The Quik Cook! continues with national cuisine favorites from around the world from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe! Today’s port-of-call: Cambodia for Cambodian Fish Amok!
Cambodian Fish Amok (Curried White Fish Served With Coconut Sauce.)
Active Time: 30 mins / Servings: 2
Ingredients: Curry Paste 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped 1 large shallot bulb, finely chopped 3 stalks lemongrass, ends trimmed, inner tender stalk only, finely chopped ½ -inch piece galangal, peeled and finely chopped 2 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped 1 teaspoon tumeric powder 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons chili paste – like Sambal Oelek Fish Amok 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ½ teaspoon shrimp paste (optional) – substitute anchovy paste if you can’t find shrimp paste 1 cup coconut milk, well shaken 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 teaspoon salt ¾ pound firm, mild white fish – like halibut, mahi mahi, or true cod, skin removed 1 cup fresh spinach leaves, cut into ½-inch thick ribbons 1 egg 1 tablespoon fish sauce Julianned red bell pepper Kaffir lime leaf ribbons – thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves
Preparation: Curry Paste: Make this curry paste with a mortar and pestle or use a food processor. The mortar and pestle will give the curry a deeper flavor. Place the first 5 ingredients in a mortar and pestle and pound to a paste. Alternatively, place first 5 ingredients in a food processor and process until a smooth paste forms. Add the remaining ingredients and pound or process until all spices are well incorporated. Fish Amok: Thinly slice the fish into ¼-inch thick bite size pieces and set aside. Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the curry paste and cook for 1 minute. Add the shrimp paste, coconut milk, sugar and salt, whisking to combine. Turn the heat to medium and simmer for 2 minutes, whisking occasionally. Add the fish and spinach leaves, gently folding the fish into the curry sauce with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. Let the amok simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the fish is just cooked through. Turn the heat off. In a small bowl, whisk the egg with the fish sauce and 2 tablespoons of the curry sauce from the pan. Pour the egg mixture into the saucepan and gently fold it into the curry.
Serve the amok in a bowl with a spoonful of coconut cream (the thick cream that rises to the top of the remaining coconut milk), a few julienned red pepper pieces and a sprinkling of kaffir lime leaf ribbons.
The Maurice Podoloff Trophy is given to the Most Valuable Player each year in the entire NBA. This year the clear favorite to win his fourth MVP award if Miami Heat Forward Lebron James. I will not sit here and say Lebron James is not an amazing basketball player, but I do not believe he deserves the award this year. Yes, he led the Miami Heat to a franchise record 27 win streak, yes he is the most dominant player right now, and yes he is a full-fledged superstar, but he is on a team built to achieve above and beyond the known limits. He is a very important corner-stone to the team, but not the most valuable player in the league.
2008 NBA MVP Kobe Bryant
No matter what arena you see him play, no matter what team he is playing against, Kobe Bryant will always hear “M-V-P! M-V-P!” chants. Oddly enough Kobe has only won one NBA MVP award back in 2008. This year he easily deserves to be a front-runner in the MVP conversation. The horribly underachieving Lakers have been willed on by Kobe alone and even though he is now out with a season ending Achilles tear, he has gotten them into the 8th seed of the playoffs.
Clippers Guard Chris Paul
Chris Paul (a.k.a CP3) has made the Clippers the team in Los-Angeles now and for years to come. He will become the corner-stone of the new dominant west coast force that are the Clippers. Chris Paul is long due for a MVP award and after watching him this year lead the Clippers to their first division title in decades, hitting the 50 win mark for the first time since 1976, and taking the Clippers on a dominant and undefeated month of December.
New York Knick Forward Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony is poised to win his first NBA Scoring Title after this season just nudging out Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant. Over the month of April Carmelo has averaged nearly 29 points per game and lead his Knicks on a 13 game win streak that ended in Chicago. Anthony has always been an elite scorer but this season in New York he is proving to be a real MVP candidate. Over this season the Knicks were written off as “too old” but they have secured a second placed seed in the Eastern Conference and will match up against Boston in the first round (a real good game by the way). While Carmelo’s stats are no where as nice as James or other players, his Knicks are only 6-7 without him. I would easily give him the MVP Award this year since Melo is long overdue and has clearly proven his worth.
