Monday 8 September 2014

Mad Cooking


It's Monday morning and I'm depressed. So let's do something lighthearted.

Do you clean out your sauce bottles to the last drop? Your tomato ketchup clings on to the bottom and sides of the bottle and to optimize your money's worth, you turn the bottle upside down so that whatever remaining sauce trickles and pools at the bottleneck.

But it doesn't always do that because some still cling stubbornly to the sides. This is where mad cooking comes into play. Welcome to the first episode of PH's Mad Cooking.



In one corner you have an empty bottle each of tomato ketchup and chilli sauce. But they are not really empty because you can still get some mileage out of the remnants that are stuck to the bottom and sides.



In another corner, you have some sad pieces  of a lemon which had contributed it's best to a lemony bake. So what do you do? You squeeze the life out of the lemon pieces into a measuring jug and transfer the juice into the empty chilli sauce bottle.



Shake, shake, shake. Then you transfer the liquids into the empty tomato ketchup bottle. Shake, shake, shake. Then your pour the contents back into the measuring cup.



And in yet another corner, you have this beauty of a salmon fillet. Look at that. Cost me a small fortune. I am not rich and salmon is a luxury to me. One of the top ten reasons why I have to work even though I am burnt out. How much did it cost? Let me nip to the rubbish bin to take a snap. 



Now, take a clove of garlic and run it though a garlic press. The crushed garlic goes into the measuring cup containing the lemon juice/tomato ketchup/chilli sauce. To that, add a tablespoon of maple syrup, another luxury item in my house. Lastly, a tablespoon of Braggs Liquid Aminos. Also a luxury item. Stir, stir, stir.



Then pour the whole lot onto the salmon and coat the fillet with the salty lemony garlicky sauce. Preheat oven to 200C and grill the fish for about 13 minutes. Baste after 10 minutes. And hope for the best. This is after all, Mad Cooking.

Tadaah.....!! 



Well, well! I must say that this salmon fillet tastes really good. The outside is just cooked and the inside is still pink, tender and juicy. Look at that. And I love the lemony sauce. Mmmmm....



Honestly, the grilled salmon fillet that I have eaten at the restaurants is usually a tad overcooked. And overpriced. A spot of mad cooking has convinced me that if you want proper grilled salmon fillet at half the price, do it at home.


I am satisfied that I extracted all my leftover tomato ketchup and chilli sauce, well almost. 

There is no recipe for today since this is mad cooking. Mad but not bad.


50 comments:

  1. Good morning PH. You must be very rich even though you denied it. See you squeezed and utilised every sauce to its last drop, haha. Very clever idea to clean up the bottle with lemon juice. Oh by the way, very delicious piece of grilled salmon. Happy mid-autumn!

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    1. Hi Veronica! No lah... I am far from rich. I am not like Uncle Scrooge hah,,hah... Happy Mid-Autumn to you too!

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  2. yes always traces of sauce if not mileage left in the bottle, even for those squeeze plastic type.. and me too, use whatever ways to get every drop out, haha!! the most basic ones, just use water and get everything "shaken" out, hahahaha!!

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    1. SK, I do that even with my toothpaste and shampoo. And liquid detergent. Must save every cent but no lah, can't become a millionaire by doing that hah...hah....

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  3. wow, Monday morning and you already have cooked this delicious salmon and took tons of photos and then wrote a post about it and got it published??!! I wonder what time you wake up in the morning to get all these done??

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    1. I did not do it this morning. If I did, then I must be very mad liao. It was done on Saturday for my lunch :)

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  4. Morning morning.. Wait, expired on 05.08.2014? Did you cook it this morning? You mentioned Monday, but you didn't mention which Monday, haha.. Working Monday or no? If yes, then I salute you wor, morning rushing to work but still wana bake a salmon, I'd have gone crazy if I were you.. Working mornings, I really rush like a mad woman I tell you.. 5.30am wakeup to feed G, then 6am take my bath and get ready, 6.20am wake Kz up, prepare him, wears him his school uniform, out of the house by 6.45am.. By the way, I love your title - Mad Cooking.. If me, I'd add something, say, Mad Cooking by Mad Woman (I'm talking about myself), teehee..

