Miso Cod

The whole family loves cod and miso. 

This time, I bought a few fillets of Sablefish, also known as Black Cod from The Alaska Guys.  This whitefish is wild caught from Alaska and an excellent source of heart-healthy Omega 3's.  Apart from the Black Cod, I bought some salmon as well and let me tell you, they are not the kind you get from supermarkets.  For someone who does not eat cooked salmon, I finally found myself loving those wild caught salmon but I will leave that to another day, another post.

I thought to myself, "what better way to cook the black cod than the popular Japanese dish, Black Cod with Miso served round the world."

If I were to order a cod fillet in a Japanese restaurant, the price is usually at least S$20.

I thought to myself, "might as well pay that amount for a bigger slice of the fish for the whole family to enjoy."

I usually buy miso from Isetan Scotts supermarket during their Japanese fair whereby I can choose which combination of miso I would like.   With the white miso, the sweet miso, in my freezer, I ventured into cooking this piece of buttery white flesh fish.

The fish was marinated a couple of days but the wait was worth it.  What's even better was, it was cooked on a weekday night, within my 45-minute cooking time-frame.  :)

My portion - served with cold soba.  I need prettier dishware. :)

Miso Cod Recipe
Adapted from Just One Cookbook

Ingredients:

•   2 black cold (Gindara) fillets (I used Sablefish)

•   2 tsp. salt

•   2 Tbsp. sake

•   Chives for garnish (optional)

Miso Marinade

•   3 Tbsp. saikyo miso (or white miso)

•   1½ Tbsp. mirin (I used 2 Tbsp)

•   1½ Tbsp. sake

Instructions:

1. Sprinkle salt over the fillets and set aside for 30 minutes.  This will help get rid of the fishy smell and remove excess moisture from the fish.

2. Wet a paper towel with sake and gently pat the fillets dry.  Do not wash the fish.


3. Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl.


4. Put half of mixture on the bottom of an air-tight container (with lid).  Place the fillets in the container and slather the fillets with remaining mixture.  Cover the lid and keep in the fridge to marinate for 2-3 days (at least overnight; traditionally, a week!)

5. Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Remove the marinade off the fillets completely with your fingers. Do not leave excess miso on the fish otherwise it'll burn easily. Place the fish skin side up on baking pan lined with parchment paper.


6. Bake the fish until the edges are browned and the flesh is cooked through, about 20-25 minutes. Do not flip the fish while baking.

Merry Christmas!

E: Santa Claus says I am a good boy!

#FacePalm

Hong Kong Day 1

Hong Kong, here we come!!!!

We bought the air tickets in July for our trip in November due to the promo fares on Singapore Airlines.  When the protests began in September, we panicked.  Fortunately, we bought travel insurance way before the protests began and should it get worse, we will forgo the trip and might be able receive some form of compensation.  

After consulting friends who went before us and those staying there, we did not have to forgo the trip.  The boys are the happiest, no doubt!

It is always difficult to wake the boys up in the morning but when it comes to going to the airport for our flights, it is never difficult!  Why ah……

Happy to be on his Trunki for the first time.  
Trunki is the original ride on suitcase which can be hand carried onto the airplane (make sure it's not over the carry on allowance though).  

Guess what will be in E's Trunki?

His baby bear, pillow, spare clothes and a book.

The Trunki is perfect for beating boredom suffered by travelling tots.  Sometimes they attract the attention of other passengers, both young and old, sometimes they irritate passengers as they have to make sure they do not bump into these luggage-pulling kids.  :P

My Superboy-Wannabe

But I am not too sure if the Trunki is a great idea for the parents.  :P

But if you were to ask me, the advantages surpass the disadvantages:

- when the kids are too tired to walk, I can pull them while they ride on their luggages - means lesser whining and tantrums throwing;
- it entertains them while they pull, push, get on, get off, play with the luggages during the waiting time after check-in and before boarding;
- they can pack what they need or want and be responsible for them;
- durable - same type of plastic as adult suitcases

Kids have this thing for the safety brochure in airplanes...

See you in Hong Kong!!!

We're going to the zoo zoo zoo, how about you, you, you?

One morning after constant bugging from D the night before, we went to the Singapore Zoo.  No strangers to the zoo as we have been going there pretty often.  However, this time, the zoo is having the  Zoo Hoo! Wildlife Warriors event!  How glad we were to be there at the right time!

Every weekend in December, one can pick up a Wildlife Warrior Trail Booklet at the Registration Counter and be on their way to complete the tasks at the 5 game stations to earn a stamp. 

The 5 stations:

1. Polar jumper which is located right outside the Frozen Tundra.  Just like a game of snake and ladder, we need to roll a huge dice and make our way to the end of the mat.

2. Pin the rhino horn which D had to turn a few rounds blindfolded and try pinning the rhino horn onto the rhino.  It was so funny as we direct him to where he should pin the rhino horn.

3. Fragile forest.  One needs to toss the correct trash into the different recycling bins.

4. Hang on for hope is a game that seems too difficult for the boys.  In order to help the orang utans reunite with their forest home, they need to throw the orange utan craft with a hook onto the strings across the trees.  B manage to do it, by aiming and throwing it in a certain angle. 

5. Eye of the tiger where the boys took a ball and throw at the incorrect things tigers are being used for.

We spent a lot of time at the Wildlife Craft Corner which I later came to know was conducted by Lollibox.

Making their own animal stickers… The area was catered for kids, with kids chairs and tables and there were friendly people around to help.  

You know he enjoyed when you see such a happy expression!

When 2 boys get into the #partnersincrime mood.

Look at that glee after they finish all 5 stations and get to decorate their own medals for Wildlife Warriors!

Though the weather was hot and sunny one moment and wet and humid the next, we enjoyed our zoo trip.  On top of what we usually do like watching the different shows, feeding the animals and watching the animals in action, this event is one that my boys will talk for a quite a while, with their bragging rights of their unique medals.  :)

November

November has been a very busy month.  Partly because we were away to the Happiest Place on Earth…

Happy 3rd Birthday E!

As you grow a year older, we wish that you grow up healthy, happy and with a kind heart .

E took a pamplet from Bengawan Solo and insisted he wanted that Toy Story cake he saw on it.  That is easy, we thought!  No need to vex on which baker and the design this year - which we do on some years.  

Big brothers will always be big brothers.  See how D decided to help E hold the cake-cutting knife first.  :p

The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites

The kids, especially D got very excited when we told them that The Very Hungry Caterpillar is coming to Singapore in October.  We bought tickets in September and he started asking every other day if it's October.

The lovely display

Presented by Act 3 and produced by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, the hour-long production lets us get up close with three favourite classics of Eric Carle - The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and The Mixed-Up Chameleon.  

Through theatre, these 3 stories were presented against back-lighted background and fanciful puppets.  It's like a storytelling session comes alive!

At the end of the play, there will be an interactive session whereby the performers will show how the puppets were handled and answer any questions you might have. 

One of the pictures taken in 2012

Both boys love the stories.  So when they were presented through theatre, it was like their favourite books and characters come to live.  The use of the puppets against the back-lighted background, the little actions of each character (like the caterpillar walking and "kicking" off it's food after chomping through them) kept them very amused.

It goes to show how much both D, and now E, enjoyed the plays as we have been going to each of their play since 2011 (except in 2013 when they were not here).  We, as adults, enjoyed them too!

In 2011:

In 2012, when they had A Brown Bear, A Moon and A Caterpillar:

We hope they do come again in 2015!  In the meantime, more books and other plays!