Spurs Guard Tony Parker
Ah, Tony Parker, he was once the “dark horse” MVP candidate throughout this season. In 65 games this season, Parked has averaged 20.4 points, 7.6 assists, while shooting 52.4%, and 35.3% from beyond the arc. He has once again lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 58-23 record while securing the second place seed in the Western Conference. Earlier this season some people would’ve penciled in Parker as the favorite to win the MVP as he was and the Spurs were just on a roll. Sadly in the month of April he has dropped off due to injuries and has only played four games. No matter what though, Tony Parker is still the dark horse candidate to win MVP.
Once again, I am not putting down Lebron James and his amazing talent and ability to play the game of basketball. He is the most dominant force in basketball right now and will be for a couple more years. James though, does not deserve another MVP award as he is clearly not the most valuable player for the team compared to others. Sadly though, a fourth trophy is inevitable.
Below is a video from Family Guy. In it, the eerie scene shows Bob Costas interviewing Family Guy’s Peter Griffin, asking him how he won the Boston Marathon.
The scene then shows Griffin’s answer where he makes two phone calls and two explosions are heard after each call.
Walking around in the aftermath of yesterday’s tragedy I heard people say over and over, “I can’t believe this happened here in Boston.”
Most tragedies seem distant and removed.
Until tragedy lands on our front door.
For those of us who have ever considered Boston to be home, yesterday’s explosions shook many to the core. The normal reaction is shock, anger, even numbness. It feels surreal that terror of this magnitude came so close. As the American Psychological Association states, “shock and denial are normal protective actions” after a traumatic event.
Today Everything Feels Normal
Walking through Downtown Crossing and into the Financial District this morning, it was hard to imagine the horror of yesterday’s events in the regular activities occurring today. It was business as usual.
Tourists clicked cameras and walked along the streets. Business people walked quickly down the streets. Phones were out, businesses were open. The usual suspects were on the corners asking for money. Students gathered to study and sip coffee. In Starbucks, a financial advisor counseled the woman sitting next to me on the best way to reallocate funds. I walked past a mailman, hands full of mail and packages. Checking my phone, I noted my landlord had emailed a request.
Life goes on. Part of the strength of the people in this country is our ability to be resilient, to cope, to go on.
As my own mentor told me recently; “Sometimes life is not about being successful at living. It’s about continuing on.” I was going through a personal trial, the kind that defines the rest of your life- how it’s lived out, what happens next.
As a city, Boston is also at the place of crisis: the explosions at the Boston Marathon will define every event that ever happens again. No marathon will ever go on in the same way, perhaps even with the same joy. Everything has changed.
When a crisis hits a city, such as yesterday’s explosions hit Boston, people stop. Yet while we stop momentarily, all of us tend to move on quickly if we are not directly touched by the tragedy.And I suppose the cynics among us, even in us, argue that trouble and tragedy is the common problem of modern humanity. Explosions in cities, shootings in towns, a shaky economy, earthquakes, floods, blizzards, and hurricanes are among the tumultuous events that hit us corporately.
Add to that personal trials of financial struggles, relational struggles, health crisis and the other difficulties and the only alternative to giving up in despair may be to continue on.
As I reflected on yesterday’s events – I was standing at the site of the explosion a mere 75 minutes before it occurred- I couldn’t get the phrase out of my head, how now shall I live? In the middle of the crazy times we are in, learning to live in response to these events rather than in spite of them seems to be a healthier, saner way to live.
So while we continue on in strength and resilience, let’s not forget to take time to reflect and heal.
Ideas on Healing and How to Continue on After a Tragedy
• Allow adequate time to feel and to heal.
It’s o.k. to be sad and grieve, even if we were not personally affected by the event.
We are in such a rush to get better and back to “life as normal” in the Western world. From insurance mandated hospital stays to treating illness with over the counter meds and powering through a cold, we are in a rush to get better.
