Some things need not be expensive
By louievill
@louievill (28851)
Philippines
April 26, 2018 11:03am CST
I'm here at our very own backyard now charcoal grilling a large variety of tilapia called " pla-pla" that is native to Africa at the same time sipping my favorite brand of ice cold beer.
I bought the fishes unscaled for charcoal grilling purposes so the picture might give you an Idea that its over done, stuffed it with a local sour fruit called " kamias" that also grows in our garden, then some salt and pepper to taste.
Now who said having fun is expensive? Do you also do things that give you a lot of joy but does not cost so much than if you did it somewhere else? Picture is the actual grill in my backyard garden
56 people like this
56 responses
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
Home made pizza would surely make me very happy too.
4 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@LadyDuck yes another thing with home made is you can make and eat all you want compared to foods eaten out that have definite serving size and quantity and costs a lot more
5 people like this
@LadyDuck (472121)
• Switzerland
27 Apr 18
@louievill It is so inexpensive made at home.
4 people like this
@youless (112591)
• Guangzhou, China
27 Apr 18
@louievill In fact I found many fish has many bones and this is why I hope to find some with less bones
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@youless
Try boneless " bangus" or milkfish, very delicious minus the disturbance
. Not so sure if we also learned this technique from the Chinese
. Not so sure if we also learned this technique from the Chinese
Actual deboning of Milkfish "Bangus". A fish vendor in Urdaneta Pangasinan shows her skills in bangus deboning.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
You should try grilling and make a soy dip if you like. Tilapia is meaty, you cannot grill thin fishes cause it will burn easily, the one with lots of bones is milkfish, we also stuff and grill that at times.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
19 Jun 18
Oh yes, we have a lot of inexpensive things that can already make us happy, in my parents' backyard too. We have lots of fruit-bearing trees, like the pomelo, young coconuts, lemons, starfruit and some other fruits, which when ripe we will pick and eat.
We also sometime would grill fish and liempo every now and then for our lunch. Such inexpensive things we can relish at any time we want to.
2 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
19 Jun 18
@louievill I agree. We are lucky to live in the province, where most residences have a backyard, even if the house is just a nipa hut. 
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
19 Jun 18
@SIMPLYD hehe.. We were lucky to buy in this subdivision in Las Piñas when it was still cheap and land cuts were still big and there were still very few people.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
19 Jun 18
For filipinos lucky enough to have a backyard and trees it's the fun place, it holds a lot of memories from childhood till we grow old, yeah lots of free and inexpensive but fun things we can do there
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
we Filipinos most of the time crave for it and we have the tendency to invent all kinds of dips to make it more delicious1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
8 Mar 19
@thelme55 I don’t agree. Filipinos love to imitate what the west do. Most of our foods are Chinese foods like pansit and Spanish foods like menudo with the exception of Tinola and adobo. All other things we do, we imitated them from the west .. particularly from the USA.even the way they make love, Filipinos imitate them . Hehehe. Just kidding!
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (77164)
• Germany
26 Apr 18
@louievill you are right. I agree with you.
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
27 Apr 18
@louievill
I love going to barbeques. I love the smell of the grill.
3 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
Thank you, you are welcome to drop by our house anytime and we will barbeque all day or all night long
2 people like this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
3 May 18
@Hannihar oh I understand cause you follow biblical Levitical law on food. Muslims are the same they only eat foods that are " halal"
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
27 Apr 18
@louievill
Sorry, I do not leave Israel and I only eat food that is kosher.Thank you anyway.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
11 May 18
Yes, I also enjoy simple meals that are delicious and satisfying and don't cost a fortune.
This was a free meal: dandelion flowers with some chives that were growing in a park close to where I live on a sunny day.1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
11 May 18
@louievill Yes, here at this time of year the dandelions are plentiful and today also I enjoyed some for free. I really enjoy eating the flowers.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
11 May 18
@1hopefulman wish I could taste what you make, I have not checked if it grows here and hope you can send me a picture of your prepared dish when you can
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
11 May 18
That's great, do you still do that up to now?
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
3 May 18
Looks delicious. I like grilled fish very much. Oh the picture makes me want to have the fish right now.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
3 May 18
Go for it. , I'm also thinking of grilling again haha..
, I'm also thinking of grilling again haha..1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
3 May 18
@caopaopao are you in Southern China? There is much more variety of fish there and you are nearer to us, hurry up you can still make it here
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
3 May 18
@louievill Okay wait for me. Don't eat it up. 
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
19 Jun 18
I wonder why it's not good, we do not have trout, think it's found in cold lakes
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
19 Jun 18
@cintol i see, we have a native wild tilapia variety that is much much tastier and darker in color but smaller and less meaty, they are getting harder to find now.
1 person likes this
@cintol (11261)
• United States
19 Jun 18
@louievill They are farm raised so they say they are not as healthy to eat as other fish because they are fed corn and soy. We don't eat a lot but sometimes once a month.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
3 May 18
oh, i love eating grilled fish like that one, with my bare hands and some slices of ripe tomatoes. yum yum
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
3 May 18
One of the Filipino's favorite food, grilled fish with whatever dip you like, I like mine with fried garlic, melted butter and native lemon or calamansi and a dash of hot sauce. Another version is " tuba" or coconut vinegar, aged with, chillies, pepper corn, chopped onions, garlic, ginger, ground pepper and lemon grass root, done the Western Visayas style called " sinamak"
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
4 May 18
@ridingbet let's go, wait I have a problem, I do not know how to eat with my hands that's why I'm thin a popular belief
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
4 May 18
@louievill oh, so many ingredients. a spicy vinegar, the 'datu puti' and some 'siling labuyo' is already good for me.
come, let us boodle fight. hahaha! that dish is well suited for boodling.
