Best gifts

IMO, being appreciated is better than diamond and gold.

Grilled Salmon Fins

Good simple meals need not be expensive. I paid about £3 for two freshly gutted salmon fish heads.

I have used up a head for soup and saving another for a different day.

The fins are reserved for cooking two different dishes. All in all for £3 it will yield four meals.

What more can I ask for except to cook it for myself.

Fins and the belly are my favourite parts of a fish.

Without much ado, this is how I cook for myself to enjoy.

Ingredients

1. Two pieces of salmon fins

2. Salt

3. Pepper

Method

1. Wash and pat dry fish. It is important to ensure crispier skin.

2. Rub with good quality salt if possible. For this dish, the only type I have in the larder was ordinary table salt. It tasted just as yummy.

3. Season with freshly ground pepper or white pepper.

4. It is important fish is cooked at room temperature.

5. Crumble aluminium oil and place on a rack. It makes cleaning up easier.

Place fins on top of aluminium foil without overlapping.

6. Switch grill to medium. You may need to turn the fins around during the cooking process.

7. Grill till desired liking. It took me about six minutes.

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Salmon is an oily fish thus IMO, it is not necessary to brush over with oil.

You can literally hear the skin 'popping' as it's grilling.

I want to taste real fish thus find it unnecessary to complicate on the seasoning.

Thinking about mum and my best friend back in Singapore as I am enjoying it.

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I do pan fry sometimes when the grill is not available.

What a gorgeous day

Yipppeeeeeeeee, my UK driving licence arrived this morning. Thank God for the many prayers answered.

So happy to receive a call from a friend in India.

Took a bus down to the bus station and a cab to the hospital to pick up my X-ray but it was not meant to be. Had to take another cab back to the bus station after arranging for it to be sent to mi casa instead.

Went to the shop to collect my handbag. Was shocked when the proprietor told me it was free of charge. I advised it was unacceptable as she had to order a new part and labour cost involved. Very happily she said albeit I had made many fruitless trips but I had never complained or rude to her or her staff when the part did not arrive as promised. In appreciation for being a polite and good customer and making her day, she was prepared to absorb her losses. I reciprocated by donating some cash in a charity box in her shop.

Walked into the Chinese grocery shop again and beseeched them to order the chicken feet. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed on that.

Thanked God many times today for the many blessings.

Friends

The world is filled with FRIENDS we had not met YET .......... May we be friends?

Lamb chops

They were on special offers and I couldn't resist it.

Easy to cook, simply grill or pan fry and serve with your favourite vegetables or salads.

Salmon Fish Head with Chinese Mustard And Tofu Soup

Couldn't believe it when I saw it on sale. Bought a pack in preparation to cook the above.
I love stir frying Chinese Mustard with abalone mushrooms too.

Nonetheless, was feeling teary when I prepared the salmon head earlier as I thought of mum. The fins are one of my favourite parts of the fish. I am going to reserve it to grill on another day.

Am feeling a tad lazy after a hearty lunch with the pan fried skate.

To be continued .......

I better pan fried the fish parts first before the tenant got home.

The cleaver we have is pathetic thus I am leaving the fish whole minus the fins and another fish head for another day. Yipppeeeeeeeeeee two more meals for other days.

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Wash and pat dry fish head. Season lightly with white pepper and salt.

Pan fry fish head in pot used for the soup. After the fish head had been turned over once, add in two slices of ginger, when they are golden brown, add in Chinese mustard and water, just enough to cover all ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for at least one and a half hour with lid on. Do not be tempted to uncover lid during simmering. Just leave it alone. Adjust seasoning according to your taste. Garnish with fresh coriander and spring onions.

Soup is simmering now and I couldn't wait to enjoy it.

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A piece of fresh chilli (slit in the centre) was added during the last ten minutes of cooking .

The silken tofu added in during the last five minutes of cooking were left in big blocks lest they broke up into smaller pieces.

Extremely satisfied with the soup. The fish head was very fresh thus ginger wasn't necessary for the next lot.

I will still continue using ginger if purchased at the supermarket but the fish bought this morning was freshly prepared.

Pan Fried Skate

Skates are a kite shaped fish that have a flat body and two wings. The wings are the only part of the fish that is consumed.
Have you tried it?
It’s taste a bit like stingray but oh my goodness, the flaky white, sweet meat running along the line of the bone is so yummy.
Oooooooooo my heart was racing when I saw it today and it was a must buy beside the salmon fish head.
I am so hungry now and waiting for the rice to be cooked.
To be continued ….

My dearest friends in Spain, Isabella and Mary Margaret, lunch would be more satisfying if it was shared.

I know how much both of you love it too and what an excellent time we have had sharing it previously.

Enjoy the photographs.