Catch and Cook: Savoring the Abundance of the Sea

A breath of fresh air; a calming gaze of the vast turquoise-blue and clear sheet of carpet laid beautifully on earth's surface as it dazzles like diamonds when touched by the beam of sunlight; and having your soul enjoying the moment while embracing the tranquility at its finest...these are the simple pleasures of living near the sea to name a few.

And I count myself lucky. Yes, for being able to experience all these simple yet priceless things in life from day one of my existence until I have become a full-grown woman. From playing and running carelessly on the shore and having my knees bruised with my mischievous childhood to becoming contented and fully happy with just a quiet morning walk by the seaside while patiently waiting for the sunrise to show up when my life's chapter has flipped the page into adulthood - - - I guess I can never be grateful enough. And the older I get, the more I get to appreciate the little things and realized that life does not necessarily come with hefty price tags. The more it has been engraved in my senses that the best things in life are free.

The abundance of the sea has always filled up our empty tables and starving stomachs because we are lucky enough to be able to freely catch fish and hunt for seashells and sea clams for food barely a few steps away from home. Be it during low tide or high tide, the locals here always have their different ways of getting these blessings that the abundant sea has to offer.

The photos below are the ocean's gems that my sister and I have gathered together in our recent adventure in gathering seashells and clams. And that adventure will simply not end there as it's my pleasure to share with you from having fun and taking a full grasp of the revitalizing ocean breeze in catching them - - - to cooking this seafood and sharing it delightedly with the ones I love over random hearty chit-chats and laughs on the dining table.

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I also thought that it would be perfect to add Mama's freshly-picked vegetables in the backyard.

_{She's all smiles because she knows she won't be the one cooking for today's lunch. 😅}

It's better to have these sponge gourds harvested while they're young and have them cooked and eaten rather than waiting for them to get older and have them used as sponges for our body when taking a bath instead, Lol!

I also included some winged beans as there are still many left unharvested in the garden.

And now back to our seafood, this time I'm about to share with you the simple method of how it was cooked.

Step 1:
I first let it soak overnight in seawater so they will have to throw up all that they have eaten. And the next day, after boiling the seafood, I separate the meats from their shells, with the unfailing support of my sister of course, well thanks to her.

Step 2:
Stir-fry the spices (onions and garlic). By the way, as you can see here, I'm using traditional cooking using firewood.

Step 3:
Once the spices are already golden brown, it's time to pour the seashells and clams.

Step 4:
And then followed by the vegetables that we've harvested.

Step 5:
Add a little amount of water. Sprinkle it with a little bit of salt, and pepper, and add oyster sauce.

Step 6:
Let it simmer for a few minutes. And tadaaaaaa it's done!

As simple as that. It may not be as scrumptious as those that are being served at high-end restaurants, but having it shared with the people close to my heart is far off better than enjoying a costly best-seller menu in a renowned cafe - alone and away from home.

Catch and cook - to fully savor the dense and overflowing blessings the sea has been giving us. It is not just the people's way of life but rather it is our soul's firm connection with nature. It feeds us with the unbreakable bond that no matter where our feet may leave, our hearts will always stay.

From "Manginhas ta!" to "Tara, mangaon ta!"