something smells fishy...hmm

hi there,

omg i've neglected this blog since 2010 and i am amazed at my previous posts. thank goodness for this blog i am now able to relive the moments in my life that i've forgotten (well, temporarily...) maybe i should get back into the habit of blogging.

anyway my sudden enthusiasm to post this is because i am now embarking on a culinary adventure of my own - cooking at home! because i'm not one to hide my love for food, i want to just note down comments (not really critiquing) for future reference....and shamelessly show off my creations.

as part of a modified lifestyle, i've decided to walk to the supermarkets every weekend - not necessarily to buy things, but just to make sure i walk the slopes and not laze at home. unfortunately, i'm trying to be healthy in a pretty unhealthy way. firstly, i've replaced my morning sit-ups with this weekly walk. secondly, i can never NEVER pull myself away from temptations at the shops. as a result, i "stockpile" things at home. perishable items i bought from last week have yet to be cooked and they just gets rollover with the new groceries i buy. in the end, nobody wins because what was fresh is now rotting at a corner as i tiringly think of ways to combine the mounting ingredients.

as i'm penning this....i think i probably need to see a psychologist. uh-oh.

so a quick search on google reveals that i do have obsessive compulsive food hoarding disorder.... WHOA!

then there's also a link to list of foods that help fight OCD:

Foods with high vitamin B will help in the production of Serotonin are: brown rice, chicken, corn, eggs, green leafs, meat, nuts, legumes, sunflower seeds and peas. 

Foods with Calcium are: almonds, fish with bones, sesame seeds, tofu, vegetables and green leafs.

Foods with Magnesium are: Salmon, shrimp, brown rice and green leafs.

Foods with Tryptophan are:  almonds, peanuts, soy foods and turkey.

uh...these seem to be what i eat fairly regularly...so i reckon the suggested diet above is obsolete! unless, of course, my case of OCD is more severe than i had imagined.

MY APOLOGIES, I DIGRESS! this post is about my cooking! let's divert the attention from me and my sensibility.

SUNDAY LUNCH with FISH 

i've been trying my hand at searing some fish fillets sans marinade (google's cheat french translation of "without marinade"). after all, fresh fish taste best on it's own.
fyi. i have no artistic flair so please forgive me for the atrocious plating.

TUNA with leeks, carrots and JAMIE OLIVER oregano olive oil

BLUE EYE with mushroom, zucchini and store-bought pesto

ROCK LING with fennel and asparagus

SNAPPER with asparagus and japanese sesame sauce

verdict:

TUNA is a really fatty fish - you can feel see that oil on the plate as you slice it. it's a nice texture play when the outer surface is seared tough and the inside sashimi-like. it pairs really well with jamie oliver's salted oregano olive oil.

BLUE EYE is firm with big flakes. it tastes pretty much like barramundi fillet with a lil roughness to it. can't fault a crispy skin with a dash of salt, can you?

ROCK LING is my new sweetheart. raw flesh is crystal WHITE, big flakes and a real pretty sight. unlike the blue eye, it's kinda rubbery in a way... not rough even when overcooked.. and i can imagine how good it will taste with chinese soy sauce + hot oil. this does not have much taste nor oil. so pretty much a fish that tasteless but really good for texture. some suggest that it's like cod... well kinda...

SNAPPER is kinda like rock ling actually in terms of texture. i'm not sure if it's my cooking or lack of seasoning, this fish is kinda bitter and the skin doesn't crisp up as nicely as the blue eye. not my favourite...
probably would go down well with fish soup.

SUNDAY LUNCH with CHUCK

after tasting melanie's attempt at jamie olivers bolognese, i decided to give slow cooking a go!

JAMIE OLIVER BOLOGNESE with cauliflower mash and zucchini

i threw in cheap Aldi red wine and beef chuck...and the result was nothing short of spectacular. i am simply in love with slow cooking/braising/casserole/whatever that makes your meat go tender. call me a fast-food convert!

all thanks to youtube and food blogs feeding my insatiable food needs, i now hail Jamie Oliver and Jaques Pepin as my chef idols.

now to end off, this is for fellow egg lovers like me who constantly pray that brunch places can make runny scrambled eggs like this country french omelette made by Jaques. oooh that french accent.