Cendol

I finally had a housewarming party for my family members on National Day's eve.  Didn't do it with a big bang as I wasn't sure whether I can handle a big party.  So this was kind of like a test, I am glad that despite a little ache, I did it. 

The weather was awesome too for BBQ and I was pretty pleased with my marination for the BBQ items.  My family really love the kebabs, the chicken wings and the pork chops.  Will attempt this again as I didn't have the mood to take pictures and then I can share the recipes with you all.

Dad came over again the next day to help me build a shelf in our storage room.  Ain't I blessed to have a dad like him?   In the family, he is our Handy Manny! hehehe

To ease off the heat that had been building up these past few days, I prepared Cendol.   I was too lazy to find my ice shaver which I believe is hiding somewhere but I regretted it as the blender didn't do a great job.

Nevertheless, am happy that I had my cendol fix and definitely a good way to cool the body down.

Happy Birthday Singapore! 

Lup Cheong Fried Rice 腊肠抄饭/ Fresh Cane and water chestnut Drink （馬蹄竹蔗)

Once a week, we will have either Fried Rice or Bee Hoon Soup for lunch.

Personally, I love Fried Rice. I love the fact that it is easy to put together. Over the years, I am proud to say that I had learnt how to fry a good plate of Fried Rice. So let me present to you our lunch for today. Lup Cheong Fried Rice 腊肠抄饭.

Recently I was told that Fried Rice is actually classified as "heaty" food. Since it is starting to get really humid with the change in weather and topped off with consuming so much Lunar New Year goodies such as Bak Kwa. The Chinese believe we need to balance the yin and yang elements in our body.

Son also started his trice a week soccer training, I also noticed that not only is he really tanned now, he also looks heaty. His lips are constantly red and swollen. As usual, it takes so much effort just to coax him to drink plain water.

Thus I have been boiling herbal tea for the family. Saw fresh cane in the market and brew Fresh Cane and water chestnut Drink （馬蹄竹蔗）for us all.

I usually get the seller to shorten the cane for me so that it is fits nicely into a pot. Cane are really strong and needed a strong and sharp cleaver to do the job.

This drink can ease off the heatiness of our body and we love having it chilled.

What you need:
For 3 serving

2 stick of fresh cane
15 pcs fresh water chestnut
black sugar

Method

Brush and clean water chestnut well.

Chop the cane into shorter stick. Slit them.

Add 1.5 litre of water.

Boil for 1/2 hour and add black sugar (according to your sweetness level)

Serve either warm or chilled.

Chrysanthemum with Luo Han Guo Tea/ Green bean soup with durian

My hubby who is the strongest in the family, succumbed to our bug as well. I do not know whether it is the weather or perhaps it is the bug.

I therefore quickly brew some Chrysanthemum with Luo Han Guo Tea to ease the sore throat and cough.

There are so many method in brewing chrysanthemum, so while I was at the medical hall, I decided to ask again.

He told me to crack the Luo Han Guo and leave it to soak for 10 mins before boiling.

When the water is at its boiling point, just add in the chrysanthemum and remove from heat.

Soak till the flower "open up" and it is ready to drink. So for the time being, I will follow this method till I hear of another one.

While doing my food inventory stock take, I found a packet of green bean in the cupboard. I remembered my brother in law once said that green bean is able to dispel body heatiness, I decided to give it a try.

Having some durian on hand, I twisted the method a little into Green Bean Soup with Durian.

Liang Cha

My mom is a firm believer of Liang Cha. She will diligently boiled this once a week. Of course, up her sleeves, she has so many varieties of Liang Cha suitable for each occassion. For me, the herbs itself, I am already confused!! So many different types and names that sounded so alien to me. Perhaps I should get my mom do write all these down for me. After much nagging on her part as we don't routinely visit her every week. She insisted that I have to stand by some in the house. So if I happened to past by some medical halls, I will pop in and get those prepack. Yesterday, I have been nibbling on the 7D mangoes and already feeling the sore in my throat in this morning. So let's have some liang cha before it is too late. Content of the prepack indicated: Ju Hua Fan Bai Cao Xia Ku Cao Shen Xu Luo Han Guo Whether this concoction is right or wrong, I seriously don't know.