Thursday, February 23, 2006

Mango w/Pomelo Dessert & Fried Egg w/Ginger Rice

Mango with Pomelo Dessert







Mango with Pomelo Dessert (this is a popular dessert, in sg only 3 places selling this dessert)

Ingredient

600gm mango (abt 2 mango)
1 bowl of mango juice (use marigold brand or any packet mango juice)
1/2 bowl of evaporated milk (carnation brand)
300 gm pomelo (spit into small pieces)
1 bowl of water (boiled & cool down water)

cornflour mixture (in a bowl)
1 tbsp cornflour + 1 tbsp tap water

Method

1. Bring 1 bowl of water + 50gm sugar to boil until sugar dissolve, add in cornflour mixture, stir in slow fire until the mixture is smooth then off fire and leave it to cool down.

2. Cut the mango from both side, and cut the mango fresh into cube.Then the remaing mango put in a bowl, add 1 bowl of water then send to blend. Then put aside.

3. 300gm of pomelo, split them into small pieces.

4. When the pot is cold, add the grinded mango juice, cube mango, 1 bowl of mango juice (pkt), half bowl of carnation milk, then stir, lastly add in pomelo to stir, if too thick, add water.

5. Serve it as cold dessert.


Fried Egg with Ginger Rice



Sweet Potato Puff





Fried Sesame Oil Chicken

Monday, February 20, 2006

Fried Ladle Chilli Prawn Cakes (UFO)

Ingredients
400g shrimps with shell
600g plain flour
2 tbsp rice flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg (beaten)
1 red chillies (chopped)
2 tbsp fried shallot oil

Seasoning:
1/2 ikan bilis stock granule (mashed)
1/2 tsp salt

Method
1. Mix the flours baking powder until well combined. Add in egg, chopped chillies, shallot oil and seasoning, mix well, and form into dough. Rest dough for 30 mins.

2. Soak and reheat the soup ladle into hot oil for a while. Then, scoop about 1 tbsp batter mixture into the ladle and place a piece of shrimp on the batter.

3. Deep-fry into hot oil carefully over high heat until the prawn cakes is remove from the soup ladle, or floated, leave it into hot oil until the color are changes into golden browned.

4. Dish up, drain well and serve.

Nasi Lemak

Ingredients (for rice)
2 cups of rice
2 cups of water + coconut milk *
2 pandan leaves (tied in knot)
10 tsp of thick coconut milk
1 small piece of ginger - sliced
1/4 tsp salt


Ingredient (for sambal ikan billis)
1/2 cup dried ikan billis (anchovies)
1/2 cup tamarind juice
salt + sugar to taste
1 large onion - sliced

Pound together
4 shallots
1 small piece of belacan (shrimp paste)
1 clove garlic - crushed
8 dried chillies - soaked

Method: to prepare the rice
1. Wash the rice, add 2 cups of water (inclusive of 10 tsp of coconut milk)

2. Add shallots, ginger and pandan leave.

3. Bring to boil, lower heat and simmer for 10 15 mins until all water has been absorbed.

4. Loosen rice grains with a wooden ladle, cover the pot and leave rice to cook for 10 - 15 mins.

Method: to prepare the sambal
1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil and fry ikan billi until crisp. Keep aside.

2. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a wok and fry pounded ingredient until fragrant.

3. Add sliced onion, tamarind juice, sugar and salt.

4. Cook until gravy thicken, add ikan billis and mix well.

5. Remove from heat.

To serve nasi lemak - Serve with sambal ikan billis, garnished with cucumber slices, sliced omelette and roasted peanuts.

Friday, February 17, 2006

Dim Sum Terminology

Dim Sum Terminology

Here is a list of Dim Sum terms that I have collected from various sources (books, friends & restaurant menus). Dim Sum are Chinese breakfast or lunch items that are a cross between pastries and appetizers (except they are the whole meal). Often Chinese restaurants will serve Dim Sum on weekends, starting early in the morning, and finishing in the early afternoon.

Most of these words can be spelled in an unending variety of surprising ways. The most useful terms to know are (described below): Har, Char Siu, Guy (Gai), Ngau (Guk), Wu, Bao (Bow), Cheung Fun, Gok and Gow.

Popular items include: Har Gow, Har Cheung Fun, Fun Gok, Wor Tip, Guy Bow, Char Siu Bow, Siu Mai, Jar Har Fat and, of course, Spring Rolls.

Dim Sum are generally served 3 or 4 to a plate. I find I can eat about 6 to 10 Dim Sum, depending on how hungry I am, so count on 2 to 3 items per person. It’s nice to be initiated by someone in the know, but if you don’t have anyone available, be brave. There are often English translation menus available, but they may not be as descriptive as you’d like.

