Category: Eating In

Update: Daisy’s Staple Hummus

On 14 May last year, I posted my hummus recipe. Now, I’ll give you this much: it’s some work, especially when it’s a staple! (And in my house, it really is.)

So, I always look out for store bought versions that are budget- and tastebud-friendly. I have finally settled on the best one: Cedar’s Hummus. It’s not organic, which is a bummer, but it is “all natural.” I’m hoping that this means it actually is organic but the company didn’t want to bother with certification. However, if you look at the ingredient list, all their hummus products, aside from the sundried tomato and basil flavored hummus (which seems to have some junk in it), are pretty wholesome.

Cedar's Hummus is tasty, smooth, and authentic. All flavors have wholesome ingredients, except for the Sundried Tomato and Basil.
Cedar’s Hummus is tasty, smooth, and authentic. All flavors have wholesome ingredients, except for the Sundried Tomato and Basil.

At RM16.00, it’s pretty affordable. There’s a fully organic hummus available at Village Grocer in Bangsar, but at RM30.00, it’s really not budget-friendly. There’s another local company called Hummus Co. that makes a hummus priced at RM16.00 also, but it’s nowhere as good as Cedar’s. Hummus Co.’s hummus is not smooth (the way good hummus should be) and doesn’t taste very good at all! (It’s also available at Village Grocer.)

Cedar’s is tasty! I especially love the roasted red pepper flavor. Goes great with cut up veggies, used as dipping crackers. My only gripe against them is that they use sunflower oil as the primary oil ingredient. I wish they’d use a good quality olive oil! Oh well. Rather than complain, I should just get crackin’ on making my own hummus. ;P

Peace,

Daisy

 

 

Going Veggie Paleo

Okay, so here’s my latest thing: going Veggie Paleo. Have you heard about the Paleo Diet? Well, it’s the same thing, except with a reduced amount of meat, dairy, and eggs for environmental/health purposes.

I don’t follow the diet to the “T,” as it can be really hard to adapt to a highly social lifestyle, but I do try to follow as much as I possibly can. It’s made me feel tons better, and guess what, my husband, who has no food allergies at all, says he feels better too.

So in celebrating the Veggie Paleo diet, I’ll be sharing a couple of super easy recipes that work for me after a long day at work.

Tip: Make sure you buy fresh fish that has not been sitting/melting into a bunch of styrofoam. Bring your own glass/stainless steel container to the market. Pick a safe fish–avoid farm raised fish and large fish (Google “low contamination fish types”).

Grilled Fish with Mango Compote and Boiled Sweet Potato

If timed properly, can be done in as little as 20 minutes.
If timed properly, can be done in as little as 20 minutes.

Ingredients

2 pieces of fish, approximately 100 gms each

Seasoning: sea salt, pepper, oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme

3 tablespoons of butter

Compote: half a mango, splash of ume plum vinegar, dash of salt, dash of honey, a few cranberries

Approximately 10 small pieces of sweet potato

Method

1.Turn on oven to approximately 160. I honestly don’t think it is necessary to completely pre-heat for such simple dishes. I turn it on and then place the fish in when I am done prepping.

2. Wash and start to boil the sweet potatoes in just plain water.

3. Prep the fish by rubbing a little butter on the bottom of a baking pan, and then placing small lumps of butter all over fish. On top of the butter place the seasonings.

4. Place fish in the oven for approximately 10 minutes.

5. While fish is cooking, cut one half of a mango. Scrape the side so that the flesh is pulpy and watery. Add the ume plum vinegar, honey, and salt. Adjust to taste.

6. When fish is half way done (5 minute mark), take out and turn over. Make sure the butter spreads evenly.

7. When fish is completely done, take out, and  place the compote on top with a few cranberries (try to get low/no sugar cranberries).

8. Serve with halved sweet potatoes with a sliver of butter atop the crevice.

Peace,

Daisy