Vinegar Pick-&-Mix Style Salad

Vinegar Pick-&-Mix Style Salad

Ingredients:

40g black wood fungus or mok yee

(soaked till softened, torn into small pieces)

1 rib of celery (pared off tough fibres, diced)

4 fresh red cili padi (deseeded, diced)

2 shallots (chopped), 2 pips garlic (chopped)

Dressing A: 

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

Dressing B: (mixed together) 

½ tsp salt

1 tbsp white sugar

4 tbsps black bean vinegar

½ tsp sesame oil

1 tsp soy sauce

Method:

1. Blanch black wood fungus in boiling hot water, add in seasoning (A) and leave in the water for five minutes till cooked. Remove, drain well.

2. Place no. (1) into a platter. Add in remaining ingredients and seasoning (B). Toss together.

Note: Black wood fungus has a lot of good nutrients in it.  It enriches the blood, helps the “chi” flow, nourishes the lungs, stops excessive bleeding when taken regularly.

Homemade Peanut Jam

Ingredients:

300g groundnuts (rinsed, sundried)

2 tbsps butter (double boiled till melted)

5 tbsps caster sugar (milled)

Method:

In an oiless wok, fry groundnuts till cooked and aromatic. Blend till smooth, place in a big bowl. Add in butter and milled sugar, mix well. Use as a spread on bread or plain cookies.

Tips: Use a heavy duty blender to blend the groundnuts for a smoother paste.

Cream Of Chicken Soup

by Catherine Chia

(serves 4)

Ingredient A:

20g unsalted butter

60g big onion (cut into cubes)

30g celery (cut into small)

30g carrot (sliced)

Ingredient B:

1 litre basic chicken stock

1 bay leaf (dried)

Ingredient C:

20g unsalted butter

20g plain flour

Ingredient D:

100ml fresh milk

100ml fresh cream

Seasoning:

½ tsp salt

1 tsp chicken stock granules

Dash of pepper

Condiments:

240g chicken breast meat (pre-cooked, shredded)

Some toasted bread

Method:

1. Heat a wok, add in butter and turn to low heat before adding in remaining ingredient (A). Stir-fry well, add in ingredient (B) and simmer for 30 minutes. Pour out stock, blend or puree well. Strain, discard stock.

2. Heat pot with butter of ingredient (C). Mix in flour until well-incorporated without forming any lumps. Add in no. (1), bring it to a boil.

3. Add in ingredient (D) and seasoning. Incorporate well before dishing out into bowls. Serve with condiments.

Basic Chicken Stock

Ingredient A:

500g chicken meat without skin

4.8 litres water

Ingredient B:

60g onion (cut into pieces)

30g celery (cut into small pieces)

30g carrot (sliced)

1 bay leaf (dried)

⅛ tsp thyme (bottled)

1 tsp peppercorns (crushed)

1 clove

1 sprig fresh parsley stem

Method:

Place ingredient (A) into a pot. Cover and simmer over low heat for one hour. Add in ingredient (B) and simmer for one more hour. Strain stock, discard residue. Can add into other varieties of soup as it is edible, optional choice.