Wonderfully Fishy!

Kitty cats love ‘em. The Eskimos live on ‘em. The Japanese love ‘em raw. Pregnant women (in the U.S especially) fret about having too much of ‘em due to mercury level alert. On a non-dietary level, most people just love having ‘em swimming around in prettily decorated aquariums. I love ‘em both ways! Ahh…fish, glorious fish!

Hailing from Malaysia, where fish and all other seafood entrées are very often the centerpiece, I am very fond of the versatility, taste and flavor of palatable fish dishes. With the various methods – fry, sear, grill, broil, boil and mash (the South Indian dish, fish puttu and the Malaysian specialty, otak-otak call for this method), steam, bake, sauté – I am never jaded when it comes to preparing a fish dish in my abode.

Enjoying fish doesn’t come as easy as…let’s say…enjoying chocolates for many of us. I must say, though, that the reservations some have about eating fish are mostly valid. Most commonly, one can be put-off either because it’s too smelly, too scaly, too bony or sometimes for some people, there’s this thing about the fish that they are about to consume appearing too unsightly to be considered as a delicacy. I too have that thing about eating weird looking fish. What, have you not seen a whole catfish close-up? With the whiskers and all…it’s a firm “no thanks” for me. Luckily for me and people alike, there are just so many other edible species of aquatic vertebrate out there to choose from.

The fish sold in American markets are mostly in the form of boneless and skinless fillets. We usually purchase our fish (namely Tilapia, Cod, Salmon, and Orange Roughy) in this well-cleaned way. They make preparing fish dishes easy breezy. However when we decide that it is time to take our fish-loving palate to a more exciting level, we drive to this place called the Asian Ranch Market where we can pick our catch imported from various Asian countries. So far this week, we filled up our fish quota with these dishes:

• Fish biryani (made with mackerel)
  

and

• Indian style fish curry (made with boneless, skinless tilapia fillets).
  

We also love to indulge in delicious sushi every now and then. Actually our indulgence is very much limited to California Roll sushi. In fact, it’s the only type of sushi roll I eat (hubby has tried other versions) because NO raw fish for me, thanks. It’s a pretty-looking delicacy and has a flavorful combination of imitation crab meat (fully-cooked, minced white fish, usually Alaskan Pollock), mayonnaise, avocado, carrots, toasted sesame seeds and seaweed. Once you try this sushi, with the accompaniment of pickled ginger and wasabi (for the wild at tongue!), you are hooked! Enjoying fish cannot get easier than this for sure.

Troublesome bones, irritating scales and unslighty whiskers aside, it has been substantially proven that eating fish provides supreme benefits. There’s just so much evident on the greatness of omega-3 in fish (especially in fatty fish – mackerel, trout, herring, sardines, tuna, salmon) these days. So if you are still balancing the risks and benefits of eating fish, fret no more! The verdict is out: fish is good for you and the benefits outweigh any drawbacks related to concerns about toxic matter in fish. Here are just a few reasons for you to go fish:

1. Asthma - children who eat fish may be less likely to develop asthma.
2. Brain and eyes - fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids can contribute to the health of brain tissue and the retina (the back of the eye).
3. Cancer - the omega-3 fatty acids in fish may reduce the risk of many types of cancers by 30 to 50 per cent, especially of the oral cavity, esophagus, colon, breast, ovary and prostate.
4. Cardiovascular disease - eating fish every week reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing blood clots and inflammation, improving blood vessel elasticity, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood fats and boosting 'good' cholesterol.
5. Dementia - elderly people who eat fish or seafood at least once a week may have a lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
6. Depression - people who regularly eat fish have a lower incidence of depression (depression is linked to low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the brain).
7. Diabetes - fish may help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels.
8. Eyesight - breastfed babies of mothers who eat fish have better eyesight, perhaps due to the omega-3 fatty acids transmitted in breast milk.
9. Inflammatory conditions - regular fish consumption may relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and autoimmune disease.
10. Prevention of premature births - eating fish during pregnancy may help reduce the risk of delivering a premature baby.

Yes Sir...No, Sir, Knee-High Chief!

