Prawn Noodle Delimas Recipe

Prawn Noodle Delimas Recipe Ingredients:

A packet of Delimas prawn noodle

Hokkien Noodles

Cooked Prawns

Cooked Pork

Blanched Kangkong

Blanched Beansprouts

Fried shallots

Prawn Noodle Delimas Recipe Method:

Follow the instructions on the back of the packet of Delimas Prawn Noodle to make the soup.

Enjoy

Serves

Pulut Tekan/Lam Fah Koh Recipe

Ingredients:


500 gm glutinious rice, wash and soak for 4 hours, then drain well

350 ml coconut cream

1 tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried bunga telang - reconstitute with 1/4 cup of boiling water)

a large piece of banana leave

Method:


Put all the ingredients int0 a steaming tray and steam on high heat until cooked (about 45 minutes)



Remove 1/3 of the cooked glutinious rice into a mixing bowl, add a little of the blue bunga telang extract and mix well to obtain a blue glutinious rice.



Add in the remaining 2/3 cooked glutinious rice and mix lightly to obtain a marble effect.



Using a piece of banana leave, press glutinious rice into a 7 inch square cake pan which has been lined with banana leaves. Cut a piece of 7 inch square thick cardboard and cover it with heavy duty aluminium foil. Use this as a lid and press it down on top of the pressed glutinious rice. Use something heavy (i use a 6 inch saucepan filled with water) on top to weigh down cake until cool and firm.



Cut into pieces and serve with KAYA
Serves

Hum Cheem Paeng II Recipe

Hum Cheem Paeng II Recipe Ingredients:

(A)
360 g bread flour
130 g sugar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp alkaline water/potassium carbonate & sodium bi-carbonate solution(see ban jian kuih for picture)
250 ml water
1/2 tsp instant yeast


(B)
Starter:
90 g all purpose flour
90 ml water 2 tsp vinegar

(C)
Filling:

1/2 tsp 5 spice powder
1/2 tsp Lam yue(red bean curd)
1/2 tsp oil
1/4 tsp salt

Method:

Mix all the ingredients for the starter. Leave covered for 2 days.

Mix all the ingredients in (A) with the starter which has been proved for 2 days. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix as the dough is very sticky.

Leave the dough covered with plastic wrap and let rest of 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, bring the dough from the sides into the center and continue to do this until the dough is smooth. Rest 20 minutes again.

Repeat the folding and resting for another 3 more times.

Rub some oil on the surface of dough, cover well with plastic wrap and leave to proof for 2 - 3 hours.

Spread alot of bench flour before pouring dough on to board. Roll dough into a rectangle. Spread filling on and roll up like a swiss roll.

Cut dough into pieces and roll cut side dough into a very thin round(i find that the thinner the better the puffing).

Heat oil until 325 f and deep fry the dough. When dough floats to the top, use the chopsticks to turn dough as frequently as possible. Turning the dough allows even puffness. Fry until dough is golden brown. Sprinkle with salt while still hot (optional - if you like a saltier taste) cos certain brands of lam yue is not as salty.

Note:

The is no salt added to the dough that is why the yeast can go wild and happy)




Serves

Ban Jian Kuih Recipe

Ban Jian Kuih Recipe Ingredients:

100 g all purpose flour
25 g rice flour
1/8 tsp potassium carbonate & sodium bi-carbonate solution
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tbsp dry buttermilk
1/4 tsp salt
50 g sugar
160 ml water

Filling :

100 g chopped roasted peanuts)
80 g castor sugar ) Mix together

2 tbsp Margarine cut into small pieces


Method:

Mix all the ingredients well into a batter and leave aside covered, to rest for at least 30 minutes.

Lightly grease an apam pan(if available) or a 10 inch nonstick frying pan and heat it over a medium low flame.

Pour in all the batter and using the base of the scoop/ladle , spread the batter evenly around and to the sides of the pan. Cover pan.

When bubbles are seen on the surface of the half cooked batter, sprinkle a handful of filling over. Spread the pieces of margarine all over the filling.

Cover the apam and cook further for half a minute.

Remove the cover and use a flat-bladed knife/spatula to release the sides and bottom of the apam and fold into half.

Cool before cutting into wedges.


Serves

Apam Balik Recipe

It is more of a crispy crepe/pancake but the filling of peanuts, sugar and a dash of butter is the same as Ban Jian Kuih. Seeing how they were made while waiting for your turn in the pasar malam, was amazing, a task i thought was difficult to make at home. The dough was thick and a whole ball of it was put in the heated special apam pan and then the excess was removed leaving a thin layer of dough that was stuck to the pan. This recipe below is totally different although the result of crispy apam is the same. I don't know if it is the recipe or that there is no humidity here that the apam remained crispy throughout.

