[051] Guest Review: Sinigang sa Sampalok

via google

MamaSita's Sinigang sa Sampalok

Sinigang (sin-e-gang) sa Sampalok is a sour soup that gets its sour taste from tamarinds (sampalok). A delicious Filipino dish, I grew up eating this soup with pork, bok choy, tomatoes, and onions. The broth is delicious both by itself and with rice. Your vegetable options are almost limitless when it comes to this soup.

You can buy the mix packets from oriental grocery stores in your area.

If you're military it's likely you'll find it in the international aisle at your commissary.

My friend, Jenny, tried sinigang for the first time recently. After reading her reaction on Facebook, I asked her to write up a mini-review on the soup. I always love a persons first reactions to trying this soup. Enjoy!

Jasmine: How did you first hear about sinigang? Is this your first time trying any Filipino cuisine (that you know of)?
Jenny: I heard about Sinigang from this cute little Asian girl I know named Jasmine. It was a first for me.

Jasmine: What drew you in the most about the soup before you tried it?
Jenny: I think one of the most important things about living meat-free is being willing to try new dishes and new foods. It’s critical to do that for nutrition’s sake in general, but it’s even more important when living meat-free. I’ve tried a Vietnamese soup called Pho before and absolutely loved it (although it has meat, so it is no longer an option), and with rave reviews from Jasmine, I thought what the hell? Might as well try it. 

Jasmine: Where did you find Mama Sita's sinigang mix packets in your area? And roughly how much did each packet cost?
Jenny: I googled “Asian Supermarket” in my area and found a few options. Ocean Mart in Sandy had the best reviews and claimed to be the biggest Asian supermarket in the greater Salt Lake City area, so I went there. Each packet I believe was $1.89.

Jasmine: What vegetables did you choose to use in your first time making sinigang?
Jenny: I used about 3 chopped tomatoes, ½ an onion, ½ head of cabbage, about 1 cup of green beans, and 1 cup of baby bok choy.

Jasmine: Tell me about your experience as you went through the cooking process. How did you prepare your vegetables? Did you follow the cooking instructions on the packet or did you go your own way? What did you think about the smell of the mix (haha)?
Jenny: I followed the cooking instructions on the packet as much as possible, although I substituted shrimp for prawns and used slightly different vegetables than it calls for. The mix smelled DISGUSTING! When I got to step 2 and added the mix to the pot I was sure that I would not like this soup. Thankfully, though, by the time everything had cooked and it made it to my mouth the flavor had changed quite a bit and it was DELICIOUS! 

Jasmine: Did you prepare anything else to go with the soup? Rice? Side dishes? How did the flavors work together?
Jenny: I prepared vegetarian pot stickers on the side. I also poured the soup over leftover cilantro lime rice to go with it. I think the flavors blended very well.

Jasmine: Was this a solo adventure into Filipino cuisine? or did someone else try the sinigang with you? (If so, how did they react to the taste and smell?)
Jenny: I shared the dish with my boyfriend who also enjoyed it. He said it was “alright” which is very good from someone who doesn't like to try new food.


This is how her sinigang turned out! Sinigang may not look very appealing at first glance. But I assure you, if you like sour foods or willing to try new foods, sinigang is the soup for you!

[050] Interview 01: Jenny

To kick off the interviews, I'd like you to meet Jenny, a personal friend of mine. We met a few years ago through a mutual interest in online gaming. I've had the opportunity to meet Jenny in person during a spring trip to Utah in 2009 (before either of us decided to venture into vegetarianism). I'm very excited to have someone with such a fresh perspective on going veg... or close to it. I hope everyone enjoys what she has to share!

Pescatarian (also pescetarian): "is the practice of a diet that includes seafood and excludes other animals. In addition to fish and/or shellfish, a pescetarian diet typically includes all of vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, beans, eggs and dairy. The Merriam-Webster dictionary dates the origin of the term "pescetarian" to 1993 and defines it to mean: "one whose diet includes fish but no meat"." -Wikipedia- Pescetarianism

* * * * *

[Interviewed via e-mail August 7, 2011]

Jasmine: First off, thank you for taking the time to do this interview! Tell the readers a little bit about who you are and how you heard about Vegging for Health.
Jenny: I’m a 24-year-old vegetable addict. J I work as an accountant at a sod farm and attend the University of Utah. I heard about VfH from you Jazzypants.

(Fact: my pants certainly are jazzy!)

Jasmine: Are you a vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian? How did you become interested in taking on this lifestyle?

