Sharing the Joy of Cooking Simple yet Healthy Meal

All of us have different memories of our childhoods. For me, food memories are the strongest. My mom’s always in the kitchen and filled my childhood with love for food. My fondest memories are of sitting at the kitchen table, sneakily pinching a portion or grubbing a spoonful of every meal my mom would prepare, just like a stealthy ninja. And I still crave for some home cooked meal prepared by her.

Luckily, I knew the best cook in the world – of course, my mom!

 

#StillMyValentine

My family takes great pride in our mother’s cooking skills. She can whip out meals fit for a king – our father, of course. She would cook scrumptious home food on daily basis. While making holidays, birthdays, and other celebrations feasts. Unquestionably, our mother has won our father’s love by cooking delicious meals for him. She fed his stomach and found love in his heart. Oh boy, nothing beats a yummy heart filled home cooked meal prepared by the one person who knows and loves you unconditionally.

Sadly, our mom has been a widow for more than a decade now.

I know that holidays are often a challenging time for people but even more so when someone has lost their spouse or life partner. Romantic holidays, like Valentine’s Day, are especially hard for widows.

But V-Day isn’t just for couples. It’s also the perfect occasion to show love and affection to family; a great opportunity as well to spend quality time with our older adult.

My mom is my cooking inspiration: someone who cooks tasty food that made everyone gather in one place for the meal, someone who cooks with love and with comforting feelings you take with you in your life no matter how old you are. Lutong nakaka-in love!

I once told her that when I finally start to cook myself, I will cook her very own “signature recipes”. But those Kare-kare, Caldereta, Pork Hamonado, Morcon and even the everybody’s favorite Leche flan, they are a lot of work! And last year, she turned 60. So now, I need as well to consider her senior age, health conditions, medication, and even dental problems when cooking food for her. Hmmmm… so what can I do to meet the challenge of healthy and simple cooking?

 

#ShareSaya

Well, I guess I don’t have to give her something “a lot of work”, just something thoughtful maybe. So, this Valentine’s Day, I am giving her the gift of time and share the joy of cooking by preparing an easy, tasty and healthy surprise lunch that she will surely enjoy.

Here’s a satisfying 10-minute sauté of mixed mushrooms and vegetables that can serve as a light lunch:

Sauté Mixed Mushrooms and Veggies

 

Ingredients:

• Scallions
• Shiitake caps
• Enoki mushrooms
• Asparagus
• Bokchoy
• Red chile
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Vegetable oil
• Aji #Sarsaya Oyster sauce

Preparation:

• Cut raw asparagus spears into 1-inch pieces, tough ends trimmed.
• Chop scallions lengthwise.
• Wipe the caps with damp paper towel and remove the stems of Shiitake.
• Remove the root part of Enoki mushrooms.
• Slice off the root part of bokchoy.
• Peel and chop the ginger and garlic.
• Slice the red chile.

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Directions:

1. Heat vegetable oil in a large pan.
2. Sauté scallions, garlic, and ginger.
3. Add shiitake caps, enoki mushrooms, raw asparagus, bokchoy, and sliced chile.
4. Sauté for about 5 minutes until tender.
5. Add Aji #Sarsaya oyster sauce.
6. Cook about 1 more minute.

Hopefully this recipe has provided some inspiration and ideas to reach out to that special widow in your life. To remind her that she is still thought of and loved by many every day, but especially on Valentine’s Day.

How about you, guys? What are your plans for Valentine’s Day with your parents?

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