Often Dim Sum are not ordered from a menu at all, but are brought around on little carts. You pick whatever looks interesting and the cart moves on. (Ask what it’s called so you’ll remember next time.)

Dim Sum Terms (cantonese pronounication)
Bang — pancakes, cookies &c
Bow (Bao) — thick, fluffy wheat bun (usually steamed)
Char Siu — BBQ pork
Cheung Fun — steamed rice-pastry roll doused in soy sauce & sesame oil
Dow Sa — sweet bean paste
Ga Lei — curried beef
Guy (Gai) — chicken (usually)
Gee (Jee) — pork
Go — cake or pudding, steamed, baked or fried
Gok — turnover or dumpling, usually deep-fried
Gow — light dumpling, usually steamed rice pastry
Har — shrimp
Jaw — claw
Lat Cheung — Chinese sausage
Lin Yung — sweet lotus bean starch & egg yolk
Lo Bak — Chinese radish
Ma Tai — water chestnut
Mui Jeung — plum sauce
Ngau (Yuk) — beef
Siu — BBQ (often)
Tong — soup (usually)
Wu — taro (or yam)
Yuk (Guk) — meat

Bow (Bao) — thick, fluffy wheat bun (usually steamed)
Chan Bow — bun filled with BBQ pork, onion & oyster sauce
Char Siu Bow — BBQ pork bun
Dow Sa Bow — sweet bean paste bun
Fo Tui Bow — ham bun (baked)
Ga Lei Bow — curried beef bun (baked)
Gai Bow — chicken bun
Lat Cheung Bow — Chinese sausage bun
Lin Yung Bow — sweet lotus bean starch & egg yolk bun
Mui Jeung Gai Bow — plum sauce chicken bun

Cheung Fun — steamed rice-pastry roll doused in soy sauce & sesame oil
Char Siu CF — BBQ pork roll
Har Cheung Fun — shrimp roll
Ngau (Yuk) CF — beef roll

Gok — turnover or dumpling, usually deep-fried
Fun Gok — shrimp, pork &c in moon-shaped rice-pastry
Gee Yuk Gok — pork & water chestnuts in egg pastry
Ham Sui Gok — pork & vegetables in sweet rice pastry
Jow Har Gok — shrimp turnovers in glutinous rice pastry
Wu Gok — chopped pork, shrimp & vegetables in taro pastry

Gow — light dumpling, usually steamed rice pastry
Gone Tong Gow — thick broth with pork & shrimp inside a large gow
Har Gow — diced shrimp & bamboo shoots
Yu Chee Gow — shark fin, diced pork, shrimp, chicken, bamboo shoots

Go — cake or pudding, steamed, baked or fried
Bak Tong Go — steamed sweet rice pudding cake
Chin Jung Go — delicate pastry, fruit and egg cake
Gai Dun Go — light sponge cake
Gow Chung Go — nine-layer sweet tapioca pudding
Lo Bak Go — fried pudding with Chinese radish, rice, flour & pork
Ma Lai Go — dark sponge cake
Ma Tai Go — fried sweet cake with waterchestnut
Wu Tao Go — steamed taro pudding cake

Other Items
Chun Yao Bang — fried onion pancakes
Chun Guen — spring rolls
Dun Tat — sweet egg-custard tart
Fun Gwor — chicken, pork, shrimp in transparent rice pastry
Fung Jaw — steamed chicken claws in black bean sauce
Jar Har Fat — minced shrimp & pork powdered with vermicelli, fried
Jean Dui — sesame seed dumplings filled with bean paste
Joak — thick rice porridge soup
Han Yun Dow Foo — sweet almond pudding with fruit topping
Ngau Bak Yip — steamed beef tripe in black bean & garlic sauce
Ngau Jap — steamed beef stomach in black bean sauce
Ngau Yuk Siu Mai — steamed beef ball with green pea sauce
Nor Mai Fuan — fried sticky rice with Chinese sausage, vegetables & BBQ pork
Nor Mai Gai — sticky rice ball stuffed with chicken, pork & sausage wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed
Pai Guck — steamed spare ribs
Su Jai Bang — fried potato dumplings filled with BBQ pork & water chestnuts
Sin Chet Kuen — minced meat & vegetables wrapped in bean curd skin
Siu Mai — minced pork, bamboo shoots & water chestnuts in steamed egg pastry
Siu Pai Guck — BBQ spare ribs
Up Cheung — braised duck web seasoned with oyster sauce
Wor Tip — fried dumpling filled with meat sauce & lined with pork
Yuan Dun Foo — bean curd with pork & shrimp or other meat


(from http://www.nierstrasz.org/Recipes/dimsum.html)

