Archive for » June, 2013 «

My brother-in-law has a new hobby, which is fishing. Actually, it does not do him justice to call it a hobby, it is more like an obsession. He is now a fishing addict.

For his birthday, my sister advanced his addiction further by booking a special fishing trip to Alaska for the two of them. I watched their two young children during their birthday celebration.

When they returned, I was richly rewarded with LOTS of fish. The good kind. We got lots of halibut, some cod, and salmon. All nicely packed in vacuum sealed bags stored in a large ice chest.

Halibut


I got to find new ways to eat up all this fish. One new way I came up with is fish tacos.

Dinner is served

Ingredients:

1) Fish. (I am using my halibut, you can also use cod, mahi mahi, etc.)
2) Cilantro-finely chopped
3) One clove of garlic-finely chopped
4) Lime
5) White flour
6) Tortilla
7) Lettuce (should be cabbage, but none of us like to eat raw cabbage)
8) Red onion-thinly sliced (use half)
9) Shredded carrot
10) Salt
11) Pepper
12) Olive oil
13) Chipotle-lime ranch (optional)

Optional topping: guacamole

Guacamole is easy to make. Click here for recipe.

guacamole

Preparation:

Fish:

Halibut with seasoning


* Marinate the fish with salt & pepper, cilantro, garlic, lime juice (use about half of the lime), and olive oil. Let sit in refrigerator for about an hour

* Coat the fish with white flour, and fully cook in the frying pan with olive oil.

Cooked halibut


Salad:

salad for the taco


*Mix the lettuce, shredded carrot, and red onion.

*Season with salt & pepper, lime juice (just squeeze the amount according to taste), and olive oil

*optional: add Chipotle-lime ranch dressing

Fish Taco:

Fish taco is so easy...


*Warm both sides of the tortilla in a frying pan (no need to add oil)

*Add salad onto the tortilla

*Add fish onto taco

*optional: add Chipolet-lime ranch dressing

*optional: add guacamole

*Serve with a side of the salad

Enjoy!

Related previous posts: Something Fishy
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Homemade Gourmet Burger
Pasta Night
Crabby Dinner

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Category: Parents  2 Comments

Sigh…we tried really hard to avoid this stage of child raring, but it has come for us.

Volleyball game


“Only 3 kids showed up on Thee’s team.” I casually mentioned to hubby, as he was busy himself with filming our 9 year-old’s volleyball game that just got underway.

“What?!” hubby looked over his camera and peering over at our 12 year-old’s volleyball court.

“I can go fill in for them. I will go play.” hubby turned off his camera, and was about to get up from his chair.

“No, you WON’T” I said firmly and put my hand on his arm.

“Why not? They need at least four players to play the games. This volleyball league is so lay-back, they won’t care if I fill in for the kids.” hubby.

“True. But Thee will care. She will be embarrassed if you go play on her team.” I stated dryly.

“WHAT?! No. Are you serious?” hubby looking at me.

“Yes. You will embarrass her. She won’t want you there. Sit Down.” me.

Hubby reluctantly sat back down, while casting doubtful looks on me.

He might be blissfully ignorant in this matter. But I have become keenly aware of the changes in my 12-year-old in just the recent months.

Yes, the sweet child that we have so carefully raised has emerged into an adolescent. An challenging age that came with annoying behavior, further amplified by inherent deep flaws in character.

I have observed my 12-year-old morph in and out between her old self and this new creature possessed by an alien.

This new creature can be surprisingly mean to her little sister, unschooled in gratefulness, and particularly self-absorbed.

I have shouted at this creature on a few occasions and demanded my old sweet child back.

I have questioned my own parenting style, and wondered if I had done it all wrong.

I have given this a lot of thought.

Lucky for me, I have this unyielding confidence in my parenting approach.

We have always been responsive to our children’s emotional needs, set firm boundaries, and clear expectations.

This isn’t anyone’s fault. Our child needs to grow up, and is struggling to do so trying to give up her old familiar childish ways, reaching for new independence, while balancing the demands from school, extra activities, old and new friends, and us, the parents.

I came to the realization that I can’t go on and treat her as a young child anymore. I will have to learn to let her grow up, give her space, and respect her boundary.

I practiced my newly establishing parenting guideline on my husband when I forbid him from playing on my pre-teen’s volleyball game.

Later that day, we gathered around our kitchen island, as hubby was making the kids’ favorite virgin pina colada smoothie.

“How come you only had three players today.” hubby asked our 12-year-old.

“It is our coach’s wife birthday today, so he and his two boys didn’t come. Then a couple more kids just didn’t show up.” 12-year-old.

“I was going to come and play on your team for you.” hubby.

“WHAT?!” the new creature surfaced with arms crossed over her chest, face registered with horror.

“But mom stopped me. She said that I would embarrass you.” hubby, then added, “Would I embarrass you?”

“Of course! You would!” creature.

This was one of the few time where I was sad to be right.

“We have become embarrassing parents.” I declared to hubby in an official manner.

Hubby smiled while shaking his head and pouring out the drinks into cups.

“Remember when you were little, and we warned you about not letting us becoming embarrassing parents.” me, still a bit dreamy about the past.

“Yeah. I am not going to be embarrassed by you as long as you don’t do embarrassing things to me.” 12-year-old, all smiles and charm.

“You mean..like, standing next to you?” me.

“YES!! Just don’t stand next to me.” 12-year-old.

Previous related post: If you unleash a 12-year-old at the mall…
Middle School Fashion Police

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Category: Kids, Parents  One Comment