I am currently enjoying a hiatus from work. Yes, I don’t have a (9-5) job and it feels good to say it despite the all-time low Dow Jones plunge recently that made US declare that it is officially in recession. I do however, hold the highest ranking position at home…a Home Minister with strong international affiliations :) That's a Malaysian me managing my home with an Indian hubby and a US-born son.....three citizenship in harmonious love, all under one roof!

For those sighing out loud thinking "lucky woman" hang on, hold your horses….wait for me to explain my current job-free-yet-round-the-clock-working state. Well, I have had my time of slogging in a deadline-oriented 9-6 office job. Somehow, my current position as a stay-at-home mom makes all the adrenaline rush I had then kind of mild! My regular ‘work’ day starts at around 6.30am. That’s when almost one commander-in-chief wakes me up from his comfy crib with a continuous squeal of ‘mmammammaammaa’ which to the still droopy-eyed me (due to two midnight nursing) sounds like an army chief with a voice amplifier yelling “move it, move it, move it” to his less enthusiastic recruit.

From then on the day quickly fills up with so many activities that pretty much revolve around him. Well mostly I should say because I still do get to squeeze in some ‘me time’…whatever time a stay-at-home gets to indulge in herself without feeling guilty. But then again, my ‘me time’ is completely at my knee-high chief’s mercy. Yes, his afternoon nap determines my having of some quality ‘me time’. If it happens to be forty winks that literally means that, then that afternoon will pass by with me being his playdate. If my little boss’s nap happens to be the regular two-hour siesta, then that day I would be awarded with a deluxe ‘me time’!

Anything goes during the two hours or so…surfing tv channels, browsing internet, reading magazines, having a facial, forcing myself to workout or simply pulling out the recliner and slowly snoozing off looking at the calm scenery outside… basically anything that fits my mood for that day. Although generally not an afternoon napper, on certain days (thanks to unexpected midnight mommy services due to teething, gassiness etc) my eyelids get so heavy by mid-afternoon that trying to keep them open can be an unusually daunting task. More often than not, it’s easier to just give in to such a snooze attack. In fact, I find such ‘me time’ session to be helpful as it keeps me sane and rejuvenates my energy level so that I can be all prepared to hustle and bustle with the little ‘dynamite’ as soon as he awakens.

As much as I am fully indulged in my current state of being, I am not planning to be a stay-at-home mom forever. I have duly embraced this new and exciting chapter of my life without losing my passion for a career. I made the decision of staying at home with my baby till he is at least a year old or so when I had first conceived. Yet, I eagerly hope for a refreshing re-entry into the job market. I am hoping to be lucky enough to land myself a job that would allow me to do what I enjoy the most. I shall not get into this here. It’s a totally separate loop, this job thing-y.

Until then, I cannot think of anything else I’d rather do than to enjoy my baby who seems to be growing up too fast. I have seen him achieve all the important milestones till now...smile, sit, crawl, stand, say da-da and ma-ma indiscriminately (he now calls me amma distinctly), cut first tooth, self-feed and most recently, walk! It feels extremely special to be able to watch him achieve everything at first hand, one milestone at a time. The day I get back on track with my career, I hope separation anxiety will not be a problem for him when I send him off to a daycare. I know that it will be for me :)

By far, I cannot thank God enough for this wonderful phase of my life. Coming to think of it, it is okay for you to think that I am lucky because I am! I mean having all these months to exclusively watch my baby grow, from birth to toddlerhood, is like having a super cool office job plus getting a bonus every month!

Hey, it's Turkey Day!

So, it's Thanksgiving Day today. It's the fourth Thursday of November every year in the US where the fate of millions of turkeys end up on elaborately decorated dining tables. Actually, it's not that bad coming to think of it because on this day, a turkey happens to be the single most celebrated ingredient. It's almost like these birds die a meaningful death. For instance, a turkey doesn't just get slaughtered, cooked and eaten up ordinarily on Thanksgiving Day. It's cleaned, pat-dried, seasoned, stuffed, glazed and then roasted to perfection (with in-between basting).