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
27 Jul 18
You are right; we can enjoy things without spending too much money. I like grilled fish too!
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Jul 18
And it's like you are not Filipino if you do not grill fish, large or small, expensive and inexpensiveand that includes squid lol
and that includes squid lol1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
27 Jul 18
@louievill yes, I even love grilled "tahong" (shellfish).
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
6 Jun 18
Grilled fish, interesting idea - I wouldn't have thought.
Good point, one does not need spend a lot of money to have fun
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
9 Jun 18
@FayeHazel try it, who knows you might like it, it's a healthier option.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
7 Jun 18
Filipinos love to grill fish all the time most especially on weekends.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
8 Jun 18
@louievill I'm now tempted to try grilling fish
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
4 Sep 18
That is very true indeed, oh I have not seen you for quite sometime.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
5 Sep 18
@ShifaLk very happy to see you too, hope you would be as active again.
1 person likes this
@ShifaLk (17817)
• India
4 Sep 18
@louievill hey there. Yeah, I am back after long time
Very happy to see you
Very happy to see you1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
24 Aug 18
Fishing is also something I would like to do, yes and cooking but cleaning I think that's what my wife and mother loves to do I admire fathers who teach their kids to fish, I taught my children too.
I admire fathers who teach their kids to fish, I taught my children too.1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
24 Aug 18
@Courage7 it's a must, it could save a person in a survival situation besides being a sport amd pastime hobby.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72288)
• United States
8 May 18
@louievill ick do you have to take it home and kill it?
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
8 May 18
@shaggin it's considered fresher than the frozen ones that has a fishier odor, most Asians prefer live over frozen cause it's like newly catched when you go fishing. You simply put it in a pot and salt it and it's gonna die, it may sound cruel but that's the life a fish and man had been doing it since the dawn of time I guess.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
7 May 18
Over here somtimes it's still alive and kicking when you buy it.
1 person likes this
@Iam_jauntyjen (5037)
•
28 Apr 18
I miss eating grilled fish. I haven't cooked grilled fish for a looooooooooooooong time.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
28 Apr 18
Where are you from? If you are just nearby I would be more than glad to give you some, a fish vendor brings a us fresh fish and sea foods every day and asks my mother and or wife if they want to buy. So from time to time we grill.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
10 May 18
@Iam_jauntyjen Living there permanently? In a few months my eldest son by God's grace would be sailing to Korea, he's training for cadetship to become a ship officer under a Korean captain.
1 person likes this
@Iam_jauntyjen (5037)
•
10 May 18
@louievill wow! I wish we were neighbors haha..I am a Filipino living in Korea.
1 person likes this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
4 May 18
That looks like a good sunday relaxing cook up.Add family and friends and you have fun and good memories.
We have that brand of fish here: tilapia but I have never tasted it. It was promoted by the government as an inexpensive food.
What os 'kamias'? and do they act as a kind of seasoning?
When we stuff cascadura fish here, we use lots of onions and good curry. Hmmm, to die for.
We roast corn, build a bonfire and howl at the moon. Tell some stories too. Very therapeutic ! 
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
5 May 18
Yes it's inexpensive cause they introduced the bigger African variety, our native is smaller but tastier.
Kamias is balimbi, a native sour tropical fruit, I will send you a picture of my actual tree with fruits.
Yes we stuff a lot and roast a lot and invent many kinds of dips, I wish I can visit your bonfires, tell me a story, I love scary stories over campfires and full moons
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
25 May 18
@Gita17112016 your fruit tree is not familiar with me, tilapia is not tasty in herself but the many ways to prepare and cook it plus the many dips and side dishes that could be invented makes it exciting. I'm sorry that crime rate seems to be high where you are.
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
1 May 18
Money doesn't have anything to do with happiness or enjoyment! Some of my happiest times are just sitting outside, doing nothing but talking and being with family. :)
I also have a blog I'm working on to encourage parents to have quality time with their kids for 1$ or less an activity . Most of it is doing free things or easy to do things with recyclables and items around the house!
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
1 May 18
That's very nice, my children also grew with me and my wife, rearing them up hands on, we were or still are always available for them because our business is also in our home so we don't go to work or an office.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
1 May 18
@Daelii yes when we are with them all the time we don't need to stuff them with money and expensive stuff to fill the gap and if ever I do that from time to time I make it clear that I worked hard for it to afford providing them with luxury.
@Daelii (5619)
• United States
1 May 18
@louievill That is amazing! I'm a stay at home mom, so I can be available to take care of them as they need it!
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
26 Apr 18
I do not eat Tilapia anymore but I do I agree that the best things in life are not that expensive. Hihi. I want milkfish though.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
We combine " bangus" or milkfish at times in the grill so we can have a choice what to eat. My mother hails from Western Visayas where sea fishes are abundant does not eat fresh water fishes like tilapia, " dalag", catfish and the like. I love milkfish especially the large ones but it's so bony I attack the belly part first
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@mlgen1037 we also make " relleno" with ground beef filling and wrapped in aluminum foil.
1 person likes this
@mlgen1037 (29886)
• Manila, Philippines
27 Apr 18
@louievill Hahaha my mom and husband are the first ones to attach the belly part. And yes, the bigger the better and you can put tomatoes, ginger, "sili," and onion inside. Hmmm heaven. 
1 person likes this
@BH0elmereen (826)
• Baguio, Philippines
5 Jul 18
Yes indeed. Simple things are the most that give ultimate and fulfilling happiness
1 person likes this
@BH0elmereen (826)
• Baguio, Philippines
5 Jul 18
@louievill But time to time, we feel envious, just like what i just felt. lol
1 person likes this
