Sep 24 2007
On Steaming Food, Washing Dishes, and Sharing Recipes
I posted this photo of Steamed Fish in Soy Sauce in one of my first entries (my second, actually):
But after washing the heavy wok and its cover, the nakakangilong steaming plate, not to mention all the mess in the kitchen (I especially hate cleaning the grills of the stove), I immediately forbade Honey to do any steaming ever again.
This naturally met a lot of resistance as Honey fancies himself to be the Filipino version of Ming Tsai, the Chinese-American chef with the Emmy Award-winning cool cooking show in Channel News Asia, Simply Ming. They don’t show Simply Ming anymore (at least in this part of the world) so Honey downloads his podcasts. But I retorted that I’m quite certain that Ming doesn’t let Mrs. Ming (I presume that’s the name of Ming’s wife) wash all those heavy woks, pots, food processors, and chopping boards that he uses. Spoilt wife makes her point.
So I really wonder why we waited so many years before we bought this heaven-sent appliance.
Not only is steaming a healthier method of cooking, it’s also more convenient (at least with this Black & Decker steamer), and the best part – it’s very light and easy to clean. So health, harmony, and gourmet heaven are back in our little household with this steamed fish fillet with garlic and ginger in soy sauce (like the Hongkong-style fish fillet in one of our favorite restaurants in Manila – Hap Chang) and steamed kangkong.
I’ve been trying to convince Honey to share his recipes. And lately, we’ve been contemplating doing a food blog concentrating on recipes and meals for two people, combined with our little humorous culinary anecdotes. It would have the byline – He Cooks. She Doesn’t. Do help us decide if we should go on with this little project by voting on the poll on the sidebar.
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a steamer is on my list for a christmas gift for myself (alongside a new pair of chucks hehehe). and yeah, i do hope you get a book published. that bylline will sure catch lots of attention!
go! para magblog na din si honey.
sana minsan matikman namin luto niya
go ako dyan basta hindi si Toe ang magluluto!
Naku Toe, I would be your number one FAN
! Please do, please make a foodblog, tell my kababayan that I need help in cooking 
! I am sure that there are a lot of bloggers who are impatient to know your secrets in the kitchen ! My hubby and I made a blog but it’s more on travel and experiences, check it out on Dino & Haze link !
Yes, that steamer works a wonder
! GOODLUCK ON YOUR FUTURE BLOG !
Sige lang, and I’m sure your honey will become the blogosphere’s version of Ming Tsai. Yun nga lang the original Ming Tsai is singkit atsaka 6 footer, hehe.
I look forward to the food blog ha! Toe I should tell hubby to read your posts about your honey’s cooking. He never complains about cleaning up after me.
hehe Kaya happy cook ako.
My MIL gave me a steamer 2 years ago as a Christmas present back when I was into “healthy” eating. Unfortunately I only used it once… me and my idleness, he he..
But I absolutely agree that steamed food are more tasty!
good luck on the food blog
meron ba nyan sa pinas, gusto ko bumili i nyan, ayaw ko na ng deep fry.
Parang gusto ko tikman yang 2 dish na yan. Mas gusto ko rin ang steamed kesa fried. Me ganyan din ata kami, mas madali nga syang linisin.
Ming Tsai is an awesome cook. I like watching his “East meets West” cooking show on the Food Channel here but he’s been missing on the airwaves lately. I wonder what happened. Moved to a different network maybe ?
I love steamed fish man. Great that you have a professional steamer ! We still do in in the glass covered casserole with a steaming plate but nothing beats a professional looking one
i love steamed food! that’s one of my faves. now, that’s a big help in the kitchen. makahanap nga.
ayy, sige food blog! favour ako dyan.
uy ang sarap naman! nakaka laway, gutom tuloy ako hehe
Hey, that’s a very good idea and like the byline too! I voted YES
I voted for the first choice. How would two people do a food blog though? Wouldn’t it just be your hubs doing the blog? Unless you guys did a video like Sir Ming Tsai. Although Tsai didn’t have a side kick. Well, either way, yes, share some of the recipes.
I’ve seen TSai on PBS a few times, maybe last year. Not sure if that’s where he is now.
I seriously think the steamer is one of the greatest inventions!! Yummy looking fish you have there….*drool*
Carlotta, you think so? There’s only one thing stopping me from writing that book… laziness.
Oh, a steamer is a perfect gift for yourself this Christmas. 
Tin-Tin, he said that I’ll do the blogging and he’ll just dictate the recipes… hehe.
Come here to Phnom Penh and Honey will cook for you. 
Rayts, hahahaha… no worries… taga-sulat lang ako ng recipe.
Haze, oh thanks… we’re still thinking about it but your enthusiasm is definitely motivating us.
Guess what… our husbands have the same names. 
I’ll definitely check out your travel blog.
Snglguy, Honey is also singkit (we look alike)
but he’s not a 6 footer. 
Auee, ang bait naman ng hubby mo.
Whenever I’m washing dishes, I’m always muttering under my breath that Mrs. Ming doesn’t have to wash dishes. 
Thanks Pining.
It is kind of tedious to use different kinds of kitchen appliances… easier to just stick to the pot. 
I’m idle too… good thing I’m not the cook. 
Iskoo, oh I’m sure meron sa Pilipinas… kung dito nga sa Cambodia, e mahirap na bansa lang ‘to, meron.
It is quite a relief to be eating steamed food now. 
Ferdz, naku ang sarap talaga… parang Hap Chang.
At madaling linisin kc magaan achaka smooth. 
BW, yes… we don’t see him on TV here either. But his podcasts are great.