Jenny: I am pescatarian. I’ve been wanting to increase my vegetable intake for at least a year just for the health benefits, but it was always easier to eat out (and eat meat), so other than adding salads once a week, it really didn’t happen. I came to the conclusion that in order to actually increase my vegetable intake (instead of just talking about it) I would need to make a drastic change. The desire to make the change came during the July 4^th holiday this year. My boyfriend and I went to visit my BFF in CA, and we ended up eating a LOT of meat. By the end of the weekend I was craving vegetables and some kind of cleanse. I decided to make a change for 30 days minimum, and then evaluate if I want to continue at that point. I thought about going full vegetarian, but I knew that would be such a dramatic change I would probably fall off the bandwagon before my 30-day mark. Plus, I love sushi more than any person should, and I just wasn’t willing to give it up. So I decided to try being pescatarian for one month to see how it goes. Today is the end of my month long trial period and I’ve decided to stick with it. The first couple of weeks were the hardest, but now I feel so much better I can’t imagine going back.

Jasmine: How long have you been vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian?

Jenny: Today is my one-month anniversary.

Jasmine: Do you think it is easy to adopt vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian or does it require a lot of changes in your life style? And how did you make the change?
Jenny: At first it was very challenging. For me the hardest part was finding super quick and easy meals to eat with my busy life. I relied on Burger King’s Veggie Burger and Chipotle far more than I should’ve the first couple of weeks. But, the way I see it is those were still better options than what I had been eating (Whopper, anyone?). Once I started browsing vegetarian recipes online and gathered the courage to try some of them, things became much easier very quickly. I then began to convert meat dishes I used to prepare into vegetarian dishes, and now nothing is impossible! My boyfriend actually likes my vegetarian cooking better than my meat cooking, even though he hasn’t given up meat.

Jasmine: Are there difficulties with being a vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian?
Jenny: Eating socially can be hard sometimes. Many places are adopting vegetarian options, and if you do eat fish that can make it easier, but I’ve had my moments looking at a menu and thinking why does every item have meat?

Jasmine: Do you still eat fish? And how did your diet evolve from when you started to the present?
Jenny: Yes. My diet when I first started was very heavy in animal products (fish, milk, eggs, cheese, etc) until my body gradually got used to the program. Now I eat fish a couple of times per week and my cow product usage has dropped off significantly.

Jasmine: Describe yourself as a vegetarian/vegan/pescatarian today.
Jenny: It’s the best lifestyle and I’m so happy to be living the dream.

Jasmine: Do you feel you have influenced the rest of your friends/family?
Jenny: Yes, definitely. In my search for fresher, better quality, cost effective, and higher variety of vegetables my friends and family have started eating better as well. They can sense my excitement and everyone knows it’s a good idea to eat more veggies, the key is how to do it.

Jasmine: Some people seem to think that vegetarian food means breads, boiled veggies and spices. What would you like to tell them?
Jenny: That’s a very boring perspective… If it really was that way I wouldn’t want anything to do with it! All we’re doing is removing meat. We still have plenty of ways to cook things.

Jasmine: Do you think vegetarianism/veganism/pescatarianism is a passing fad or is it here to gain more strength?

Jenny: It’s here to stay, for sure. When done properly it is the healthiest way to live!

Jasmine: What are your favorite meals/dishes? (Homemade, store bought, restaurant.)

Jenny: Eggplant Parmesan, Sinigang, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Chipotle’s Veggie Burrito Bowl, Vegetarian Pot Stickers

Jasmine: Would you like to share your favorite recipe(s)?

* * * * *

Eggplant Parmesan:

2/3 eggplant, sliced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

1 jar spaghetti sauce

Parmesan cheese

Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 2qt baking dish with non-stick spray. Layer the eggplant, mushrooms, Parmesan, and mozzarella 2-3 times and then cover with spaghetti sauce. Cover with tinfoil. Bake for 30 min. Uncover and top with remaining Parmesan and mozzarella. Bake uncovered for 5 min or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

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Vegetarian Pot Stickers:

½ pkg firm Tofu

3 mushrooms

2 green onions

½ head of cabbage

4 stalks baby bok choy

4 Tbsp grated carrot (1 carrot, 5 baby carrots)

¼ cup soy sauce

5tsp sesame oil

Salt and pepper

Wonton wrappers

Place the tofu between a few layers of paper towels and apply pressure so the moisture is released. We don’t want soggy pot stickers! Leave the tofu in the paper towels while you prepare the other ingredients.

Dice the mushrooms, green onions, cabbage, and bok choy very finely and put into a mixing bowl. Add the soy sauce, sesame oil, salt and pepper and mix. Chop the drained tofu finely and add to the mixture.

Place ½ tsp of mixture in wonton wrapper. Use water along the edges and press firmly to seal the wonton. Repeat until the mixture is gone.

To cook the wontons you can boil them or steam them for 10 minutes.

I’m sure you can also fry them like traditional pot stickers, but I haven’t tried that.

* * * * *

A huge thanks to Jenny for being part of Vegging for Health! If you enjoyed this interview, look forward to more interviews coming soon. If you, or anyone you know, would like to be featured in a VfH interview please contact me at veggingforhealth@gmail.com.

Happy vegging!