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    1. Morning, Louiz! I bought the salmon last month and kept it in the freezer. Then suddenly found in when I was looking for something. No lah, I cooked the salmon last Saturday for my lunch. I cannot do anything on Monday or work day mornings. It is too rush. I read your morning activity I also feel so stressed hah..hah... This morning I feel mad but don't worry I will be fine :)

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  5. Good morning Phong Hong, happy mid autumn festival to you and your partner! I love to eat salmon lighlty grilled with a little bit of salt to retain its own flavour. I don't use sauces so no bottles at home for me to clean out but yours is a brilliant idea using lemon juice to get every bit out of those bottles. Did you really cook this in the morning before going to work? I salute you if you did because I am not a morning person.

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    1. Morning, Mun! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! No sauces? I can't live without my sauces. Oh no, did not cook this morning. That was last Saturday and I thought that it would be good to publish it this morning because I am feeling mad. hah..hah...

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  6. From the "head and tail" also can get such a good meal is very good liao. For me sometimes i use to the last drop...sometimes not.

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    1. I like the tail part better. And the meat from the belly is my favourite. So soft and smooth and creamy.

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  7. Hi PH
    Usually I add some water to the bottle and shake shake shake till clean to pour our the last of the sauce....no waste. I love lots of sauces in my dishes. Have a wonderful day and Happy Mid Autumn festival to yoy.

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    1. Hi Mel! I don't use water because that would dilute the sauce unless if I am mixing it to some more of the same sauce. I love my sauces too and I have so many in my fridge. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to you too!

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  8. Ah, use lemon juice, okay I will take note of that and try next time.
    Previously I will not bother, if pour water in to shake, too little water and it will be too difficult to shake them all out, not good for lazy man. If too much water, the taste is completely diluted, no point to do it. Waste the 10 or 20 cents to prevent arm muscle cram and tonnes of frustration seems like better value money for me :D

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    1. Hi RG! Actually this is a bad habit of mine, wanting to extract stuff down to the last drop! Yeah, it may not be really worth it but I am just humouring my own compulsions hah..hah...

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  9. Yum! Yum! Salmon! My girl would love this so so so much. The sauce? I'd just add water and shake...to cook the gravy for some dish, use every bit of it. Can simmer to get rid of the water to thicken...or add cornflour.

    Happy Mooncake Festival to you and your loved ones.

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    1. I would use water too if I am adding it to more of the same sauce like if I am making sweet and sour sauce. Just so happens that I have these bits of lemon leftover.

      Happy Mooncake Festival to you and your family too!

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  10. Goodness.Never knew that salmon bit costs so much. I usually get a whole fish, about $40 on sale day but it is a lot of work portioning it out. When I feel rich ( which is seldom ), I get my salmon from Snorre, who will do whatever you fancy and vacuum pack every single fillet.

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    1. It is a good idea to get the whole fish if it is cheaper. But I eat salmon only once in a blue moon and besides, there is not enough space in my freezer.

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  11. Hi Phong Hong, ready bought sauces makes cooking so much easier but taking up space in the kitchen. I always go for small bottles and finish them like you do. Great idea you are sharing here. The salmon looks good with the sauce.

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    1. Hi Kimmy! My fridge is currently jammed up with sauces hah..hah... I am clearing them up slowly because I need more space!

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  12. hahaha....Seems like cooking is your therapy for depression. For me, it's workout and running. Nice salmon steak over there!

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  13. This is not Mad cooking but Creative And Frugal cooking! hahaha... Used to the last drop.. and coming up with such a yummylicious Salmon... not bad ler! I can imagine the taste... lemon and tomato equals appetizing!
    The way you write your post reflects you as a humorous person, PH! :)

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    1. Hi Claire! Me very kedekut hee..hee...

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  14. Hi Phong Hong,
    Oh dear, I hope you are feeling more relaxed by now.
    Today is "Mad Day" for me, unable to cook or bake today, as my kichen pipes are leaking, waiting to be repaired! So frustrating, as I am unable to turn on the tap, unless I want a flooded kitchen!
    I usually add hot water to the bottle, shake and pour out the sauce for my sweet sour dish or pasta dish. The lemon juice, I simply squeezed out the juice, freeze it in freezer trays, and transfer to containers, keep in the freezer. Most recipes calls for only a tablespoon or two of lemon juice, so this works out great. No need to buy anymore lemons!
    Your method of using the lemon juice to "empty" out the last remaining sauce is a great idea!
    Your salmon looks yummy and perfectly done! You are right, it is a luxury to buy salmon. I hardly buy any, to feed a family of four, it would burn a hole in my pocket! Especially now when things are getting more expensive!
    Hope you have a nice, easy and relaxing week!