There is no cookie cutter way of responding to traumatic events. According to the American Psychological Association, some people will respond right away and others will respond after time has passed. Some individuals grieve for an extended period of time and others move through grief quickly.
What is important is to be aware of ourselves and sensitive to others.
• Slow down, even for 5 minutes a day
Self-awareness and awareness of others can be difficult in the middle of noisy, busy life. But slowing down helps, even if beginning a “quiet time” for a mere 10 minutes a day. Turn off the electronics and breathe.
Be aware that extreme mood swings, increased irritability and feeling “off” may all be signals from the brain, body and heart that all is not well and restoration is needed.
• Don’t forget to remember
Remembering keeps us sane. Remembering is part of learning.
Remember those who have been injured. Don’t ignore the headlines. Don’t forget to remember those who suffer. Sometimes there is nothing we can physically do. Perhaps, even if we were not directed affected by yesterday’s tragedy, we can do this: extend a bit of kindness to those around us today.
• Share a meal with people you care about.
People who sit down and share meals together live better. Schedules are crazy and even sharing a meal once a day may be hard for families. Do it as the schedules allow. For singles, is it feasible to prioritize cooking and eating with a group of friends once or twice a week? The healthy habit of breaking bread is so much more than the physical food. It’s about what happens in our hearts and minds and souls.
One of my favorite phrases is, “Be kind. Everyone is facing a battle.” Indeed. The battle may be tangible, palpable, and able to be described in words- as in the betrayal of a friend or the diagnosis of cancer. Or it may be more subtle, yet just as potent- increasing fear and anxiety, a shorter tolerance, an inability to cope with today’s problems.
You can continue on. I can continue on. As I watch families laugh together and businesses set up shop, I am once again admirable of the American people who continue on despite the fact a terrorist(s) attempted to stop us from doing so yesterday.
As we continue on, may it be with greater care for one another- and ourselves.
Detectives investigating the Boston Marathon bombing are pursuing three major lines of inquiry after the worst terrorist attack on US soil since 9/11.
A wide-scale manhunt is underway for a mysterious, hooded ‘man in black’, seen loitering suspiciously near the finish line with a backpack moments before the blasts went off.
Meanwhile, agents, including the FBI and bomb disposal officers, swooped on an apartment in the suburbs of the city after questioning another man spotted driving erratically around state police barracks.
And a third man of Saudi origin is under police guard in hospital, where he is being treated for burns to his legs, after he was tackled to the ground by a civilian who believed he too was acting suspiciously.
A European security official said Tuesday initial evidence indicates that the attacks were not the work of suicide bombers.
“So far, investigators believe it was not the work of suicide bombers, but it is still too early to rule it out completely,” said the official, who spoke from the United States on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the U.S. investigation.
The Pakistani Taliban, which has threatened attacks in the United States because of its support for the Pakistani government, on Tuesday denied any role in the marathon bombings.
In a perfect world there would be no wars, the people who we love, love us back and fibroids would not exist. Well, one out of three isn’t bad.
Bronx, New York’s Montefiore Medical Center has become the first hospital in the United States to use a medical procedure called Radio Frequency Ablation to shrink uterine fibroids. The procedure was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration late last year.
Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the uterus. They effect about one-third of all women and develop primarily in the reproductive years. African-American women are two to three times more likely to get fibroids than women of other races. Symptoms of fibroids are painful, heavy bleeding during menses, pressure in the pelvis area, infertility, pain during intercourse, abdominal bloating, frequent urination, backache and hormonal imbalances which can cause mood changes.
The procedure is minimally invasive and consists of the use of a tiny needle inserted through the abdomen which then emits a low-energy electrical current directly to the fibroid, shrinking it, often times completely destroying it The procedure is also used in the treatment of liver cancer, making it doubly valuable.
Fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomies, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, responsible for more than 200,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States each year for women in search of relief…200,000!
Radio frequency ablation allows the surgeon to treat only the fibroids while leaving the uterus intact and preserving its normal functions.
One would think this type of breakthrough in women’s health would be broadcasted from the highest rooftops and written about in every medical journal in existence, but information is scarce. A sad testament of the medical profession’s lack of concern for women’s quality-of-life health issues.
