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

printer friendly

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.