Apam Balik Recipe Ingredients:

170 gm all purpose flour
100 gm rice flour
30 gm cornstarch
2 tsp double action baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
6 - 7 ozs water
150 gm fine granulated sugar

Filling:

120 g melted butter
150 gm fine granulated sugar
1 cup chopped roasted peanuts

Method:

Mix all the ingredients together, strain and leave in the fridge for at least 3 hours. (i left it overnight)

Heat a crepe pan or a small nonstick pan slightly. (just hot enough for batter to stick to pan)

Pour in a 4 oz laddle of batter and swirl pan so that batter is coating the edge. Remove the excess batter and sprinkle in some sugar on the pancake.

Cook till the bottom of pancake is golden brown.

Sprinkle with melted butter and then chopped roasted peanuts.

Fold the pancake into a half and leave to cool.(it will be crispy as soon as it gets cold)

Serves

Yau Char Kway II Recipe

Yau Char Kway II Recipe Ingredients:

3 cups bread flour

7 – 10 ozs water (Denver friends - use 10 ozs)
1 tsp ammonia bicarbonate
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp alum
1 1/4 tsp salt

Method:

Mix the ammonia bicarbonate, baking soda, alum and salt with 7 ozs water until dissolve.

Add in to the flour and using the end of a wooden spoon, stir in a circular motion until a dough is form – dough should be sticky, if not, add in more water – dough must stick to fingers. I have used as much as 12 ozs altogether to get the dough to be sticky.

Cover with cling wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, punch down the edge and all over dough with your knuckles for at least 8 punches, then take the dough from the side of bowl, lift it as high as it can go and fold in the middle - 4 folds will do . Let is rest for 15 – 20 minutes.

Repeat the punching , folding and resting for 3 – 4 times more.

Next, oil your fingers and dough, lift it up and overturn it, oil the top so that it will not dry. Wrap tightly with cling wrap, and leave in the fridge for 1 hour.

After 1 hour, remove from bowl, divide into 2 portions and fold in to make a long smooth elastic dough. Wrap it back with greased cling wrap. Then put in a Ziploc bag and leave in the fridge for 3 – 4 hours.. Leaving in the fridge, well wrapped, overnight is better – the dough is easier to handle and the result is lighter.

Heat a large wok with oil half full.

After 3 – 4 hrs or overnight, lightly flour the pastry board .

Spread dough into a flat long 2 inch wide and 1/4 inch thick. Use a rolling pin to aid the spreading.

Cut into ½ inch strips.

Check oil temperature, it must be more than 350 f to begin frying.

Using a bamboo skewer, dip in water and dap very little in the middle of a strip of dough. Top with another strip and using a dry lidi(bamboo skewer)or a chopstick,press down horizontally in the middle of the two strips to adhere.

Pull and stretch the pressed strips until as long as possible, and put the stretched strip in the hot oil. (I stretch a pressed strip until it resists, then do the next and when I finished the rest, I come back and stretch the first and so forth)(i found that the stretched dough has to be stretched uniformaly to achieve a presentable yck)(if you have a buddy to help to do the frying and turning, you could stretch and put to fry one at a time)

When the yck floats to the top, use a pair of chopsticks and turn the yck. Keep on turning until it has finished expanding.

Fry until slightly brown. Remove from oil

Repeat with the rest of the strips until all are done. .(yck can be packed well wrapped and leave in freezer and it can be re fried or baked in the oven)

Re fry all the yck until crispy.

Preheat oven at 250 – 300 f and leave the yck in the oven for 10 minutes to rid of some oil.

Serves

Doughnuts Recipes

Doughnuts Recipes Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups unbleached flour/bread flour
1 1/2 tbsp fine granulated sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp instant yeast
1 1/2 tbsp butter
1 large egg
130 ml whole milk

Method:

Combine flour, fine granulated sugar, salt, yeast, egg and milk in a mixing bowl. Knead dough until smooth and elastic. Cover with a clingwrap and leave to rise until double.(i used the breadmachine)
.
When the dough has finished its first rising, punch down the dough and remove it out onto a lightly floured surface. Cover with damp cloth and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Roll dough out to 1/2 inch thickness.

Cut with a doughnut cutter (i use a tuna can and an one inch lid) and place the dough pieces on a greased tray.

Cover with a damp cloth and leave to rise for 30-40 minutes until double in size.

Deep fry doughnuts in hot-oil. Turn frequently until the doughnuts are golden brown and puffed up.
.
Coat doughnuts with fine granulated sugar while they are still warm.

