Dinner at home

I have been away for 3 weeks in the US. Weather in Minnesota was erratic, with snow on 2 occasions, accompanied with days of strong wind and even thunderstorms! My colleagues said I experienced 3 seasons all in 3 weeks.

Finally, I am back after 3 weeks of American food. Now I just want some simple homecooked food.

Spinach with Mushrooms and Black Fungus

4-5 stalks of spinach, cut
400g of mixed mushrooms (I used shitake and abalone)

1 big piece of black fungus (soaked and sliced thinly)

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1tbsp each of olive oil and sesame oil

fish sauce and pepper to season

1. Add the oil in a heated wok with the garlic. Do not add garlic after the oil is hot as this will burn the garlic before the aroma is released.

2. Add the fungus and fry for 2 mins.

3. Add the chopped mushrooms. Stirfry for 2 mins and add fish sauce and some water. Cover and simmer over mid-low heat. Let the mushrooms absorb the flavour. Salt is not added as fish sauce is salty enough.

4. At this point, heat a pot of water for blanching the spinach and add a pinch of salt. Add the spinach to the boiling water.

5. With the spinach done, check the mushrooms. It should have reduced slightly. Add the spinach and do a quick toss. Spinkle some pepper and season to taste.

6. Dish it up, sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds if desired and serve.

Baked Tilapia
NTUC was selling frozen tilapia fillets at a promo price. Seeing that they were individually wrapped, so decided to give it a try. Just marinate them in salt, pepper, paprika. Bake them on the upper rack at 220 degrees oven for 15mins, with 2 halved limes. When done, squeeze the lime juice over. Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil for the additional flavour. Bon Appetit!