Internet Recipes Link

some are bi-lingual

www.seaboseafood.com

www.hoohing.com

www.tunghingtaikee.com

www.chineseindex.co.uk

www.hohomei.com.hk

www.dj-food.com

www.jfins.com

www.wingleehong.co.uk

www.chinesetakeaways.com

www.Qinglian.com

www.mayfod.co.uk

www.sbestfood.com

www.chineserecipes.co.uk

www.global-grocer.com

www.cnfoodnet.com

www.index-china-food.com

www.hktpcc.com

www.6868.com/house/foodnow.htm

www.chinavista.com

www.cfiin.com

www.yancancook.com

www.healthynest.com

www.chopstix.co.uk

www.cooking.com

www.chinesefooddiy.com

www.21food.com

www.china-on-site.com/cooking

www.mycookbook.net

www.cnfoodnet.com

www.nicemeal.com

www.foodno1.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.numkitchen.com - Great indian recipe site with more than 300
recipes ranging from veg, nonveg, rice items, soups, snacks, sweets
and much much more..

it is simple, userfriendly!

cooking tips, interesting facts and lot more
---------------
szechuan style (chinese url)

http://www.scysw.com/mscp/news.asp?typeid=52
------------
fuzhou style

http://www.58fz.net/bbs/showthread.php?t=5174
----
lots chinese recipes...!!

http://www.chinavista.com/culture/cuisine/recipes.html
-----------------------------------------

http://www.asianhomerecipe.com/

filled with recipes that's simple to understand
most of the dishes i've learnt to cook are from there

-----
a very good Chinese recipes website. Actually, this website does not cover all the styles of Chinese food, it is only Shanghai cuisine.

Up to now, there are 59 recipes with good pictures and the recipes are not only the cooking issue but also other knowledge include.

You are more than welcome to visit that website, but you have to know
Chinese and can read Chinese character first. The website of Makesure Kitchen is at

http://www.yuleshow.org/weblog/index/index_makesure_recipes.html

SUPER HINTS 3

Smart Tips

When Less is Better
If you are hosting a buffet with many items to choose from, order a little less than the number of people coming. Caterers tend to bring more than what one person can eat anyway. For example, if you expect 50 people to come, ordering for 30-35 is usually sufficient.

Tired Citrus Fruit
If you've kept lemons, limes and oranges in the fridge too long, they may look tired and dried out. Soak them in hot water for a few minutes and the fruit will absorb the water. You'll have much juicier and better looking fruit in no time!

Useful Leftovers
Leftover vegetables? Puree them and add them to your base stock when you next boil soup.

Physical Tenderizing?
If you see a chef pounding meat, it isn't because he's tenderizing it, but flattening it out so that the meat cooks evenly.

Guest Takeaways
If you're organizing a party and anticipate leftovers and don't relish finishing up the food several weeks on, buy some disposable boxes. When guests leave, have a package of food from the party for them to bring home. It'll be terribly rude of them to refuse!

Microwave Test
Many plastic products now have microwave-safe labels. But you may want to put it to the test, as suggested by Whirlpool. Place the empty container together with a glass of water in the microwave. Switch the oven on at full power for one minute. When you touch the container, it should only be slightly warm.

Fruity Punches
If you're serving up fruit punch, here's another idea. Cut up fruit or freeze berries in your ice cubes. When the ice melts, your guests will enjoy munching on these little bits of fruit.

Keep it Hot!
To keep ice from melting, wrap newspaper around it. Did you know that you can keep your food warm with newspaper too? Wrap hot foods in heavy duty aluminum foil, and wrap that up with a thick layer of newspaper.

Cool it
Next time you have a barbecue, instead of letting the leftover coals burn to ash, pour water over your pit and let the coals cool. The next morning, put those lumps of unburnt coal into flowerpots. They make excellent fertilizers.

Smart Grocery Shopping
If you find yourself spending too much money on groceries, make sure you make a shopping list before going out. And stick to it! That way, you'll only get what you need.

Cheap Coolers
A cooler can be expensive…so make your own? All you need is a box, plenty of newspapers, ice and plastic bags. Line the box with thick stacks of newspapers, and place a big plastic bag of ice at the bottom. Put in the food, fill in any gaps with ice cubes. Place plenty of newspapers on the top before sealing the boxes. Don't stinge on the newspapers!

Wooden Spoons
If your wooden spoons and salad bowls have lost their luster from
too many washings, try this: Dip a paper towel or soft cloth into a
small amount of mineral oil, then rub the bowl, working the oil into
the wood. The sheen will be restored in seconds.

Hot Spot
Looking for a spot in your kitchen that's 85 degrees so your yeast
dough will rise? Three easy place: a gas oven warmed by the pilot
light; an electric oven with the light on; or an electric oven
that's been heated to 200 degrees for one minute.