Then, it's prettily decorated, complete with cute paper booties for the drumsticks! Wait, there's more. At the dining table, the succulent-looking, all stuffed-up turkey is carved with special utensils. On top of that, the side dishes are planned accordingly to match-up to the majestic centerpiece - our dear, roasted, feathered friend. (Visual aid: see before-after pics below)

Still feeling bad for 'em turkeys? Fine, go ahead and knock yourself out with 'tofurkey', the tofu-based vegetarian faux turkey! Meat-free, guilt-free :)

BEFORE:



AFTER:
Anyhoo, turkeys and tofu aside, let's delve into the actual meaning of thanksgiving now. Actually, the history behind this special day is very interesting. Basically, it started as a day where people get together to say thanks to God for the bountiful harvest. Being a Hindu, I can relate to this because even we have a special day called the festival of harvest (Ponggal in Tamil) to be thankful to God for an abundant harvest. Special prayers and family get-togethers are held on that day. I went on to read more on the most celebrated autumn festival in North America and got myself some interesting facts (www.ehow.com):

• In ancient times, people of many cultures (including the ancient Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, Egyptians and Chinese) gave thanks to their god or gods for a successful harvest, and some of the traditions associated with modern Thanksgiving celebrations have their roots in these ancient festivals. In 1621, near the end of the Plymouth colony's first year in America, the settlers gave thanks for a plentiful first harvest. The pilgrims and the natives celebrated together (they had arranged a peace treaty), and everyone feasted on geese, ducks, deer, corn, oysters, fish and berries.
• In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that Thanksgiving should be a national observance. To some degree, this was a way to brighten the spirits of the American people, who were dealing with a great deal of difficulty and deprivation.
• Despite the harmonious relations that may have existed between natives and pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving feast, many subsequent American Thanksgivings involved settlers giving thanks for victories over the natives. Recently, efforts have been made by the American government and people to apologize for past discrimination and violence.
• The wild turkey is native to the eastern states and northern Mexico, and while it probably wasn't served at the first Thanksgiving feast, it has become a symbol of the holiday.

However Thanksgiving may have been celebrated in the past, nowadays it's all about celebrating family togetherness, being thankful for having enough to eat and remembering to do something for those with less. Now that's something very noble anyone can relate to.
My hubby and my little hero are my source of life. And if I were a cupcake, my family back home is like the colorful rainbow sprinkles that adorn a cupcake. Therefore, I am extremely thankful to God for keeping me alive to enjoy them all. I am truly blessed!

P/S: We are having some turkey kheema for dinner today. Nope, I am not going to garnish my turkey dish. I want to enjoy my dinner guilt-free ;)

Why sunny side up?

This blog is long overdue! Yes, my coming of age---into the world of blogging! The thought of managing one did cross my mind and dance in my head several times till now but ...okay no buts! It's now here and I hope to be diligent enough (or perhaps have enough free time!) to maintain this blog and keep it zesty at its best!

Sunny side up eggs...yummy! To me, it's the simplest comfort food...the white slightly crusty on the edges, a tiny pinch of salt and a generous dash of ground black pepper. Accompanied by a slice or two of lightly-buttered multigrain bread and a pleasantly warm cuppa coffee...mmm...perfeggtion! I remember having this for snack very often during my pregnancy (minus the shot of caffeine though, sigh). Yes, what a non-preggo person would normally have for lunch or dinner can be just a snack during pregnancy, especially in mid-2nd trimester! I am glad though that my son Havish, in utero then, got all the nutritional benefits of the sunny side ups I savored ;)

It’s hard not to remember that taste of comfort and how such simplicity used to gratify me, especially on a cloudy and cool fall’s day like today. Since unnecessary snacking for me these days are off limits (am in the quest of burning off all those unwanted calories piled up during my pregnancy), I shall keep myself full by blogging instead!

Hence, the title of this blog—it's like there’s a certain sunshiny feel and somewhat energy contained in the title sunny side up. Not to mention the visually pleasing image – a speck of golden yellow on a white backdrop! Not an 'egg-y' person? Here, let me help you...think sun-loving daisies with prettily arranged white petals and a slightly popped-out golden yellow underside...they sure do scream "cheers!", don't you think?