I’ve had one of those nights where dinner snuck up on me. We’ve been out of town in San Francisco over the holiday and we had a pretty empty fridge when we got home. So tonight when my 6 year-old daughter said, “Mom, I’m starving! What’s for dinner?” I sort of panicked. Hmmm. Moldy bread so no PBJ’s. Pasta. Frozen peas. Oatmeal. Eggs. Wait…eggs. That’s it! I decided to make a staple that my mother use to make my siblings and I in a pinch and her mother before her.
My mother Peggy is Dutch Indonesian (as well as French) and was born in Den Haag, Netherlands. Her mother Amy was from East Java, Indonesia. During WWII she and her siblings were held in a Japanese internment camp and as soon as they were released, they fled to Holland where my mother was born and lived until she was 5 years old. She and her family came to the United States by way of Ellis Island and settled in Mesa, Arizona. As a result I grew up exposed to some seriously delicious cuisine. When asked what Indonesian food is like, the best way I can describe is that it’s sort of a mix between Thai and Indian food. Lots of coconut milk, spices and tons of flavor. One of my favorites being Ketjap Medja a sweet Indonesian soy sauce. It’s tangy and salty like soy sauce but slightly similar to molasses in flavor and texture. It also has hints of brown sugar, garlic and anise. This is what my mother uses in a lot of Indo dishes from peanut sauce to beef rendang and sate. On those rare evenings when my mother was just too tired to make dinner, she would steam some rice, scramble a couple of eggs and drizzle Ketjap Medja on top. It’s the yummiest, simplest meal and it always immediately take me back to my childhood.
If you haven’t had Ketjap Medja yet, I highly encourage you to visit a local Asian market or order some online and try some for yourself. My sister and I have been known to sneak our own into Pho restaurants to add as our own secret seasoning. I’d love to hear how you like it. And to my Indonesian readers, maybe you can help me out…what’s the difference between Ketjap Medja and Ketjap Manis or other varieties I have seen? It it regional, a flavor difference? My mom didn’t really know. She just uses what she grew up with. Here’s what Wikipedia had to say: “In Indonesian cuisine, which is similar to Malay, the term kecap or ketjap refers to savory sauces. Two main types are well known in their cuisine: kecap asin which translates to ‘salty kecap’ in Bahasa Indonesia (a salty soy sauce) and kecap manis or literally ‘sweet kecap’ in Bahasa Indonesia (a sweet soy sauce that is a mixture of soy sauce with brown sugar, molasses, garlic, ginger, anise, coriander and a bay leaf reduced over medium heat until rather syrupy). A third type, kecap ikan, meaning “fish kecap” is fish sauce similar to the Thai ”Nam Pla” or the Philippine ”Patis.” It is not, however, soy-based.”
Here’s a link to buy the brand I grew up eating and still cook with. http://www.olddutchstore.com/ketjap-medja-no-1.html ?
When you’re reading a book, and something absolutely amazing happens, and you need to take a breath to let the information sink in.
- I am a male.
- I am a girl
- I am shorter than 5’4.
- I have many scars.
- I tan easily.
- I wish my hair was a different color.
- I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
- I have a tattoo.
- I want a tattoo.
- I am self-conscious about my body.
- I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger.
- I have more than 2 piercings.
- I have a piercing in a place other than my ears
- I have freckles.
- I’ve sworn at my parents.
- I’ve run away from home.
- I’ve been kicked out of the house.
- I have a sibling less than one year old.
- I want to have kids someday.
- I’m in school.
- I’ve lost a child.
- I have a job.
- I’ve fallen asleep at work/school.
- I always do/did my homework.
- I’ve missed a week or more of school.
- I failed more than 1 class last year.
- I’ve stolen something from my job.
- I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a spoken conversation.
- Disney movies still make me cry.
- I’ve peed from laughing.
- I’ve snorted while laughing
- I’ve cried from laughing so hard.
- I’ve glued my hand to something.
- I’ve had my pants rip in public.
- I was born with a disease/impairment.
- I’ve broken a bone.
- I’ve gotten stitches/staples.
- I’ve had my tonsils removed.
- I’ve sat in a doctor’s office/emergency room with a friend.
- I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed.
- I had a serious surgery.
- I’ve had chicken pox.
- I’ve had measles.
- I’ve driven over 200 miles in one day.
- I’ve been on a plane.
- I’ve been to Canada.
- I’ve been to Mexico.
- I’ve been to Niagra Falls.
- I’ve been to Japan.
- I’ve been to Africa.
- I’ve been to Hawaii.
- I’ve gotten lost in my city.
- I’ve seen a shooting star.
- I’ve wished on a shooting star.
- I’ve seen a meteor shower.
- I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas.
- I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
- I’ve kicked a guy where it hurts.
- I’ve been to a casino.
- I’ve been skydiving.
- I’ve gone skinny dipping.
- I’ve played spin the bottle.
- I’ve drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
- I’ve crashed a car.
- I’ve been skiing.
- I’ve been in a play.
- I’ve met someone in person from Facebook.
- I’ve caught a snowflake on my tongue.
- I’ve seen the Northern lights.
- I’ve sat on a roof top at night.
- I’ve played chicken.
- I’ve played a prank on someone
- I’ve ridden in a taxi.
- I’ve seen Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- I’ve eaten sushi.
- I’ve been snowboarding.
- I’m single
forever- I’m in a “it’s complicated” relationship.
- I’m in a relationship.
- I’m engaged.
- I’m married.
- I’ve gone on a blind date.
- I’ve been the dumped more than the dumper.
- I miss someone right now.
- I have a fear of abandonment.
- I’ve gotten divorced.
- I’ve had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back
- I’ve told someone I loved them when I didn’t.
- I’ve told someone I didn’t love them when I did.
- I’ve kept something from a past relationship.
- I’ve had a crush on a teacher.
- I’ve been kissed in the rain.
- I’ve hugged a stranger.
- I have kissed a stranger.
- I’ve done something I promised someone else I wouldn’t.
- I’ve done something I promised myself I wouldn’t.
- I’ve snuck out of my house.
- I have lied to my parents about where I am.
- I am keeping a secret from the world.
- I’ve cheated while playing a game.
- I’ve cheated on a test.
- I’ve ran a red light.
- I’ve been suspended from school.
- I’ve witnessed a crime.
- I’ve been in a fist fight.
- I’ve been arrested.
- I’ve passed out from drinking.
- I have passed out drunk at least once in the past 6 months.
- I’ve smoked.
- I’ve smoked weed.
- I’ve taken painkillers when I didn’t need them.
- I’ve eaten mushrooms.
- I’ve popped E.
- I’ve inhaled Nitrous.
- I’ve done hard drugs.
- I have cough drops when I’m not sick.
- I have 3 pills at a time no problem.
- I have been diagnosed with depression.
- I have been diagnosed with one or more anxiety disorders.
- I’ve taken an anti-depressant.
- I have been anorexic or bulimic
- I’ve slept an entire day without needing to go pee.
- I’ve hurt myself on purpose.
- I’ve woken up crying.
- I’m afraid of dying.
- I hate funerals.
- I’ve seen someone dying.
- Someone close to me has committed suicide
- I’ve written a eulogy for myself.
- I own over 5 rap CDs.
- I own an IPod or an MP3 player.
- I have an unhealthy obsession with anime/manga.
- I own something from Hot Topic.
- I own something from Pac Sun.
- I collect comic books.
wooohoooo~