Leftover Peels
After peeling an orange, store the peel in a zip-top plastic bag in
the freezer. Later, add it to your tea as it steeps to impart a
subtle orange flavor. You can also grate it to add to fruit salads
or icings.

Cookies
If you want to reduce the amount of butter but preserve the
crispiness in cookies, add a little corn syrup to the dough.
Substituting as little as a tablespoon of corn syrup for sugar can
make cookies much browner because corn syrup browns at a lower
temperature than sugar.

Thursday, February 16, 2006

SUPER HINTS 2

Food

Burnt no more
If you accidentally overcook your sauces or dishes and there's a burnt smell, just stick a couple of fresh chillies (uncut) into the dish till the burnt smell fades. Be sure to place the chillies upright in the dish.

Fried Rice Paradise
Put a few drops of cooking oil in the pot or cooker when you cook rice. This helps to keep the grains separate and intact should you later use the rice to make fried rice.

Stop the tears
Don't cry over your onions? Stop the tears by peeling onions in a basin full of water, then leave them to soak for a few minutes before slicing them.

No more tears
To take the tears out of chopping onions: Plug in a portable fan and turn it to high. It'll help blow away the fumes from your eyes - no more tears!

No more tears
Keep onions in the freezer and say bye bye to tears when slicing or dicing onions. Cutting onions into half, and running cold water over them is an alternative.

Saving coconuts
Leftover grated coconut can be kept fresh by placing it in a container with a few fresh chillies in the fridge. Cut the chillies horizontally to remove seeds but keep the stalk intact. This is will keep the coconut from going off for a few days.

Persimmon Protection
Don't stick to just one or two fruits. Try adding a couple of persimmons to the mix for extra artery protection.

Persimmons are packed with twice as much cholesterol-lowering fiber as apples, which can help keep your arteries clear of fatty plaques. It also contains potassium and calcium, minerals that can help control blood pressure.

2-in-1 skewer
Using lemongrass as skewers is a great way to add flavour to meat or fish. All you need to do is wash the lemongrass stalks, thread marinated seafood or meat pieces onto the stalks and grill. - from at-sunrise.

Swing the bottle
To get the last drops of ketchup out of the bottle: Grap the bottom of the bottle and start swinging your arms in a circular motion. Make sure you have the cap screwed on tightly. The remaining drops will be forced to the top.

Potato skins
If you wish to add a little extra color and texture to your salad, leave the skins on the potatoes. Just be sure to scrub them thoroughly before you begin.

Potato 'fixed' it
If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking drop in a peeled potato - it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up".

Potato To The Rescue
Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

An apple a day....
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

More Juice!
To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature and roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

Egg-stra tip
To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

Fresh Eggs Check
To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh - if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

Juggling Eggs
Here's a tip from Betty Crocker: Keep uncooked eggs in the refrigerator for no more than two weeks. Use cooked eggs within 48 hours. Never keep eggs at room temperature more than two hours. Immediately refrigerate leftover foods containing eggs.

Egg Shells
Accidentally dropped some egg shell bits into egg or batter and don't know how to pick it up? Use the remaining shell to pick it up!

Perfect Pancakes
Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle -perfect shaped pancakes every time.

Chocolate Tip
Bloom, the gray-white film that sometimes appears on chocolate bars and chips, occurs when chocolate is exposed to varying temperatures. It does not affect the taste or quality of the chocolate.

Baking the perfect cheesecake
Does your cheesecake always end up with a less-than-flawless surface? A tip: avoid over-beating the batter. Over-beating incorporates additional air and tends to cause cracking on the cheesecake's surface.

Tangerine Dream
Avoid that fat-laden BBQ pork (bah kwa) during this period, if you can. Nimbling on Mandarin oranges keeps you full and healthy, thanks to a chockful of Vitamin C and water content.

Grapefruit
Did you know that the grapefruit is a hybrid citrus fruit? It's a cross between the pomelo and the orange.

Marinating Meats for BBQ
Foods can pick up a metallic taste if you marinate them in metal containers. Marinate your meats in a non-reactive container, like glass and ceramic, or a plastic bag.

Freshly Squeezed
If you like to add a fresh flavour to your orange juice, add some lemon juice.

That Sinking Feeling
If you find cherries, raisins and fruit sinking to the bottom of your cake, coat them with flour first.

Better Coffee
There is one simple way to get better coffee at home. Simply keep it in a well-sealed container. Air and moisture affect coffee adversely, so take what you need and quickly close the container.

Baking Powder vs Baking Soda
There is a difference between baking powder and baking soda. Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, while baking powder contains other additives. In American recipe books, "baking powder" usually means baking soda.

Wash 'em thoroughly
If you plan on using the rind of fruit, and your produce isn't organically grown, give your fruit a slight scrub and rinse under the tap before grating the rind.