Frank Bank, who played the clumsy bully Clarence “Lumpy” Rutherford on the beloved late ’50s TV series “Leave It to Beaver,” died on April 13 — one day after he celebrated his 71st birthday.
According to People magazine, no cause of death was reported.
Bank’s “Leave It to Beaver” co-star Jerry Mathers took to his Facebook page to share a few words about his pal on Saturday, writing, “I was so sad to hear today of the passing of my dear friend and business associate Frank Bank, who played Lumpy on Leave it to Beaver. He was a character and always kept us laughing. My deepest condolences to Frank’s family.”
Bank was born in a Los Angeles hospital corridor during an air raid drill in 1942, according to the NY Daily News. One of his first acting jobs was playing the young Will Rogers in a 1952 film biography titled “The Will Rogers Story.” And in addition to his gig on “Leave It to Beaver,” Bank guest-starred on numerous shows in the 1950s, including “Father Knows Best” and “Cimarron City.”
He reprised his role as “Lumpy” in the 1983 TV movie “Still the Beaver” and the 1980s series “The New Leave It to Beaver.” Bank also appeared on “Hollywood Squares” and “Family Feud” in the early ’80s.
Just another day. An ordinary day like every other. Today is April 15th, 2013, Tax Day. Today is also the day of a long ‘running’ event – the Boston Marathon. An event in Boston that has been run since 1897 on Patriots Day, the third Monday in April will now have a stigma forever attached alongside their historic event – terror.
As runners were completing their epic test of endurance of over 26-miles throughout one of the most beautiful cities in the world, bombs exploded in a two-city block area. One actually detonated as runners were crossing the finish line. Why? Who’s responsible? What is the reasoning behind it? The last is obvious: To strike ‘Fear’ in the hearts of All Americans. The previous two have yet to be determined.
As paramedics and EMS attendants began to minister to the wounded, witness accounts of events have begun to surface, some disturbingly graphic. Bloodied spectators were carried to a medical tent intended for runners. Several of the injured had lost limbs, and at least one police officer was hurt.
“Somebody’s leg flew by my head. I gave my belt to stop the blood,” spectator John Ross told The Boston Herald.
Although no one has come forward announcing their guilt and purpose of the attack (as of this writing), we do have confirmed numbers to share. At least two – one being an 8-year old – was pronounced dead and over 100 injured. Chaos, panic and dismay have shrouded the country yet again, bringing about memories of 9/11, the Atlanta bombing at the 1996 Olympics and the Oklahoma City bombing of the federal building 18-years ago in this very month.
President Obama spoke on the attack Monday evening.
“We still do not know who did this or why; we still don’t have all the facts. We will get to the bottom of this. We will find who did this and we will find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice. … We’ll find out who did this, and we’ll hold them accountable.”
“The nation will remember Boston in their prayers tonight,” the president said.
As the hours passed and perhaps even days, more information will surface. According to several media outlets, the FBI and terror experts are already searching surveillance cameras in the area to look for ‘suspicious’ activity. With technology and ‘Big Brother’ watching us, it’s just a matter of time before the culprit or culprits are brought to justice.
Two explosions erupted the finish line of the Boston Marathon today, turning the annual race into a bloody crime scene.
The blasts occurred on Boyleston Street about three hours after the top runners had finished the race, but with thousands of marathoners still running the route.
According to law enforcement sources, the first blast was at the Marathon Sports running store before 3 p.m., and blew out windows in four nearby buildings, injuring 15 to 20 individuals.
About 10 second later, a second explosion occurred, severely injuring more bystanders, police said.
Boston EMS personnel could be seen shuttling the injured out of the blast area on wheelchairs. Several of them were bleeding from the face.
Massachussets Genreal Hospital has received four patients and is expecting more, according to a hospital spokesman.
WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
He was running for charity and lost both his legs in the bombings.
A trauma nurse from the hospital told ABC News that the race’s medical tent, already set up to deal with runner injuries, set up a morgue area at a triage center at the back of the tent. The medical staff reported multiple victims with severed limbs and children with severe burns.
