Monday, February 13, 2012

Honey Ginger Glazed Mahi Mahi


Twenty years is a long time to be with anyone, and when that someone is gone, they are terribly missed.  Such is the case with our little grey, used to be stray, cat, Pawsi.

Pawsi used up the last of her nine lives yesterday when she succumbed to old age after twenty years of life.  Living an extremely well traveled life, Pawsi was born in Grass Valley, California and lived her first 12 months mostly in the wild.  However, she grew to enjoy the niceties of life and the taste of food from a can when she began spending time on my mom's porch in the winter.  One day Pawsi venured inside mom's house, was found lounging on a pillow, and her life in the wild was over.

Coming to live with us nearly half my life ago, she traveled from Northern California to Louisville, Kentucky where she found she enjoyed the snow... but only for a short time before she returned to the warmth of the house in front of a blazing fire.  Traveling across country once again she returned to California and enjoyed the sun in San Diego where she lived her life happily catching mice in the warm weather and occasionally bringing home bunnies for her owners.

Not relishing the thought of living life totally inside a house, Pawsi became adept at dodging coyotes and brought her family to tears one evening when she refused to come home and we saw a cat dragged off by a coyote.

Poor Liv sat on the floor crying as we realized that we might have lost our little cat.  At that moment my son started yelling, "Open the door!  Open the door!  The cat is sitting there!" and sure enough, Pawsi had made it home once again and looked at us a if we were all a bit crazy to be so happy to see her.

During the last few years she lost her taste for the outside and became content to live life lounging on pillows and stretching out in the sun.  Aging, she lost strength in her legs and eventually her eyesight, but never her purr.  Aloof and happy on her own, she enjoyed a nice pat, but no longer wished to be held.

As our grand, athletic, lady took her last breath in my arms yesterday these thoughts passed quickly through my mind and I realized how much we had been through together.  A marriage, new homes in different states, babies that have now grown into young adults, and most recently the addition of two rambunctious puppies who I'm certain she is not missing in heaven.

With her empty bed a reminder of our missing kitty, Liv and I grilled a delightful mahi-mahi in Pawsi's honor.  Mahi Mahi was the only food that she would regularly eat other than those awful (though she loved them) cans of Fancy Feast that my mom gave her a taste of so long ago.

While she preferred her fish plain, Liv and I found a bright marinade with just a few ingredients that brought a powerful punch of flavor.  Sweet, yet slightly sour, this Asian-like recipe goes together in a snap for those days when you just don't have the energy for a big meal.  Tossed on the grill, the fish is cooked in a flash and works wonderfully with a side of rice to sop up the remaining sauce.

Pawsi, thank you for living your life with us.  We miss you.

Grilled Honey Ginger Glazed Mahi Mahi
When Liv literally licks the plate clean we know we have a winner!!
adapted from all recipes.com

3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger root
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 (6 ounce) mahi mahi fillets
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Preheat grill to medium high.

In a shallow glass dish, stir together the honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, ginger, garlic and olive oil. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, and place them into the dish, turning to coat both sides. If the fillets have skin on them, place them skin side down. Cover and marinate as the grill is heating.

Remove fish from marinade and place on the hot grill.  Reduce heat to medium/medium low and cook until done, turning once (time will vary depending on the thickness of your fish, but I usually have a few minutes on each side).

Pour reserved marinade into a small pot and heat over medium heat until the mixture reduces to a glaze consistently. Spoon glaze over fish, and serve immediately.

24 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry to hear about Pawsi. Reading your post brought tears to my eyes. We connect so much with our pets, just having them in our lives, even seeing them dozing off in some corner of the house means so much. I can imagine how terribly you must be missing her :( May she rest in peace now, I'm sure she's having fun in heaven :)

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  2. I teared up reading this, Kim! Big hugs to you and Liv at this time... It is so hard to lose a pet and especially one that's been with you for so long! My heart breaks for you... But I am so glad you and Pawsi had each other for so long and that she died peacefully in your arms... I thank God for the many years you had together... This is a lovely tribute post for a beautiful friend! Take care!

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  3. Oh no, I'm so sorry, this made me cry. We lost our cat when we moved here and we were afraid it was coyotes. You were blessed to have had her 20 wonderful years. I'm sure the kids are heartbroken. I'm sure Pawsi is looking down on all of you from Kitty Heaven.
    Hugs,
    Gina

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  4. I love these flavors, especially on fish. Sounds perfect on the mahi mahi!

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  5. I am so sorry my friend :(
    I have never had a pet but know the feeling of loss - at least it was peaceful and you have some beautiful memories
    Chin up my friend - everything will be brighter :)

    Choc Chip Uru

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  6. So sorry for your loss. I know exactly how you feel. We lost one of our dogs a year ago and it was excruciatingly painful. May she rest in peace.

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  7. Oh, my heart aches for you! Our furry family members are such treasures...and there is now a big void without Pawsi. Sending hugs.

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  8. i was in tears when our cat died few days before Christmas, almost the same day as our dog died 2 years ago.
    They were taken home from the animal shelter and we loved them dearly.
    Now, since Tiffany is not a baby anymore (well, she'll always be my baby) we started looking for a new dog or two. Fingers crossed.
    Sending hugs your way!

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  9. Gorgeous and simple recipe. Lovely!

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  10. This dish sounds fantastic, but I want to say how sorry I am about the loss of your pet. This story brought tears to my eyes!

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  11. Oh no, I am so sorry! :( That's horrible... I can't imagine losing our cat!
    This looks like wonderful food, and a nice way to remember her by.

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  12. I'm so sorry your kitty died :-( That happened here recently and it really really sucked, please excuse my language.

    On a different note, your fish looks amazingly delicious.

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  13. That is so sad about your kitty, but it sounds like Pawsi lived a good long life.

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  14. So sorry about your kitty. We get so attached to our "furry family members". Glad that you had 20 wonderful years with Pawsi.

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  15. So sorry about your sweet kitty, Kim. She looks like such a lovely kitty. And this is a lovely dish in her honour!

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  16. Truly, I am so sorry. I do not want to even think about that time in our cat's life where we will have to say good-bye. We had one close call (and an expensive vet bill) and that was enough. She used up most of her 9 lives then. I am really truly sorry. I think I know how you must feel.

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  17. So sorry for your loss,is nice way to remember her with this yummy mahi-mahi !!
    Ridwan

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  18. So sorry for the loss of sweet Pawsi. Sending you hugs. Your mahi-mahi looks absolutely delicious!xx

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  19. So sorry to hear about Pawsi. What a pretty cat. I know she would have loved a taste of mahi mahi.

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  20. So sorry about your fur baby :-(
    About the recipe...I seem to be missing what to do with the vegetable oil. Is it to oil the grill grate?

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    1. Yes!! Sorry... That wasn't clear at all. Oil the grill grate before adding the fish. Though with the olive oil in the marinade it would probably be fine anyway.
      Thanks for the comment! I haven't been back to this post in a long time... We still miss our little kitty.

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  21. Thank you for this lovely recipe! My wife and I were looking for something like this, and were inspired by Pawsi and your story so we thought we'd give it a try and are so glad we did! Our kitty just loved it, too! Even with the marinade! Who knew?! Thank you and Pawsi :)

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    Replies
    1. Awww... you really warmed my heart! Thank you for your sweet comment, and the fact your kitty likes it too makes me smile :)

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