Diced Tomatoes
If you have been slicing tomatoes, then cutting them into cubes, no wonder there's tomato everywhere and not in your bowl. To dice tomatoes neatly, cut them into wedges first, then into smaller pieces. A sharp knife helps.

Snack on Ladies' Fingers
Did you know that Ladies' Fingers or Okra can be eaten raw? The vegetable contains natural sugars that make it an excellent crunchy and naturally sweet snack. It does wonders for digestion too.

Good Lookin' Beef
What do you look for in good steak? Bright red meat and creamy fat. Many chillers are installed with yellow or pink lights that enhance the colour. Move the meat away from such lights and inspect it. Does it still look nice and bright red?

More Fluff
Add a pinch of salt to egg white before beating – a sure way to add more fluff.

Thaw That Meat
Have you been thawing your meat by taking it out of the freezer and leaving it in the sink? Try thawing it in the chiller overnight first, before bringing it out to room temperature. This ensures the meat doesn't bleed and remains tender.

Choosing Asparagus
Look for frim spears with tightly closed tips. At least two third of the spear should have a bright green hue.

Cockroaches Everywhere!
Are cockroaches in your home driving you mad?: Try this tested trick. Fill in a large bowl with cheap wine and leave it under the sink. The pests will drink it, get drunk, fall in the bowl and drown...easy!

Rub it off with walnuts!
If your polished furniture has small scratches: Try rubbing them with a shelled walnut. You'll see the scratches just disappear!

Opening Jars
If you have problems opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy!

Shiny mirrors
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors: It does a good job and better still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.

Cut the smell
When your cutting board is starting to smell like onions and everything else,scrub it with baking soda and water


Two Lives
If you're about to throw away that plastic tablecloth, think again. Save these sheets. They make excellent picnic mats, can be draped over the car seats when taking the dogs out for a ride, or to protect your furniture when you're repainting.

Basting in a BBQ
If you find your basting brush burning during grilling, try this natural, fragrant method and leave your brush in the kitchen. Tie together a bunch of pandan leaves. For the "bushy end", make small cuts with a pair of scissors along the grain of the leaf.

Separate your Silver
Don't soak stainless steel knives with silver. A chemical reaction causes black spots to appear on stainless steel blades.

Mug Stains
Rinse your favourite mug in lemon juice or vinegar to keep clean and bright.

Silver Hates Dust
Dust causes silver to tarnish - so you should keep the two well apart. If you don't use your silverware frequently, keep it in a plastic bag that's secured tied or in a tight lidded plastic container. Ditto your silver jewellery.

Dunk 'Em and Lose 'Em
Wash only the blades of silver knives that have decorative handles. If you dunk them all in water, the handle will soon fall off the blade.

Clean Reading
Before rinsing dishes under the tap, use old newspapers to wipe the leftovers into the bin. Newspapers absorb oil and you'll need to use less washing detergent. In the long run, you'll also save on plumbing costs because bits of food won't choke the pipes.

Banish Odour
Are you holding your breath every time you open the shoe cabinet? Try leaving a container of baking soda in there. Sprinkling some baking soda into offensive smelling shoes also helps cut odour.

High Shine
Vinegar and water are great glass polishers. Use newspaper to buff. This really is a cheap tip that works!

It Looks Brand New!
Well, almost. You can get rid of brown stains in your coffee pot by washing it with salt.

Touch of Mint
On a hot day, give your room a breath of fresh air. Get some mint leaves. If the leaves are fresh, chop them up finely. If they're dried or frozen, crush them in your palm. Then scatter them on a bowl of ice cubes. You will soon get a lovely refreshing minty breath of cool air.

To keep buttons from dropping off:
Dab a drop of clear nail polish onto the thread to secure the buttons. This will harden and make it more difficult for thread to break off.

Are your shoes smelly?:
Here's a solution. Put some tea leaves into a pair of stockings and stuff each into a shoe. Leave for a day or two And the smell just vanishes!

Spot on Nails
White spots on your nails could be caused by any number of things, including injury. But one reason could be a lack of zinc or protein in your diet. Chronic liver disease caused by alcoholism can also result in completely white nails. Zinc sources: Beef, fish and poultry.

Cold Cures
If you feel a cold coming on, drink lots of water and have lots of fresh fruit to increase your Vitamin C intake.

Sleep like Honey
If you can't sleep tonight, try taking some honey. Some say that honey is relaxing and soothing.

Bleeding Gums?
Maybe you should eat more oranges and other citrus fruits, which contain bioflavonoids that strengthen blood vessels.

The Road is Long
Low blood sugar levels lead to bad judgment and lightheadedness. So when you're going to be driving long distances, bring along some high carbohydrate food like chocolates. Drink lots of water too. This will also force you to take toilet breaks, giving you the chance to stretch.