Bomb squads are sweeping the area, checking suspicious packages and are testing for chemicals to help determine what kind of device was used, according to police.
Homeland Security Direction Eric Holder was in touch with the FBI in Boston and President Obama was notified of the blasts.
Police have told people in area to avoid trash cans, according to witnesses.
The explosions erupted on what is usually a festive day in Boston. It is designated Patriots Day and most offices are closed for the celebration and the marathon.
Debris from the explosions could be seen scattered throughout the spectators stands and finish line area of the marathon as emergency personnel cleared the area.
Video of the explosions showed plumes of white smoke pouring into the air above the street where runners were.
More than 26,00 runners were registered to compete in this year’s marathon.
Ok, this is one of those MUST-SEE videos! I’ve watched it too many times already…
Please watch as two robbers try to burglarize Quizhpe’s Gifts and Sports in Logan Square in Chicago.
This is an amazing video of a store owner and his brother who were fed up and fought back with a bat and chairs …and it’s hilarious!
I’m also happy to report that even after receiving a shot to the leg, Luis Quizhpe (store owner) survived the attack and possibly taught those two robbers a lesson they won’t soon forget.
The House will mark April 15, the day federal taxes are due, by passing a bill that would require the government to fire federal workers with “seriously delinquent” tax debts.
Thousands of federal workers are cited each year for failing to pay their taxes on time. Last month, the IRS said more than 300,000 workers still owed $3.5 billion to the IRS for 2011.
In response, the House is expected to take up H.R. 249, the Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act, under a suspension of House rules. In addition to firing federal workers who still owe taxes, it would prohibit the government from hiring these people.
The bill, from Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), would require federal agencies to take “appropriate measures” to ensure no one is hired with a “seriously delinquent tax debt.”
I have acne-prone skin. I have that terrible hormonal adult acne which means whenever that female monthly time comes around, I have breakouts mostly around my chin.
Well, the past few months have been very stressful which resulted in my skin and body reacting in some very extreme ways. One of the most annoying body reactions was excessive breakouts all over my chin and cheek area which led to dark marks, uneven tone, and dull looking skin.
My skin had started to peel and no amount of added moisture (my favorite oils, vaseline, face lotion, etc) seemed to do anything with my skin to give it the moisture it needed.
And then I had a light-bulb moment and realized I may just needed to do some exfoliating. I don’t know why, but for some reason I oftentimes forget this step in facial skin care. However, now I am a true believer!!!
Since it was late and I was at home, I decided to make my own natural homemade exfoliator.
I simply used salt, Kosher salt, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, and a smidgen of castor oil.
I combined all 4 components into a paste-like texture that looked liked this:
I went into the shower and used my homemade exfoliator by making gentle circles all over my face. I made sure to not scrub hard as the Kosher salt is pretty thick and coarse.
Any leftover exfoliator, I applied to other needed body areas such as my feet and elbows. And since I don’t like the feeling of excess oil being left on my face, I washed away most of the oil using my Tom’s Sensistive Skin facial bar(I’ll have to write a review about this amazing soap later).
After I’m done, my skin is glowing, soft, and moisturized; and as an added bonus, my dark marks seem to have lightened by at least 50%!
I’ve been doing this routine once a week and so far it has helped me get rid of those small red bumps that would appear on my cheeks and chin, significantly lighten my dark spots, smooth out my skin and even the tone, and leave a nice glow to my face.
My face is loving it!!
You can try to make your own scrubs with: salt, Kosher salt, baking soda, sugar, brown sugar, or oatmeal.
And mix it with any of the following: plain water, your favorite oil (olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, etc), lemon juice, or honey.
Keep in mind that exfoliating, especially over-exfoliation, can lead to dryness and skin damage, which is why I make my scrub with oil so that prevents any drying effects. And be as gentle as possible in order to prevent skin damage.
The best part about making your own exfoliator is that it cost me nothing since I already had what I needed in my pantry cabinets.
Next time, I’m going to try some other combinations like salt with raw honey.
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