Spicy fish stew

Doesn't look like much but reasonably tasty.

Make the sauce...
Saute chopped onion, fresh tumeric slices, 1 dried chili, cumin and fennel seeds till fragrant and onion has softened.

Add garlic and a can of good quality sardines in olive oil. Fry for a bit, then add a can of tinned tomatoes and some of my fresh canned steamed tomato.  Add water if a bit dry.

Add Thyme, and simmer for 30-40 mins covered. Can be refridgerated.

To serve,
Put fish and frozen mussels at bottom of pot/dish. Then add the sauce from the fridge. Steam for 20-22 mins or so.

Vegetarian Dinner

Mushroom pilaf and stir fried broccoli with dried shrimp. Both worth repeating.

For the pilaf,
- saute onions with oregano until translucent. I used a little veg oil.
- add large chopped mushrooms and some cold cubed butter.
- add more cubed butter (a little at a time) while frying. Adding it all at once will just get the mushrooms to absorb it immediately.
- fry until the mushrooms shrink and the whole mess smells good.
- add garlic and fry a little more.
- add soaked basmati rice and gently fry, turning the rice over to coat with the fat.
- flatten rice, then add 1.5 times volume of stock to the volume of rice.
- add a bit of peas (but prob not necessary). I also added some ricotta - probably also not necessary.
- boil at high heat till water is vigorously boiling. Then turn down the heat to moderately low and completely cover. Continue to gently steam the rice for 15 mins, then turn off the heat and let it sit for another 5-10.

For the broccoli,
- make florets of approx the same size.
- get the heat in the wok hot and fry the dried shrimp till crispy, moving them around in the wok.
- remove the shrimp.
- get the wok as hot as possible.
- put in the veg and stir fry with tossing action. The heat needs to be hot enough to occasionally sear the veg with bits of black. Add back the shrimp after a few mins.
- put in chopped garlic and stir a bit more.
- put in a small glass with water, sesame oil and soya sauce mix.
- cover and steam till done.