Stash The Lolly
If milk teeth are allowed to decay and fall out prematurely, your child may end up with uneven teeth that grow too close to each other. That's because fallen milk teeth can't "reserve" space for the adult tooth. So, limit (severely) the number of sweets your child consumes.

Gulp Don't Sip
The sugar in aerated drinks, when mixed with bacteria in your mouth, creates acids that erode the enamel of your teeth. If you spend the day sipping on soft drinks, the acids are going to stay longer in your mouth causing more damage to teeth. So gulp if you drink the stuff.

Tuna Improves Your Bite
If you love tuna and sardines, you'll be happy to know that they contain plenty of Vitamin D and together with Calcium, builds strong teeth and bones.

If it is a chemical burn, the butter may keep the chemical on the burned area, increasing exposure to the chemical.

the best thing to do is flush it with cool water ( not cold! more damage to the tissue) so that that the heat from whichever source, the strange chemical that burns or whatever it is will stop cooking ur flesh.

Grease Off
If you have to cool your food before storing it away in the fridge, it's the perfect opportunity to remove some fat from your food. Excess oil will have hardened on the cool surface. Use a spoon to remove it.

Take Off Some Fat
Before thawing leftovers from the fridge, take a look at your food. If there is excessive fat, it will have hardened. Just remove it before heating and you will do your heart a favour.

A Whiter Smile
Try rubbing a lemon rind on your teeth to remove brown stains.

Soothe Your Cough
5 tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 cup of honey and ¼ cup of warm water. Mix it up and leave it in the fridge. Take 1 - 2 teaspoons or when necessary. The only drawback is getting fat on honey!
Stay young with Almonds
An ounce of almonds contain 35% of daily value of vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the body from cancer, heart disease and aging. -Source: Blue Diamond Growers

Diet on nuts?
Studies done by the University of Nevada School of Medicine found that nut consumers have lower body weight. Nut eaters also maintain or lose weight better than individuals who do not eat nuts.

SUPER HINTS

Use Empty toilet paper roll to store appliance cords. It keeps them
neat and you can write on the roll what appliance it belongs to.
===============================================
For icy door steps in freezing temperatures: get warm water and put
Dawn dishwashing liquid in it. Pour it all over the steps. They won't
refreeze. ===============================================
Crayon marks on walls? This worked wonderfully! A damp rag, dipped in
baking soda. Comes off with little effort (elbow grease, that is!).
===============================================
Permanent marker on appliances/counter tops (like store receipt
BLUE!) rubbing alcohol on paper towel.
===============================================
Whenever I purchase a box of S..O.S Pads, I immediately take a pair
of scissors and cut each pad into halves. After years of having to
throw away rusted and unused and smelly pads, I finally decided that
this would be much more economical. And now a box of S.O.S pads last
me indefinitely! In fact, I have noticed that the scissors get
sharpened this way!
===============================================
Blood stains on clothes? Not to worry! Just pour a little hydrogen
peroxide on a cloth and proceed to wipe off every drop of blood.
Works every time! Now, where to put the body? LOL
===============================================
Use vertical strokes when washing windows outsid e and horizontal for
inside windows. This way you can tell which side has the streaks.
Straight vinegar will get outside windows really clean. Don't wash
windows on a sunny day.They will dry too quickly and will probably streak.
===============================================
Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a
lovely light scent in each room when the light is turned on.
===============================================
Place fabric softener sheets in dresser drawers and your clothes will
Smell freshly washed for weeks to come. You can also do this with
towels and linen.
===============================================
Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least
3 hours prior to burning.
===============================================
To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add
the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust
and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works
like a charm!
===============================================
To easily remove burnt on food from your skillet, simply add a drop
or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and
bring to a boil on stovetop.
===============================================
Spray your TUPPERWARE with nonstick cooking spray before pouring in
tomato based sauces and there won't be any stains.
===============================================
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it
will keep for weeks.
===============================================
When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out
the corn's natural sweetness
===============================================
Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your
forehead. The throbbing will go away.
===============================================
Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for
future use in casseroles and sauces.
Left over wine? What's that?!
===============================================
To get rid of itch from mosquito bites, try applying soap on the area
and you will experience instant relief.
===============================================
Ants, ants, ants everywhere .... Well, they are said to never cross a
chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or
wherever ants tend to march. See for yourself.
===============================================
Use air-freshener to clean mirrors. It does a good job and better
still, leaves a lovely smell to the shine.
===============================================
When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting
to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the
splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters
painlessly and easily.
===============================================
Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer (antacid acid).
===============================================
Clean a toilet.
Drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and
flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
===============================================
Clean a vase.
To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with
water and drop in two Alka Seltzer tablets.
===============================================
Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the
jewelry for two minutes.
===============================================
Clean a thermos bottle.
Fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka Seltzer tablets, and
let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
===============================================
Unclog a drain.
Clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka Seltzer tablets down the
drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes,
then run the hot water

Cashew History

The cashew, botanically-known as Anacardium occidentale, is the seed of a tropical evergreen plant related to the mango, pistachio, and poison ivy. Originating in Brazil, the cashew plant made its way to India in the sixteenth century via Portuguese sailors.

