Wednesday, December 28, 2011

TO A FLAVORFUL 2012 !

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

I didn't make it here for my Christmas wish, so I made sure I'm early for my New Year wish. 2011 is coming to an end, making way for 2012 to unfold soon. As we begin to reflect on our experiences in this past year, many of us will also begin to make new year resolutions. Do resolutions really work? I guess they do. Only if your determination to see them through is strong enough. I used to make new year resolutions every year during my teens and the last time I made any was probably when I was in my early 20s, having just started work and excited at earning an income. I've made so many resolutions in the past but 2 out of the many resolutions I distinctively remember that never made it through were 1) study harder 2) save more money. Knowing my past 'success rate' with new year resolutions, I don't even bother with it anymore. I can be such a procrastinator that the resolutions never get put into practice. I can also easily get bored and lazy with my original plan if I linger with it too long and thus, it will probably change again and again along the way. Or simply, they would just remain as empty promises to myself. If I have a resolution or an improvement or an aspiration to achieve these days, I'll try to work on it as soon as I can at any day of the year. So far this has been a pretty good system for me as I get things achieved sooner and surer. I guess I'm the kind who is better with short-term goals than long-term ones!

So, do you have a resolution you intend to silently pledge to yourself in the next couple of days? If it's going to be 'to cook more curries' (I'm saying this just because I have a nice curry recipe to share), I have a nice and easy home curry recipe to share here (see, I told ya! :).

This is my Mom's version of deliciously tangy fish curry that uses a mixed of Indian spices, condiments and fish curry powder. My Mom would always prepare this wonderful homey curry of hers with either golden snapper (ikan jenak/jenahak) or mackerel (ikan tenggiri) that were freshly hauled in from the Straits of Melaka. This curry also has ladies' fingers, brinjals and tomatoes cooked to soft perfection. I would love to flood my plate of rice with this curry before I dig in. Keep any leftover and reheat it the next day to go with bread.



Ingredients:

~ 1/4 cup cooking oil
~ 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
~ 1 large onion, roughly chopped
~ some curry leaves (optional)
~ 1 tbsp of Indian spice mix (mix of fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds & mustard seeds)
~ 2 star anise
~ 4-5 cloves
~ an inch-long cinnamon stick
~ 5 tbsps fish curry powder + 2 tsps optional chilli powder (mix with 3 or 4 tbsp water to form a thick paste)
~ 4 or 5 cut slices snapper or mackerel (or stingray)
~ 5 ladies' fingers/okra (cut into 1.5 long pieces)
~ 2 round or long brinjals/eggplant (slice lengthwise in half then cut into 1.5 inch long pieces)
~ 2 large tomatoes (quartered)
~ 2 tbsps tamarind paste (rub well with 1 cup water to get the juice, discard the seeds)
~ 5 cups water


Method:

~ Heat the oil in a small frying pan under small fire. When hot, saute together the spices, garlic and onion for until fragrant before adding in the curry paste and curry leaves.
~ Saute everything for another 2 minutes or until the curry paste is fragrant but not over burnt. Then, transfer the paste to a pot large enough for cooking the curry.
~ Pour the tamarind juice and cups of water into the paste in the pot. Let it come to a simmer for a while, and then taste it. It should be slightly tangy.
~ Add in all the vegetables and let it simmer until all the vegetables are cooked to soft perfection.
~ If the gravy is too tangy, add in a little bit of water. If it's not, add in a little bit of tamarind juice. It's really up to your personal preference.
~ Lastly, add in the fish slices and enough salt to taste, let it come to a boil for a few minutes until the fish is cooked. Serve hot with a plate of rice.

This is my last recipe to share for this year and hope you'll enjoy it. Once again...


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU !
MAY 2012 BRINGS US ALL WORLD & PERSONAL PEACE WITH MORE TOLERANCE LESS FIGHTINGS, MORE JUSTICE LESS CORRUPTIONS, MORE CHARITY LESS GREED, MORE LOVE LESS HATRED, MORE SAFETY LESS ACCIDENTS, MORE GOOD HEALTH LESS SICKNESS, MORE WISDOM & COMPASSION LESS IGNORANCE.


HAVE A BLESSED AND SAFE NEW YEAR!



cheers,
petite nyonya

18 comments:

  1. Your wish is so well said.

    I don't make resolutions because I am sure I won't work towards it. I've been wanting to sort my paychecks according to years, and it's been 3 years since I told myself I need to do that. They are still in the box. Same goes to house bills, hahahaha! But I am making one this time. My resolution: Be a better housekeeper. I really suck at that

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  2. I love fish cury and I don't mind a few serving during the chilly weather we have now!

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  3. Sounds very yummy! i will make it next week! thanks! ;)

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  4. Hi Nyonya, I love that fish curry. Its a sure 3 plates of rice!
    If a bachelor, sure hilang his bachelor's degree.....
    one spoon in the mouth forget mother's name. Looks so delicious!

    Mind if I copy the picture..?
    Will display it, credit you next time I naik angin post about food instead of sex, ha ha.

    HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR, NONYA!
    Lee.

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  5. love your curry fish and AngryBirds fondant cuppie!! Happy new Year to you and family!!

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  6. Hi Jos, wishing a Belated Christmas. haha.... Well. better than nothing. Right! Hope you are all well. Guess, you've been really busy these days. Don't see you post as often now. Anyway, I'm glad you did at least one now. :o) And not forgetting to wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR too. May all good things coming to you.
    God blessed.
    Best wishes
    Kristy

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  7. No, I don't make resolutions so I don't have to worry about keeping them. :) The fish curry looks so delicious! Makes me want to prepare some real soon. Wishing you and your family a Happy New Year!

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  8. Happy New Year, and that curry is what I like. I am a curry person, must have at least once a week.
    Rosie

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  9. Wishing you and your family all the best for this new year. Good to see you here aagain. The fish curry looks mouthwatering!

    BTW- I am so impressed that you remembered my dog Tucker's name. He will be 16 in May, lucky that he is still with us!

    :)

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  10. Your fish curry sounds amazing.
    I don't make any real resolutions...
    And happy New year to you!

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  11. Absolutely delicious! I have ceased to make resolutions a long time ago. My moto : learn to do the right thing at any given point of time without prejudice and the rest will follow... :) Happy New Year!

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  12. happy New Year! :) I don't make any resolutions but I really appreciate your sentiment!

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  13. Hi Jos, Happy New Year. I stopped making resolution for a long time. I just thank my lucky star when I am able to wake up each morning and do the things I want to do:D Your fish curry makes me HUNGREEE!!

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  14. Hi Jos!

    That fish curry looks divine -- I don't do new year resolutions anymore. Every morning, I wake up being grateful for what I do :)

    Happy 2012!

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  15. Hi Nyonya, love this dish, a sure three plates rice disappearing.
    Thank you for dropping by, but regret never received your mentioned.
    I do not have your address....to respond.
    Maybe you try again.
    Assure you of my response.
    Best regards.
    Lee.

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  16. Hi Nyonya, if free drop by my pondok....
    Got something for you, *wink*.
    Best regards.
    Lee.

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  17. a really good looking dish of yours.
    the recipe is nice and the method is much easy. i think i can make it hihi.simply is really the best.

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