Shrimp with Pineapple and Coconut Milk

An Asian Shrimp Delight

For those who love Asian food, you might have already tried various dishes with coconut milk as the ingredient. This is one of them. I believe you will find this dish as much a delight as many Southeast Asians do.

Ingredients:

(Serves 2-3 people)

Moringa Leaves

1/4 Kg of Medium Sized Shrimps                       

2 bunches of Moringa leaves (detached from the stems)                                                               

1 or 2 pieces of long green chili pepper (jalapeňos)                                                     

1/2 thumb size ginger - minced                           

4 cloves of garlic - minced

1 medium sized red onion

3-4 table spoons of butter

Salt and Pepper (a pinch or two)

Pineapple sliced into bite size (with or without its juice)

Freshly grated coconut meat (one coconut)

1 1/2 cups of warm water 

Procedure:

Coconut milk

1. Put the grated coconut meat in a bowl. 

2. Pour the water into it. 

3. Test the heat with your hand and once okay squeeze the coconut milk.

4. Set aside the freshly squeezed coconut milk.

For the Dish

1. Put the butter in a saucepan. 

2. As it heats, put the onions in. Let it sweat but not caramelized.

3. Put in the garlic and stir a bit.

4. Spread the minced ginger in the pan, then put the shrimp over it.

5. Wait for the shrimp to turn orange, then turn over to the other side.

6. Add the coconut milk, pineapple, green chili, salt and pepper to taste.

7. Let it simmer a bit then add the Moringa leaves and continue simmering for around 3-4 minutes.

8. Turn the heat off. Serve and enjoy. 

You may opt to add a little fish sauce or more chili if desired. 

Hope you enjoy this dish as much as I did. 

- Till Next Time

Why Fibre is Good for the Body

Fibre is necessary for our bodies because it helps us manage waste and toxins, although it is the only part of food that the body can not digest. 

There are two types of fibre - soluble and insoluble. Both are important in aiding the process of excreting waste and toxins from the body preventing other diseases caused by unhealthy intestines. 

Soluble Fibre

- Absorbs water in the intestine. This softens stool thus helping it pass quickly.

- Binds cholesterol from food or bile acids. Because fibre can not be digested, the cholesterol is taken out of the body as waste. In a way, fibre helps in reducing cholesterol.

- It helps slow down digestion and sudden bursts of energy which leave us tired and sometimes with sudden cravings for food. Since most of our energy foods have carbohydrates and glucose, fibre helps stabilize the levels of sugar in our blood.

Insoluble Fibre

- Helps the growth and fermentation of some good bacteria. It helps make our waste soft and bulky working hand in hand with soluble fibre in helping our stool pass quickly and less painfully.

- Prevents constipation.

- Helps prevent illnesses caused by waste that is kept in our intestines for long periods of time like hemorrhoids, bowel cancer and more. 

Other things to know about having a fibre healthy diet:

     Like anything, too much is not good. How do you know if you have enough? Well, the recommended fibre intake is 12-18g a day, but it's still okay to have around 20-30g a day. One of the most immediate effects you will have is the ease of excreting stool, or in some cases gas (farting).

        Help fibre do its job by increasing the amount of water you intake and increase the amount of fibre rich foods in your diet. Fruits, vegetables, whole wheat, bran are all examples of fiber rich food. 

- Till Next Time

A-11: Furniture and Design Gallery

I had the opportunity to get to view one of the most inspiring furniture and design spot in Metro Manila Called A11. Located in Pasay City along FB Harrison - 2680 FB Harrison is it's exact address. With both contemporary and modern designs this is definitely a treasure trove of a place to come and visit.

I love the way A-11 brings you out of hustle of the modern life into a magical world that makes one feel homey and relaxed while bringing back a feeling of nostalgia and fantasy.

The best way to get you to experience what I felt is to show you what I saw. Here are all the photos I took of this magical place using my trusty Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

The facade of the main showroom of A-11 is already a preview of what lies within. 

Just looking at the fountain that greets visitors prior to entering shows the rich artistry of what one would be expecting from A-11. It also sets the mood making sure you are relaxed and at ease as you enter to leave your stress behind. 

A-11 has so much to offer, from furniture to home accessories. One can't help but get a bit overwhelmed both with the quantity and beauty of what A-11 is offering to whoever graces its abode. 

Even the keys which holds the prices of the furnitures are well picked and shows how artsy the designer and its people are. 

This has a couple of my favorites but one that I do have to mention here is the flattened wine bottles that are now used as cheese platters. Recycling has never been so ingeniously beautiful.

Faux melted candle wax chandelier lights up the entire room bringing a bit of nostalgia with a modern twist.

If you care to take a drink to quench your thirst, take note of the cute water bottles that are worth grabbing. Much better aesthetically as well as health-wise compared to using ordinary plastic bottles. You get to help the environment as well. 

