Unbelievably Easy Nam Yue Roast Chicken Drumsticks

NOTEFLASH :  This post was updated on 9 June 2013 with photos and cooking instructions using AMC hotplate.  The AMC hotplate made cooking for this dish even faster and healthier.  Read on to find out how. 

Now that we are "well nourished" from the previous "nourishing" posts (pun well-intended!), it's time to get back to some true blue, fuss free recipes.  In fact, today's recipe has no more than 3 ingredients. 

Yes, you read it correctly.  Only THREE ingredients.  As the saying goes, less is more, baebeh!

Nourishing Soups and Teas - Post #3 : Red Dates and Aloe Vera Tea

My final post in this "Nourishing Soups and Teas" series is this Aloe Vera and Red Dates Tea.  A friend of mine gave me an aloe vera plant some months ago.  It is the US variety (the huge ones).  I was delighted, because I've always wanted to grow some aloe. 

Nourishing Soups and Teas - Post #2 : Snow Pear Soup with Almond Seeds and White Fungus

Snow Pear is one of the juiciest fruit ever.  When you bite into it, the juice literally spurts out.  It is also a very cooling fruit.  When boiled as a soup together with the right type of herbal ingredients, it is very nourishing especially on the lungs and the entire respiratory tract.   This soup is also mild enough to be served to children. 

I boiled this with the main intention to minimise coughing, resolve phlegm, and nourish the lungs.  So there are several ingredients that are specifically for this purpose:

1.  white fungus - nourish the lungs

2.  almond seeds (combination of sweet and bitter almonds) - moisten the lungs (thus minimising dry coughs) and reduce the production of phlegm

3.  dried fritillaria bulbs, grounded into powder form (chuan pei mu powder) - dissolve phlegm, strengthen the lungs and clear body heat.  This is specifically used to treat chronic dry coughs with thick phlegm which is difficult to expectorate. 

4.  dried whole (flattened) tangerine - nourish the lungs and respiratory tract

5. dried figs - moisten the lungs and relieve coughing


As with all tonic soups, this is best served warm, preferably just before bedtime. 

Snow Pear Soup with Almond Seeds and White Fungus
Serves 3 - 4

• 1 snow pear - skin on, cored and cut into 8 pieces
• Almond seeds, a small handful
• dried fritillaria bulbs - grounded and packed into 1 muslin bag, approx 9g
• 1 dried flattened tangerine
• 10 dried figs
• 3 small pieces of dried white fungus, soaked in water for 1 hour and snipped into small pieces
• 3 honey dates
• 4 large red dates, pitted
• 1 small piece of rock sugar
• 750ml water

1.  Put the pear slices into the slow cooker.

2.  Rinse the almond seeds, dates, figs and dried tangerine.  Add into the slow cooker, together with the muslin bag of ground fritillaria bulbs, and rock sugar.

From twelve o'clock, clockwise : 1) muslin packed ground
dried fritillaria bulbs; 2) dried figs; 3) honey dates; 4) rock sugar;
5) dried tangerine; 6) pitted red dates; 7) dried white fungus;
8) sweet and bitter almonds (center)

 

From left: All 9 ingredients; dried figs; almond seeds; dried tangerine



3.  Boil the water and pour into the slow cooker, cover and set to High.  Once the soup is boiling, turn down the heat to Medium or Low, and let simmer for 1.5hours.  Turn off the heat and let the soup steep for another 30 min before serving warm.   

I used "big brother" (regular size) to boil this soup.  "Little brother" was used to boil the bird nest soup (previous post).  

Note:  For children under 6 years old, the recommended portion for this soup is half a rice bowl, and 1 rice bowl for those between 7 - 10 years old.

Nourishing Soups and Teas - Post #1 : Bird Nest Soup

The whole family is coughing, no thanks to the haze.   Itchy throat, sniffling and phlegmy cough. I seem to have it particularly bad. At times my rib cage hurts due to the hacking cough, my head feels light, and even my eye balls feel sore (does that make sense?!)

"Fried" Udon

There is no way I am going back to yellow mee.  After trying out this wonderful product, its sayonara to yellow mee.   

Cold Lettuce Rolls

Hot hazy weather? Fret not. Let's have some cold rolls :) 

Easy Hainanese Chicken Rice, Rice Cooker recipe

 

Yet another sweltering day.  Such weather really does not foster any inclination to slave over the hot stove cook.  At 6pm, I was still contemplating whether to have takeaways, when I suddenly thought of PapaRich's Hainanese chicken rice.  It's really yummy, but also pretty pricey. 

 

Stir Fry Chicken with Basil

 

Is this a vietnamese dish or a thai dish? You can find this on both thai and vietnamese menu.  In any case, hubs and I love both.  During our trip to Hanoi last year, we stayed with an old friend who is now a high flying expat working in the vietnamese capital.

Soya Jelly and A Little Tea Party

It's school holidays now, and that means mummy has to work harder to keep the little one entertained at home.  

Salmon Sashimi and Avocado Salad

With the sweltering weather, salads are the order of the day.  I love avocados and sashimi salmon. When I realise that you can combine them into a delightful piquant salad, I was absolutely thrilled.  I got the idea for this salad from one of our favourite japanese restaurant.  

Lo Han Guo and Chrysanthemum Tea

Oh boy, how hot can it get!


The weather has been absolutely scorching lately, the heat relentless.  Coupled with the lack of rain, it has been hot, dry and dusty the last few days.

Steamed Salmon Cutlet

We had this for dinner just now.

My mom always say the freshest seafood needs no fancy sauces or messy wokking.  Just steam it with simple ingredients so you can taste the natural briny sweetness in the meat.