Unlike most fruits where the seed is found inside the flesh, the cashew seed hangs from the bottom of the cashew apple.

Although the fresh cashew apple fruit is not only edible but delicious, it is only available to those who grow the plant. It is much too perishable to bring to market. Cashew apples begin to ferment as soon as they are picked and will barely last 24 hours. Cashew apples are highly prized in the growing locale, where they are sometimes found canned, in jams, or used to make liqueurs.

The kidney-shaped cashew nut is encased in a hard shell with two layers. In between these layers is a black substance called cardol, which is extremely caustic and can cause blistering of the skin upon contact. This substance is removed during the shelling process and is used in the making of such products as varnish, insecticide, paint, and even rocket lubricant.

For this primary reason, cashews are never sold in the shell.

Cashew selection. Although cashews may be labeled as raw, they are never completely raw since heat is a necessity during the shelling and cleaning process. However, they are more raw than crisp, roasted cashews. Raw cashews may be difficult to find, but roasted cashews are widely available, both salted and unsalted, whole or in pieces.

If you are watching your fat intake, choose dry-roasted cashews which have a lower fat content than any other nut.

Source unknown

A Banana A Day!

After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at the Banana in the same way again!!

Doctors - Home Remedy If you want a quick fix for flagging energy levels there's no better snack than a banana. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose - combined with fiber a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

MS: Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middles) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milk shake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heart burn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body so if you suffer from heart burn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try ! rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and cookies. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs.

The report concluded that, to avoid panic induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan. Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, there by reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in 'The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that, if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape! So you see a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills.

When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

So maybe its time to change that well known phrase so that we say, "A Banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Basic ingredients+utensils for cooking chinese food

Basic ingredients & utensils for cooking chinese food

INGREDIENTS

Celery- Regular celery works well in stir fries.

Chinese Rice Wine - It adds flavor and is good for removing
strong odors, such as fish.

Chinese Dried Black Mushrooms - Found in bins in Asian
markets. Cheaper brands work fine in soups and stir-fries

Cornstarch - Used in stews, marinades, and as a thickener
Can substitute for tapioca starch in recipes.

Garlic - Along with ginger, it is often used to season
cooking oil.

Gingerroot - Always use fresh ginger unless the recipe
states otherwise.

Green Onion (Also known as spring onions) - Often used as a
garnish. If, like me, you don't care for the taste of raw
green onions, combine them with the other ingredients in
the wok just before serving.

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) - Optional. If a recipe calls
for MSG and you don't want to use it, try a bit of sugar as
a substitute. If you're out of MSG, substitute Accent.

Oyster Sauce - The cheaper brands are fine for use in
stir-fries; stick to the more expensive brands for dips.

Rice - Long grain for meals; short grain or "sticky" rice
for desserts or snacks. For something different, try a
scented rice, such as jasmine

Sesame Oil - Used as a flavoring in stir-fries and soups.

Soy Sauce - both light and dark. The bottles are not always
clearly labeled, but you can tell by holding it up to the
light - dark soy sauce is thicker and darker.

Vegetable Oil for frying - It's healthier and has a higher
smoking point than peanut oil. Also, peanut oil goes rancid
sooner, which can be a problem if you don't cook Chinese
food often.

COOKING UTENSILS

Chopsticks - Use in the kitchen for stir-frying and mixing
ingredients

Cutting Board - Wood or acrylic are best

Knife - for cutting and chopping

Wide blade Spatula - for stir-frying

Wok - Carbon Steel is best**

**For electric ranges, it is better to have a flat-bottomed
wok, as a round-bottomed wok may reflect back and damage
the heating element.

Method using new year - Nian Gao

1. Method 1 - fry with eggs

2. Method 2 - steamed it then mix with coconut. ready to be serve

3. Method 3 - stick them with sweet potatoes to deep fried.
sandwich between sweet potato slice and yam slice and fry - Cut nian gao, sweet potato and yam into french fry size sticks. mix in batter and fry.

4. Method 4 - use wanton skin wrap over the nian gao, then deep fried it, its turns out to be crispy n sweet.

Food for Sore Throat

specially hot weather, i would recommend early morning 1 cup of water mixed with a pinch of salt stir it. Drink it with empty stomach

evening time, try drink 1 cup of water + honey.

normal day, try to drink porridge water, when i got cough without phelgm, i try these way. It works like miracle for me.