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    1. Hi Joyce! Don't worry, I am feeling better :) I hope that your kitchen pipes are already repaired by now. It is no fun having leaking pipes and I can imagine the inconvenience!

      Thanks for the tip on freezing lemon juice! I never thought of that And yes, salmon is too expensive. But I do give myself a treat every now and then to remind myself that working pays for these luxuries! hah..hah...

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  15. Phong Hong, I thought the usual 'Monday blue' ... but mad also ?!? Anyway, my method is to add some warm water in the ketchup or chilli sauce bottle and give a few shakes ... ok emptied to the last drop for cooking. Glad you had enjoyed your grilled salmon fillet.
    Blessed and Happy Mid Autumn Festival to you & family!

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    1. Hi Karen! Glad that I am not the only one who does that hee..hee... You too have a blessed Mid Autumn Festival with your family!

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  16. haha yes I clean all my bottles & jars to the last drop.. add water in, shake shake shake.
    i found a jar scrapper in Netherlands, the ends is soft to bend & scrap out every last bit from a jar perfectly. awesome invention
    anyhow simple cook salmon also taste good at home!

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    1. Hi Shannon! A jar scrapper sounds like a gadget that would come in handy in my kitchen! I love salmon and sometimes I steam it with broccoli.

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  17. Hello Phong Hong...
    Bagus juga go mad like this. Boleh clear all the almost empty sauce bottles kan. Same here, kalau ada tinggal sikit sikit sauce, I will add a bit of water into the bottles and shake like mad, sampai the bottle looks clean on the inside. Then I dump the whole sauce into my cooking. Then I smiled with satisfaction! Hahaha.. really crazy kan.

    I ada buat grilled salmon masa puasa time that day tapi belum post kat blog sebab nowadays malas nak on computer! Plus so many things kena kautim this one month. Tired lor. Nanti nantilah i post... kalau i ingat lagi la macam mana i buat. Hahahaha.....

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    1. Hi MamaFaMi! Itulah gaya orang kedekut macam saya ni heh..heh... Tak mambazir, kan? OK, I tunggu you punya salmon.

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  18. Yumm。。。this is what I did with the remaining sauces. No measurements or weighing, just dump in everything and mix... hahaa

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    1. Hi Ann! hah..hah..we love to save every drop and nothing goes to waste :)

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  19. Hi 5 Phong Hong! I also did the same thing. Before the bottle end up in the bins, I make sure that I have cleaned up whatever sauce in the bottle by pouring water into it and then straight into the pot or wok. In a way it's good cos' every now and then, we have new recipe from scratch and usually, ho jiak also, hahaha...Salmon goes very well with lemon and orange juice. Very yummy.

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    1. Hi Ivy! Ya lah, at home simply kiau, kiau, kiau and char, char, char, also taste so good liao hah..hah....

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  20. Hi PH,
    I did drop by the other day tapi tak semoat leave comment :p
    Like you, I will clean up the little bit left the tomato sauce bottle too but I use warm water only.
    Next time I will follow PH mad cooking ..hehe
    Oh!! Your grilled salmon sure look delish!
    mui

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    1. Thanks, mui mui! Don't be mad like me yah? hee...hee..

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  21. You are so funny! Shake Shake Shake ! LOL
    I would normally even add hot water to clean my bottles and pour the sauce into the wok.
    I love your fish! This is my top choice of meat in my favourites list.

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    1. Hi TM! The idea came spontaneously. And everything just clicked into place and I had a nice grilled salmon to eat hah..hah...

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  22. Phong Hong, I too save every little drops of sauces, I mix rice vinegar to the last drops, and shake, shake, shake...just like you do. Rice vinegar is mild, and will not alter the flavors too much.
    Your salmon is so moist and soooo yummy!

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    1. Hi Elisabeth! I would imagine that you do that too :) Food and thrift!

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  23. usually i will add some water to the last bits of the sauce in the bottle, shake and add it to the dish that im cooking..and you know, now LKK has come up with a new packaging for their oyster sauce, not bottle but in tube form...like toothpaste..hehe..so next time we dont hv to shake shake shake instead we squeeze squeeze and squeeze :D

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    1. Ya kah? I have not seen this "toothpaste" oyster sauce yet hee..hee... I will sure buy it, Lena!

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