[049] Interviews and Guest-Reviews

I'm on the hunt for vegetarians, vegans, and pescatarians. I don't want their heads, I want their words! Before I get into it, I'm in need of more people for interviews! Tell your friends. Tell your family. Post it on bulletin boards across the nation! Just... get them in touch with me. Thanks!

A friend of mine recently changed her diet (for the better!) and this inspired me to start a series of interviews. Not only did she make a positive change in her diet, she also became interested in trying a certain dish I grew up eating. She'll be featured in the first interview. In addition, I've also for a "mini-review" of this dish she tried for the first time. When the post goes live, if you're familiar with the dish you'll know why I wanted a review. Haha.

Tomorrow will officially kick off the series. I hope you're all looking forward. I know I am!

[048] Pocket Fashion Designer and paintings on canvas

For as long as I can remember, I've always loved art. My Pocket Fashion Designer was my best friend! It was also a pink case with yellow tablets. I'm pretty sure I still have mine.... somewhere in storage.

via onestepahead.com

I would draw on just about everything. One time, (I was about 7 or 8) I climbed on top of my dresser, took a box of a crayons and drew a picture of a little girl on my ceiling. My parents weren't too pleased with that. Sorry Mom and Dad! In school, art class was my absolute favorite. I kept everything I ever made from my junior high and high school art classes. (Until I moved all over the place and threw some of it away.)

Lately, I have been itching to paint more and more. These are the three most recent paintings I have finished and gifted to friends.

Katie (my best friends wife) and I decided to do an art-for-art trade. I made her a painting while she's painting a box for me. I came across a tea set on Etsy about four months ago. This was my inspiration behind my painting.

Acrylic and steel metallic surfacer on 12x12 canvas.

After receiving a baby shower invitation at the end of June, my brain immediately went into creativity overload. Not only do I enjoy giving baby shower gifts. I love adding in a personal touch with handmade gifts. Looking for inspiration, I searched their baby registry to find out if they had a theme. Safari is a huge hit this year and I'm glad they chose such a cute theme.
Acrylic on 5x7 canvas.

My best friends sister, Regina, is pregnant with her second baby, Noelle. Her theme is sailor. So cute! My inspiration didn't come easy. I sat, staring at a blank sketch pad, as I tried to figure out what I was going to paint for her. I knew I wanted to include a ships wheel and anchors. I finally found my inspiration in room and house decor pieces! Immediately I sat down to paint. I had a very "indie" feeling as I drew the anchors and added the yellow dots.
Acrylic on 5x7 canvas.

[047] Extreme Couponing on a less extreme level

Coupon holder by Paula Deen y'all!

Working in retail I hear comments on TLC's Extreme Couponing more than I'd like to. Don't get me wrong, I like the show! A guest will walk up, pull out a Ziploc bag of coupons and say (without fail) "I'm like one of those extreme couponers!" I smile and laugh. *giggle giggle* Sometimes adding "Oh that's such a good show." Then they'll proceed to hand me a store coupon, manufacturer's coupon, and sometimes a vendor check. You can't really go extreme at my store.

Who loves coupons? I do! Saving as little as 10¢ is still saving! Then my Dad chimes in "Just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you have to buy it." Thanks, Dad. *grumble grumble* Ahem. Anyway. Growing up in Guam (at Andersen Air Force Base) I remember my Mom carrying this little accordion coupon holder on our trips to the commissary. The shelves always had a booklet of coupons hanging next to the item's price tag. I would often grab 3 or 4 extra coupons to have for future trips.

For my birthday (back in April) I bought a Canon Pixma MG5220 printer with some birthday gift cards. Originally I had only planned on using this to scan photographs, art work, and documents. Then I was introduced to the wonderful world of coupons. For me, printing coupons is easier than collecting inserts.

If you're not familiar with online coupons, there are a few different ways to go about finding them.

Inserts: Newspapers, magazines, store ads and sales papers. Scissors are an insert's best friend!

Blogs: You can subscribe/follow blogs that aim to help others in learning how to coupon. I recently stumbled upon Coupon Keri. She's a stay at home mom, married with two children who loves to shop. She loves finding a good deal, sharing those deals with others and teaching. You can find her on Facebook too!

Websites: Finding coupon websites is fairly easy. (Thanks Google!)
-www.coupons.com
-www.couponnetwork.com/
-www.redplum.com/
-www.couponmom.com/

These are just a few of the websites I use to find deals that work for me. Another method is to go straight to the brand's website. A lot of brand's offer coupons on their products, you just have to be willing to look for them! For me, being able to save money on the name brand products I love is a major plus. My main focus has been on vegetarian food products. In my recent search to find cereal deals I stumbled upon a coupon offer by Kellogg's (after finding a Morningstar Farms offer I seem to be blogging about it a bit too late).  They partnered with other brands for some sweet money saving deals. I did find some Aveeno offers! All you have to do is register on the Kellogg's website to browse and print their coupons. Harmless registration. Fun fun!

Do you have any tips on couponing? Want to share where you find your deals? Leave a comment.