hello there. i know it's been a while but since it's the new year, i think it's time to post something new.
so, how was your new year? your christmas? did you get all the gifts you wanted? I DID!!! i'll tell you about that later, right now, allow me to reminisce holiday memories from my childhood.
the way new year and christmas are celebrated here in the states is so different from the way it's done in the philippines. during the christmas season, there's so many traditions that you can choose from to participate in. there's simbang gabi, getting bibinkga and puto bumbong in the middle of the night, and christmas caroling using flattened bottle caps lopped through a wire as tambourines. then a week later, all the craziness that comes with ringing in the new year commences. a whole slew of fireworks and firecrackers that could be/are deemed illegal here in the states are used outside most people's homes and in residential streets. there's judas' belt, roman candles and 5-star just to name a few. oh, and if you are lucky, you'll see an old tire burning on the street which is used to light all those firecrackers, it's crazy i tell you, crazy!
traditions like that are hard to forget, but when you move to a new place, like i did, you learn how to make your own traditions with new friends and the family you have built. i have learned to appreciate a quieter christmas dinner celebration and opening gifts during christmas morning - which i happen to look forward to all year, thanks to shawn and his family for introducing me to the tradition. i have also learned that watching ryan seacrest stand in for the (the semi-dead) dick clark and kathy griffin with anderson cooper for the new year countdown could be fun. i think it's the new year with all it's smoky and explosive glory that makes me miss the philippines during the holidays, but hell, the gifts i got during christmas still has me smiling, so i guess it's fine.
now let's talk about christmas gifts! well, i know christmas is way over now but i am still grinning over the stuff i got. let's start with the kitchen aid shawn got me which i already used to make red velvet whoopies right after i got it. i also got a set of knives from shawn's mom that i still have to use, and i got myself a canon t2i, yes i have used it already.
now, about the new year. i am not one to make resolutions, because it never really worked for me. i just normally end up frustrated and mad at myself for not being able to do it. so what i do now is just do little thing here and there to change my habits, it takes a while, but at least i don't end up frustrated. this year i told myself that i will try to be more aware of what i put in my mouth and where i get them, and i started by taking more trips to trader joe's rather than a buying food in bulk at costco for a household with 4 people - an idea that is not good all the time. so during my recent trips to trader joe's, i remembered how cheap fish there was. so i bought ahi tuna and arugula since shawn likes arugula so much. i also got shelled pistachios because the ones i have had shells on them and the last time i used them for a recipe, it took me an hour to come up with a cup of unshelled pistachios. so yes, i got them and saved myself an hour of prep time. without any more delays, here's the recipe.
pistachio & almond crusted tuna with soy ginger salad
pistachio & almond crusted tuna
2 tuna steaks
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup chopped pistachios
salt and pepper
oil for frying
1. heat up a heavy bottomed pan over medium high heat.
1. in a large shallow dish, combine chopped pistachios and almonds.
2. season the tuna on both sides with salt and pepper and coat both sides with the nut mixture.
3. oil the pan and cook tuna for about 3 minutes on each side for medium or longer if you want it cooked more.
soy ginger salad
1/3 cup canola oil
4 tsp soy sauce
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tbsp ginger root, minced
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp honey
1 tsp rice wine vinegar
ground black pepper
arugula
combine all ingredients in blender (except arugula), blend away and dress the arugula lightly.
notes:
blending the dressing combines all the ingredients very well and the flavor is a lot better than just mixing it in a bowl.
No comments:
Post a Comment