Boil a pot of plain white porridge (estimate 1 cup of rice), lot of water, when the porridge is cooked. you see the water turn to white....scoop up 1 bowl to drink..add a bit of soya sauce..drink it when its warm..

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Fookchow Red Rice Grain Chicken Wings - Y3K

Ingredient
10 pieces of chicken wings (without drum)
100g fookchow red rice wine grain residue(buy from ntuc)
2 tbsps fookchow red wine (any red wine will do)

Seasoning
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp white sugar

Method
1. Put a little oil in a wok. Heat it gently and add in the rice grain residue and sugar.

2. Simmer over low heat till sugar has dissolved. Dish up.

3. Add no.1 to chicken wings. Place in soy sauce, mix well and marinate for 15 mins. Simmer marinated wings and contents in a covered wok for 15 min over low heat.

4. Uncover work, turn to high heat and cook till gravy has thickened. Drizzle in red wine before dishing up.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Vegetarian Fried Mee Hoon

Yield - 6 person

Ingredient
1 packet of bee hoon *
38gm dry mushroom (abt 5 pieces - soak soft, cut into strip)
300gm bean sprout
1 pc carrot (strip)
150gm cabbage (strip)
150gm chye sim (cut 1 inch a part)
3 pieces red fresh chilli (strip)
10 sweet beancurd sheets (the hard brown color one)

*Note: Beehoon (600 gm) - 3 bowls of water (1 bowl = 300 ml)
Beehoon (500 gm) - 2 1/2 bowls of water
Beehoon (400 gm) - 2 bowls of water

Method:
1. Beehooon preparation: soak in tap water for 1 min then drain dry, turn upside down to drain again. Do not soak the beehoon for too long cos water will be absorbed into the beehoon.

2. Sweet beancurd - long hard, must wash and soak, drain dry, then cut into strip, it take abt 1/2 an hour to dry. Then wok hv to be hot, put in cold oil, then put in drained, dry beancurd to fry, frying method is towards n forwards the fire must not too hot, if not it will be burnt, this is for garnish use.

3. Put 2 tbsp of oil in wok, then scoop up the oil, put carrot to fry, then scoop up set aside.

4. Put in chye sim to fry also, remember only 70% cooked, scoop up and set aside.

5. Put in cabbage to fry, also 70% cooked, scoop up and set aside.

6. Put in bean sprout to fry, let it stir fry a while to get rid of the greenish smell. Then scoop up and set aside.

7. Put 2 tbsp of oil in the wok, let it boil, then off fire, put 1 tsp of light soya sauce in the wok, then start the fire, let it cook, do not stir them.

8. Once it boiled, put in strip mushroom to fry, until mushroom a bit smell of salty, add water (* if beehoon is 400 gm - boil water is 600ml (2 bowls) + 1 tbsp sugar + 1/3 tsp salt), add beehoon to fry.

9. Fry them thoroughly, use a chopsticks to help u to stir, must turn the beehoon, so that the sauce will absorb into the beehoon, do not cover while frying.

10. When water inside the beehoon going to dry, add some pepper + sesame oil, add in ur pre-fry vegetables (except chye sim), then keep on stir fry until the water is dry up.

11. Scoop up and garnish with chillies, chye sim and fry beancurd.

12. Ready to serve.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Lotus Root, Octopus, Pork Soup

Ingredients
2 dried octopus (100g)
600g lotus root
300g pork rib or pork knuckle
150g preserved szechuan
4 cups of water

Method
1. Soak octopus until tender. Remove membrance and the white texture.

2. Wash the lotus roots to remove soil and cut into big pieces.

3. Rinse and wash the szechuan with water.

4. Parboil the pork rib then set aside.

5. Put all ingredient into water, bring to boil over high heat for 1st half hour. Then boil under low heat for 2 and half hour.

6. Dish up ingredient, slice and serve.

Wednesday, February 01, 2006

Egg Omelette with minced pork in soup

Ingredients
188g minced pork
5 eggs
1 1/2 cup stock
1 stalk of parsley (garnishing)

Seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp wine
2 tsp cornflour
2 tbsp water
dash of sesame oil
pinch of pepper

Method
1. Mix the minced pork with the seasoning until bend well, then set aside.

2. Whisk eggs with 2 tsp of cornflour, 1/2 tbsp of water.

3. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in the wok, add 1 tbsp of egg mixture. As soon as it is cooked, place 1 tsp of pork filling in centre, and fold into a semi-circular parcel. Repeat this process to make 14 - 16 parcels.

4. Return folded egg to wok. Add stock. Cover and cook for 5 mins. Season with a dash of light soya sauce. Garnish with parsley to serve.