Category Archives: Savouries

Jadeite love

My mother and I were watching a show we both love not too long ago when we made a wonderful discovery. The show was ….dare I say it? Arguably uncool, totally nerdy but so what I love it, Poirot. I like Agatha Christie’s novels and enjoy watching the Poirot and Miss Marple series.

The Poirot series is set in the 1930’s and as we were watching the episode, my mother commented on the beauty of the art deco items from the time. My mother noticed a particular tea set from the episode and she said it looked a lot like the set they’d had when she was a child. They were milky green, slightly transclucent and lovely. Before we left the Philippines she had looked all over for another set but could never find any. For the last 27 years since we emigrated to Australia she had looked for these dishes at home-ware and department stores but still could not find them.

So, when she mentioned it to me, I did a little bit of research the intuitive 2015 way……Google! Within minutes, we solved the mystery of the green dishes. My grandfather had worked as an aircraft mechanic in an American airbase prior to the Philippines’ independence from US colonization in 1946 and the subsequent establishment of our own national airport. Consequently my grandfather sometimes bought American-made products including the jadeite plates . As the plates were not produced in either Philippines or Australia, my mother could not find them after we moved. However, they were mass produced in the US and were inexpensive during the 1930s- 1970’s. They were manufactured by McKee (the first to produce these), Jeanette Glass Company and Anchor Hocking. Mosser Glass produces more modern jadeite pieces.

JadeiteloveMayYouCookIt

My search in sites like Ebay and Etsy led me to vintage jadeite plates while in Amazon.com I found a variety of new and old. They are collectable items these days and although they were reasonably priced, they turned out a little bit expensive in terms of postage and currency conversion.

After we discovered the plates I have to admit I also fell in love with their beautiful mint green loveliness. I understand now why my mother loved them so much and it is nice to have a lovely part of history on our table.

Honey Mustard Salmon

Ingredients

4 Salmon cutlets

Approx 2 Tbs dijon mustard

Appox 2 Tbs honey

Approx 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil

1 medium lemon

Salt and pepper

Instructions

Combine the mustard, honey and olive oil.
Zest the lemon and add the zest and juice to the honey, mustard and oil.
Rub salt and pepper into the salmon cutlets then add to the marinade. Refridgerate at least 30 mins.
Preheat oven to about 200 degrees celsius and bake the salmon for about 15 mins or until golden and flaky.

Serve with steamed or stir-fried vegetables.

Ginataang Kalabasa

Ingredients

1 onion, chopped
1 head of garlic, finely chopped
3 tomatoes, chopped
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups of cubed squash
2 Tbs fish paste
1 fillet of smoked cod, cut into cubes
3 pieces of filleted fish, cut into cubes
1/2 kilo of prawn, shelled and deveined (optional)
2 cups coconut milk
1 cup coconut cream
3 Tbs fish sauce
2 pieces long chili
1/2 ginger root, finely cut
2 Tbs cooking oil
Parsley for garnishing

Instructions

In a large saucepan, saute the onion and garlic in the oil.
Add the tomatoes, ginger, chicken stock, squash, fish paste and coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a boil then simmer for about 20 minutes.
Add fish, prawns, coconut cream, fish sauce and chili. Bring back to the boil and simmer for another 15 minutes.