an hour.



Scoop into balls and roll in powdered sugar.



Place on greased pan or lined with a silicone mat.

Bake in a pre-heated oven, 300 F - 150 C for 10 minutes.



Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring onto a cooling rack.

Since the theme is Valentines, I sprinkled little edible hearts in the plastic container.



Tied a ribbon



and hopefully, the recipients will enjoy the cookies.

Ramen

I have been having this crazy RAMEN obsession since yesterday.  I do not know why, it is vertigo in a bowl but I could not help myself.  I read in a book that I should imitate the way the Japanese eat because the incidence of diabetes is not high in their country.

As soon as I woke up today, I called up Ukokkei Ramen Ron and asked what time they open on Sundays.  11:30 am.  I immediately dressed up and was at their door a few minutes before opening time.  Yay for me!  I was the first customer to enter the ramen house.



It is my second time to eat there and ordered the same thing: Lunch Set A.



A big bowl of Miso Ramen



macaroni salad



half an order of chahan (surprisingly ... not greasy nor oily at all!)



and

4 pieces of gyoza.



I loved that their ramen noodles were sooo chewy and springy!!! 



The broth was really yum ... creamy from the miso ... lots and lots of sodium...  ahahaha and had a bit of oil.  I even added chili oil.

If it is not too bad for my vertigo, I would like to eat here every Sunday ... but I do have to limit my salty food intake.

It is already over the limit as it is.  Sugar is not so bad this morning because it is less than 200.

I thought Ukokkei  Ramen Ron was closed yesterday afternoon so I went to Shinjuku, Makati Avenue for merienda.

I had the Miso Ramen





and an order of 4-pc gyoza.



It hit the spot ... my craving for ramen was satisfied.

I still prefer the broth and the noodles of Ukokkei.  Dreaming of my next ramen fix.

Confirmation Day of Sophie

I am the Ninang of Sophie for her Confirmation.  I never realized I was also her Godmother when she was baptized.  I have always been Tata to the kids and she never called me Ninang.

Funny story .... the night before, she went to my house and said: Tata, you cannot wear anything revealing or spaghetti strap tomorrow!

Hahahahaha! She was so afraid I might just do that.  Good thing I found in my baul a Sunday dress... so .... Whew!!!  



See? I looked like a respectable Godmother! 

Sohpie with my Kuya and her Mom.



We just had a simple celebration at Chilis, Rockwell.

Burger Slammers



Chicken Tenders



Beef Fajitas



and ......   wait for it .......

Ninang only had vegetable soup



and

salad of the day!!!!



I started my diet yesterday.

After lunch, everybody was so tired and sleepy because we had to wake up early for the mass.