Off to the Gallery No. 2, one can't help but admire the flora that is so delicately arranged to complement the artist's community that is found in the compound of A-11.

A lot the homes here are reminiscent of an age long forgotten by today's youth, but venture inside and you'll see a marriage between something that is old to all things modern. 

Every furniture here has been handcrafted with care and art in mind. Looking though is only half of the picture. Like this sofa is made of metal alloys and yet quite comfortable to sit and even lay on. Plus due to its frame, is guaranteed to last several lifetimes. 

This bed reminds me of one of those old western movies that I used to watch. Here instead of buying a head board, teaches its visitors that you can use your dividers to cleverly compliment the bed in a new way. 

Accent chairs are all over the place and many will sure compliment you home. All of these are customizable to your suit your taste. 

Snow white was hard to resist, especially when she gives off a smile that is comparable to that of Mona Lisa's

I actually thought this was a wind chime, silly me, this is one cool way to light up your porch at night to set a mood. Simply place tea lights into each vase scented would give it a twist. 

Metal mimicking wood. These accent chairs are pleasant on the eye and just as comfortable to sit and lay on. Something you should really consider adding to your collection. 

Everyday life and objects are always a source of inspiration for the designer and his team. A-11 always finds a cool way to integrate them into your furnishings. 

Traditional Filipino craftsmanship is definitely obvious in each work that they have put out. But don't think that it'll be a boring show as they have learned to take what is Filipino and fuse it with many other cultural inspirations. 

I just had to take a shot. This cute kitty knows how to chill out. 

In the vicinity of A-11, you can't help but take a pause to see their neighbors and enjoy the aesthetics of their work which is open to the public. 

Of course what is a artsy place with out a dog that knows who's boss around here. :) 

As you can see this place marries so many things together aside from just furniture. They have even showcased the art works found within the community and matched it with their own handicraft. The result is an ambiance of a place that'll fill your soul just as much as it fills your senses. 

Here is a full application of what one can do with the furnishings here in A-11. The result is a fusion of asian-european feel and yet provides an at home feel and comfort that'll sure draw you in tempting you to stay just a bit longer. 

You might think that a lot of trees would have been used to make this grandeur table. But a closer inspection and all you tree huggers will be in for a pleasant surprise. This table is made of a metal alloy that has been molded to this lovely dining set. Ingenious and beautiful isn't it. 

You really can't help but feel the pull of place to have you sit down and relax, even for just a few minutes. The air smells so fresh even if you know for a fact that it is in the middle of one of the busiest cities in Metro Manila. 

A-11 really puts a lot of effort into making each item. Just look at the patterns in the chandelier. 

I just had to picture these cute twins. Best pair to have to keep your books aligned and safe. 

Taking a moment to just let it all sink in. :) 

When you see pieces like these, you know you are in a place that takes imagination to the next level. 

This table has a cool feature that you'll get to see as you scroll down. ;) 

An egg lamp? I can't really remember what they call this lighting piece but it is definitely something that'll make a good conversation piece for any home. 

Multi-functional is what A-11 is all about. They have a lot of pieces that just transforms. All you have to do is imagine. 

Here is a dining set dream and because it is that cool, I had to do a double take on it and give it an artsy twist of my own ;) 

It's all about sweetness here. :) 

These two actually go very well together. Metal and wood. Just ignore the throw pillows that are in the back drop. ;)

This is a perfect gift for that ENT specialist. Patients would no longer ask what ENT would stand for :) 

Remember the table I mentioned had a special secret earlier? Tada!! now it has turned into this :) I guess you can use it a bed. Whatever it is you can think of using it for, you got to admit it is pretty cool. 

This is where some of the magic happens. I love how their blinds. I forgot to ask what it is made off, I'd presume it's some kind of bamboo. 

Walk around 2680 and you will definitely get your fill of art. Coolest thing is that its all open for public viewing and buying too ;) 

This I heard is being used to develop a new source of oil, I don't know what this plant is and which corporation is using this type of tree to produce black gold, but here it brings it's own kind of beauty and melds well with many of the abstract pieces presented in the streets of 2680.

If you have got google plus this should be viewable. it's a 360 degree photo of the area. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 can't take this type of shot with its stock camera, but you can download the apk (Google Edition S4 Camera) in one of the XDA forums. Here is the Link GE S4 apk

A-11 is an amazing furniture place and one where you'd have to spend quite a bit more than what one would normally spend on furniture and accessories but that is something you pay for to get optimal quality with aesthetics to match. It is also an added bonus to get to be in a place that takes you out of the hustle and bustle of city life into a tasteful world of arts, crafts, and beauty.

If you want to to get to know more about A-11 check out their contact details below:
A-11
Artellano 11 Furniture Gallery
2680 FB Harrison Street, Pasay City 1300, Philippines.
Mobile: +63 917 858 2680
Landline: +632 832 9972
email: a_eleven05@yahoo.com

Till Next Time...

-Metz-