an easy meal for busy moms

I am a hardcore advocate for easy meals. Don't ask me to slave in the kitchen. Of course, that is, if I had it my way -- everyday will consist of bread, butter and jam. Or if I could, just pop pills. If only...

Again, today, I was on the road a lot. What's new? I dropped Mini off with my in laws immediately after picking Ash up from school. The weather turned nasty. Not to mentioned I was late reaching Ash's school much thanks to...oh, I don't know...endless roadworks. Give the tar a rest will ya!! OK, I digress.

I had originally planned on having lunch at 1U and to go home after for some zzzz. But, like I said, bad weather and as I was approaching SS2, it poured cats and dogs. Can you believe it? I asked Ash if she was hungry and she gave me her usual reply of "NO". (this girl don't know how to be hungry one).

So, I thought, just ditch the 1U idea, go home and whip up something simple.

Thoughts of "what's in the freezer" ran through my mind as I try to maneuver my car out of the freaking traffic. Then, I narrowed it down to minced pork and the mah yau fillets which my mom got for me last Sunday. I finally decided on the fish and came up with an entirely new recipe (for me that is).

Here goes :..oh, before this, no pics cos too hungry and more accurately, not very photo-worthy...hehhe..but who cares...as long as it was gastronomically-worthy. 

Ok, and I am not particularly good at writing out recipes but, here goes :

What you need :

1. garlic (slice or diced, entirely up to you)

2. tomatoes (diced) or if you prefer chunky ones, get cherry tomatoes

3. baby spinach (optional - only if you have them)

4. olive oil

5. fillet o' fish. any type will do, just remove bones and keep skin (for the heong-ness)

6. pasta, preferably spaghetti 

7. Tean's crispy prawn chili (I usually keep a bottle in the fridge for..for..just in case)

8. Salt and Pepper

Cooking time:

1. For the adults, rub salt and the crispy prawn chili all over the fish. For the kids, you just do the usual salt and pepper rub..slightly. Set aside.

2. You would've spaghetti in boiling water by now.

3. Heat up pan. Pour olive oil. Sautee fish, skin side first. For I guess a couple of minutes in total for both sides. Not too long as you don't want your fish to burn.

4. Take fish out. With remaining oil (or add more if you like your pasta dripping with oil), sautee the garlic and tomatoes for a wee bit to get the flavour. Then, toss the noodles in. After stir-frying for a bit, throw in the fish. Breaking the fish into pieces as you mix them together on low heat. 

5. Lastly, put in your baby spinach. Be careful not to over-cook the vege. A dash of fish sauce and lemon juice. A mix and a stir and you are done. 

It won't take you more than 15 minutes tops. That is considering you prepare everything from scratch. You can save even more time if you had marinate the fish as well as prepared the other stuff before leaving the house. Of which I did not do. 

So, no fuss, no need to cook in advance. Kind of like an Aglio Olio meets fish-spinach-tomato dish. Simple and easy - that's my motto!.