Tale of the Boiled Fish

Me, As a 100 % originally came from Batak's Tribe, theoretically, suppose to know how to cook and served one of our special dishes from our ancient's recipes. Like one special dishes named Arsik Ikan Mas (A Boiled Gold Fish cooked with spices) or in bataknese language we named it Dekke Na Niarsik.

Why does our ancient chosed A Gold fish for this symbol? it's because, according to some legendary explanations, a gold fish always swimming in the clear water, they are always moving forward together with their group without colliding. The meaning is person who eat this dishes was hoped to live in clear minds, have a good live together in a harmony, and reached their dreams. That is why, mostly we serve this dish on special celebration like marriage or new baby born celebrations. This dish is one of the symbol of the gift of life shown through cooking, and as a woman, people will took you as an important woman if you have succesfully cooked and served this tasty dishes.  As i said, theoretically. 

In reality, I can't cook it. 

There were no problems about it before. Anytime i want that Arsik Gold Fish, i just asked my mom to cook it.Or my auntie (after my mom passed away). Its easy. Even my husband, who came from different tribe loves this dishes and we love it when my auntie cameby and cook it for us. No problemo.

The problem cames, when -i don't know from where he got this idea- my husband wants to eat this Arsik Gold Fish made by me. Maybe after he went fishing and catched almost 26 kilos of goldfishes? maybe. We gave most of the fishes to our neigbours and left some for us to cook, and taraa...suddenly he said; Bun..how if you cook these goldfish into Arsik ? 

So i browsed and found several Arsik recipes. Make me confused of which one i have to use. And grumbling to myself why i never listened to my mother when she tried to teach me how to make it plus grumbled to my auntie..(her mistake was she wasn't around when i need her guide to cook this fish #knockin' on my head)

So i just pulled out my energy and concentrated. With some 'good creativity' (read: guessing around), based on my experienced watching my auntie cook this food (hehehe) i cooked the fishes.

This is how i made that food. I made a mixture of spices consisting of ginger, galangal, lemongrass, nutmeg, onion, garlic, red pepper and andaliman. Pour all the mixture of spices to the gold fish. Cleaned the fishes first before pouring it. Add the spiced fish with slices of honje, chives, and longbean. Put the fishes into a deep non-stick frying pan, pour water until all the fishes were covered, add some salts, and boiled the fishes until the water dried. then i served it. 

Luckily, it taste good! Voila...#wipping up my forehead

That's mean you can put me on the 'list of important woman in family'. LOL

Well i got some valuable lessons to, while making the dish.

One, Never ignore mother when she tried to teach you something. You wil need it somehow and sometimes in your life time. 

Two, Always prepared and learn from whoever got time to teach you lessons, specially some good life-lessons. Everyone has their special life experience that could become a valuable thing for us to know.

I guess that's all i want to share. Wish my experience can help us become better person. Cheers..