We used to do steam the traditional way, but using this steamer is definitely much easier to use and clean. But I think they both taste good. 
Thanks Ipanema.
We’ll see about the blog… I hardly have time updating my own… but we’ll see talaga… seriously thinking about it. 
Momoftwo, thanks.
Ang sarap nga e… ubos kaagad… lasang chinese restaurant. 
Wil, he’ll cook and dictate the recipes and I’ll write… well, whatever I want… hehe!
Hahaha… ginawa mo pa kong sidekick! 
Gypsy, oh definitely… the steamer is such a terrific appliance… I don’t know why we waited this long to buy one.
I look forward to your food blog.
I usually don’t cook nor wash dishes. I only eat but it is good when someone reminds me that cooking is hard work.
he’ll cook and dictate the recipe, you’ll write and take the picture, and we will be your audience doing the visual taste test.
pwede bang bumoto ng dalawang beses? hehehe
Sidney, oh you are right. I didn’t realize either how much hard work cooking is until I left my parents’ house.
Zherwin, hehe… that’s the idea. Aba… ghost voters are allowed in this poll, of course!
Sige na Toe FoodBlog na at saka yung mga funny anecdotes mo hihintayin namin.
Masarap ang mga recipe ng Honey mo at garantisadong magiging hit yang ideya niyo!
“He cooks, she doesn’t”..very honest and funny title for your blog!
Go go go! I vote for this blog especially when you said the recipes are for two people. Since I live alone, I often forego cooking because I don’t want to have to eat the same (leftover) food for the rest of the week. At least kung for two, less sayang.
I voted already.
am all for that toe. go go go! also, since people are usually busy, i suggest that you choose a recipe that only takes half an hour to cook. parang ang sarap ng steamed fish, my favorite.
Suosdei, Toe!
Magandang idea nga yang pinaplano nyong food blog, lalo na’t meron pang bonus na funny anecdotes.
B & D Steamer? Wow, galing… san niyo nabili? Magandang idea yan para ibigay na aginaldo kay R sa Christmas *grin*. Mahilig din kasi syang mag-steam ng kung anik-anik
I voted for the first choice too. I’m always curious of your hubby’s recipe whenever you post the food pics. Finally, malalaman na rin namin ang secret ingredients nya. hehehe….
how great those food looks. yummy. wish i’m there when you had it
my wife has a couple of steamer but only seem to be used for puto and leche flan he he he.
Thanks Noypete! We’re really considering doing this thing. Oras lang yung problema… if I blog about this, that’s another excused not to do the dishes, right?
Oh thanks Bugsybee. It’s definitely not easy shopping and cooking for one. Parati may sobra sa fridge. Ang hirap ubusin. Achaka nakaka-walang gana.
We’re really considering doing this. Thanks again. 
Belle… only 30 minutes to cook and not too many pots to wash and not too many ingredients to chop.
I’m so lazy talaga. 
ZJ… Paragon… only $39 and R. can steam anik-anik.
Carey, his ingredients are quite simple… basta they’re fresh and he uses a lot of herbs.
Hello blogOloco. Now, puto and leche flan are what I want to learn how to cook with our steamer.
for someone like me who doesn’t know how to cook, that plan will be of big help. and with those humorous anecdotes, i’ll get free entertainment as well. so, i say go!
We just steamed cauliflower and broccoli (a friend brought me a lot from Baguio .. thank you, Luigi!!). Then I put bechamel sauce and quail egs. Tsalap.
I can share with you the recipe if you give me your hubby’s HK style fish fillet formula.
A food blog, why not. I already love the title.
I remember Doreen Fernandez and her husband, who’s an architect-gourmand. Someone asked Mr. Fernandez to write a food column. His reply: “I will eat, Doreen will write.” And that was the start of an unparalelled partnership in food writing. Kaya lang … ended tragically. eh. Saka na lang.
hey, toe, i voted yes, honey and toe should do a food blog!
i liked that steamer. and you are right, steamed food is a lot healthier. will wait for that food blog.
Hope to see your food blog..I mean Honey’s food blog soon, hehe. What about “He Cooks, She Eats?”
Thanks Evi. We really want to do it… except that we are so overcome with laziness at the moment… hehe.
Annamanila, oooo I love quail eggs!
Cge… when we go to Manila. 
Your story about the Fernandez’s is now really inspiring me… making me overcome my laziness. 
Bingskee, thanks!
Yes, it’s great because we’re really trying not to do anymore deep frying with our food. 
Ajay, hahaha… yeah… that’s a great title for our food blog!
I would love to have a steamer like the one you have. Usually I microwave the fish with ginger and green onions and soysauce, tapos I pour some sesame oil over it while its very hot… it makes this sizzzzzling noise and lots of smoke .. parang nasa restaurant ako! Sige, tell Honey to start his recipe blog. I always feel hungry after reading your blogs about food! You can call it He cooks, She cleans! hehe…
Tina, ooooh… it must be exciting when the sauce sizzles like that. Parang Chinese restaurant.
The steamer is cheap lang… $39 yata… and it’s big. What about He Cooks, She Cleans and Complains. 
haha…Mas bagay yung title na yon. I like that even more!!! Thats how it is in my kitchen too.
Tina, the boys should both cook and clean, diba?
Hi Toe! Any developments on the new foodblog? Your Honey should write- he is good at it! Wag nga lang kamo seryoso masyado! hahaha!
Sheng, shucks! We’ve been too lazy to do it… achaka alam mo naman ‘yan… suplado… gusto din niya perfect yung nasa food blog… so hindi mastart-start.