Homegrown Roasted Beets

Beets from my garden. I roast them in the toaster oven at 450 degree F for about 40 minutes covered in foil. The skin will come off easily after cooked.

Homegrown Mashed Turnips on Patty Pan Squash

I decided to try cooking mashed turnips since I have lots of turnips in the garden even after I gave away some to my co-worker. The recipe for the mashed turnips is simple.
Ingredients:
5 medium size turnips (peeled and diced)
2 tablespoon sugar
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon sour cream
4 tablespoons salted butter

Method:
In a big pot, boil water with salt and sugar. Cook diced turnips until tender. Add more water if the turnips is not tender.
Drain well.
Add sour cream, butter and black pepper. Mash well.
Add salt if needed.
I am serving the mashed turnips on pan fried patty pan summer squash. Seasoned with salt and pepper.
Above is the fireworks for the 4th of July celebration at my area.
Patty pan summer squash. They are cute and delicious.

Fish Head in Tauchu and Ginger

I have been busy watching Malay movie, drama etc on youtube. First time, I was hooked on Manjalara. It is a story about a fat girl who is bullied by her cousins and her auntie. My favorite actor in this TV show of course has to be the leading actor, Jehan Miskin. He is so adorable, gentlemen and act well in this drama. I hope he will keep on playing in many more movies, drama or shows and will try different role. After I finish watching all 75 episodes of Manjalara,(it took me 2 weeks to get that done), I continue watching all other shows where Jehan Miskin is acting. I really like him in Qaisy and Laila. I have a list of VCD that I will get the next time I go back to Malaysia. It includes Nana Tanjung and Nana Tanjung 2 the movie. I cannot wait to see him in the new scary movie, Skrip 7707.

On this 4th of July I am serving fish head cooked in tauchu (fermented soya beans) and ginger. This dish is common among Asian. Not many American eat fish head including my husband. I used to see mom cooked fish head in a curry soup, asam pedas (hot and sour soup) or just in a plain coriander/parsley soup. I do like to add the gravy from the fish head into my rice or as dipping sauce for my nan bread or paratha bread.

Since the new Asian store near my house is selling fresh fish head, I decided to try them. I bought about 5 lbs of trout and salmon fish head. The fish monger chopped the fish head into smaller bite size for me. I clean and wash them and pack them in a smaller zip loc plastic bag. I am using a smaller zip loc bag so that it will be easier for me to cook just for myself. I store them in the freezer and they can last for a long time without freezer burn.

Honey doesn’t eat fish head nor could he able to see the dish. He said he fells nauseated just by hearing the dish name –Fish Head. I simply ignored his comment and continue eating this delicious delicacy. Yummy!

Here is my simple recipe for Fish Head in tauchu (fermented soya beans and ginger).

Ingredients:
1 lbs fish head cut into bite size.
2 tablespoon ready to use salty fermented soy beans and ginger(tauchu)
1 tablespoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon ground lemon grass
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
½ cup lemon juice
Method:
Mix all ingredients with the fish head.
Use foil to line the baking dish/pan.
Pour fish and all the juices into the baking dish/pan.
Broil in the toaster oven at 450 degree F for about 35 minutes.
Serve warm with white rice.
I use homegrown lettuce as the bed for the fish.

Homegrown Peas in Laksa

I sprinkle some of my homegrown peas in my laksa noodle.
Ingredients for laksa:
1 bowl cooked laksa noodle (thicker rice stick noodle)
2 cups water
1 can sardine in tomato
5 pieces bird eyes chili
1 tablespoon crispy prawn sambal
1 big onion ( half for sautee and the other half for garnish)
a bunch (5 sprigs) of daun kesum
1 cucumber (julianne)
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup beans sprout
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt to taste

Method:
In a big skillet, saute lightly onion and bird eyes chili.
Add water and sardine. Let it boil.
Add daun kesum.
Seasoned to taste.
Garnish with cucumber, beans sprouts and peas.
Serve warm.

Homegrown Zucchini and Shrimp

Yes, it is time to call recipe for zucchini. I grow about 10 zucchini plants. 6 plants in the plot A and 4 plants in plot B. The plants are all doing so well. A co-worker told me that she find zucchini always go well with stewed tomato. So, I went home and gather all the ingredients I have in my pantry.
Ingredients:
2 zucchini (medium size)
1 cup green string beans
1 can stewed tomato
Shrimp
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
salt
ground black pepper
2 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil

Method:
In a big skillet, heat olive oil. Add in string beans and zucchini. Cook for about 10 minutes on medium or until tender.
Add stewed tomato.
Let it boil. Add chopped garlic, butter, salt and pepper.
Add shrimp.
Turn off the stove once the shrimp turn pink. Do not cook shrimp too long. The meat will turn tough if cooked too long.
Serve warm. Enjoy!