All who knew her knew she was an atrocious cook (sorry, mum)! But like I said before, who in their right mind can churn out inspired food for lunch+dinner at 5.30am everyday???!!! Not my mum ^^
Even on off (non-working) days, her cooking's more or less the same.. uninspired! She was also an obsessive compulsive health freak (probably due to her work environment)! Still, chubby big brother, me and papa pig, were all obese growing up! ^^|| not joking.
Anyway, next to stir-fry cabbage with eggs, turmeric squids and spicy assam prawns are the only food I remember she did well that I liked. Guess you can say these are my favorite mum-cooked foods ^^.
Well, I never did learn to cook these dishes from her ^^|| (thought she was going to live forever! and i had no interest in cooking then!). So I'm making turmeric squids (uncooked extras from the mentaiko pasta) based on memory. The good thing about her dishes, they are usually straightforward and simple. Doesn't take much to figure out what goes into making them. ^^
Turmeric squids
600g squids
2-3 tbsp turmeric powder
1-2 tbsp soy sauce (optional - I can't be sure if she added, but I did)
2 tbsp oil
1-2 tsp salt
more salt, to season (this dish should be on the slightly-so salty side)
1. Mix squids with turmeric powder, soy sauce and salt. No need to marinade.
2. Heat up oil in a non-stick deep pan/wok. Add squids and saute till cooked. Season with a bit more salt if still not salty enough. Cook till the sauce dries up. Make sure you scrape off all the dry bits in the pan.. the dried bits are the best!
3. Best served with rice! (^^) Also very good on its own.. fatty hubby loves ^^
I did it! These turmeric squids tastes so yummy.. and exactly like mum's! So easy. A perfect cheat's lunch or dinner, or whatever! (^^)
Guess the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree ^^|| Lazy see, lazy does ^^ I'm an atrocious cook too ^^! I miss her ^^.
Some moms don't cook at all (My friend is a stay-at-home mom but she doesn't cook and husband does!). It's nice that you remember clearly which dishes you like from her cooking. My husband and I love squid dishes. This is so easy to cook and I'll definitely give it a try!
ReplyDeleteYeah me too, when I was young and staying with mum, I always praise of her dishes and each time I would say to her "How do you cook this?" and each time she will answer me back "Every time I cook, you didn't come and help me out and now you asked me again and again". Now she stays far away from me and just miss her alot. It is good of you still remember how to replica your mum's special dishes. I loves tumeric in meat or seafood, it just bring out extra flavour in there.
ReplyDeletenami, your friend is sooo lucky! to have a husband who loves to cook! ^^ mine can barely cook instant noodles ^^|| so he doesn't complain much that I can't and don't cook much ^^
ReplyDeleteyou are such a good daughter, mel.. i don't remember praising my mum much.. we did however laugh a lot together over her not-so-good cooking ^^ now everyone laughs at my cooking! (^^)
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my fave squid dishes that my mom used to cook for us... :D
ReplyDeletelucky... you can't see me drooling :), otherwise ...malu le :P
haha.. really, lisa? ^^ did i get it right, btw? you really need to share your mom's recipe! ^^
ReplyDelete