Serves

Chee Cheong Fun II Recipes

Ingredients:

a packet of vietnamese rice stick Hu Tieu

Garlic oil
Sweet Sauce (recipe is in Chee Cheong Fun)
Fried Shallots or garlic
Roasted Sesame seeds

Method:

Cook the rice stick according to the instructions on the back of packet. Rince in cold water and drain dry.

To serve:

Top a plate of cold hu tieu with garlic oil, sweet sauce, fried shallots and roasted sesame seeds.

Enjoy

Serves

Chee Cheong Fun Recipe

With sweet sauce, garlic oil, fried onions and sesame seeds

With X O Sauce, Chilly Sauce, Garlic oil, Fried onions & sesame seeds

With sambal Hae Bee, Garlic oil, soya sauce, fried onions and sesame seeds

Spray pan with vegetable oil. I use 2 eight inch pans.

Heat oiled pan

Measure 1/4 cup of batter

Pour into pan

Swirl and tilt pan around to level batter, cover and steam until cooked.

Remove from steamer, leave pan in cold water bath for 2 minutes. Then using a spatula, loosen the sides and roll it up

Cheong fun is ready

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of rice flour
1 tbsp of tapioca flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp borax powder (pangsah)
1 tbsp oil
3/4 cup of cold water
1/2 cup of hot boiling water
1 tbsp of chopped spring onions
2 tbsp of chopped dried shrimps (presoak dried shrimps in hot water to soften)


Method:

Spray 2 eight inch pan with vegetable oil.

Pour water 3/4 inch deep into a skillet.

Make a cold water bath by filling a second large pan with 1 inch of cold water.

In a medium bowl, combine the rice flour, tapioca flour, salt, borax powder and oil. Add 3/4 cup cold water and stir until smooth.

Stir in the hot boiling water and chopped spring onions.

Bring the water in the skillet to a boil, then reduce the heat so it is barely bubbling.

Float the oiled pan on the water to heat it through.

Give the batter a quick stir and ladle 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan and a sprinkle of chopped dried shrimps, tilting the pan to spread the batter evenly.

Cover and steam for 3 - 4 minutes, or until the sheet has cooked through.

Transfer the pan to the cold water bath for 2 minutes.

Use a flat spatula to loosen the sheet along one edge, then roll it up loosely.

Transfer the roll to a plate.

Repeat with the remaining batter, cleaning and oiling the pan each time, and replenishing the simmering water in the skillet as necessary.

To serve, cut the roll into 1 inch slices and top with sauces of your choice.

Sweet Sauce


2 tbsp grounded teem cheong/tau cheong/mein see
2 heaped tbsp creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp soya sauce
1/2 tsp dark soya sauce
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
2 cups water

In a big microwavable bowl, combine the grounded teem cheong, peanut butter, garlic & onion powder, soya sauce and dark soya sauce. Mix them well by adding a little water at a time. Finally add in all the water.

Cook on high in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir and add in 1/4 cup sugar, Stir well and continue to cook for another 2 minutes until all the sugar has dissolved.

Adjust taste by adding more sugar and if the teem cheong is not so salty, a dash of salt should be added to bring out the sweetness.

Cook further for 1 minute and sauce is ready. It will taste better if you serve the sauce while it is warm as the chee cheong fun has to be at room temperature.

Note:

This chee cheong fun has to be eaten as soon as it is made.

I made a batch earlier and left them cover in the warm water that was left behind after the steaming, thinking that it will be still warm when i serve later. When i wanted to serve them, they were all cracked and not presentable at all.

Pandan Kaya Fudge Cake

Pandan Kaya Fudge Cake

Pandan Kaya Fudge Cake was a rave in Malaysia in 90's. This tropical harmony of coconut and agar agar makes this a sweet treat that tastes like jello but cuts like a cake. This cake will cause oohs and aahs the minute it is presented and will immediately bring smiles on the first bite.

Ingredients:

For Pandan Chiffon Cake:

A:
4 egg yolks
90g castor sugar
160g all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 tsp baking powder, sift with flour
1/2 tsp baking soda, sift with flour

100 ml water
1 tsp pandan essence
50g corn oil

B:
4 egg whites
60g sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar

Pandan Kaya:

900 ml. Coconut milk (i use Savoy Coconut Cream)

9 Tbsp. Hoen kwee flour / green pea flour

1 Tbsp. agar agar powder

1/2 tsp. salt

a little green colouring

a little pandan paste

180 gm. sugar

60 gm. Dessicated coconut for covering cake

Method:

To prepare pandan chiffon cake:

Add all ingredients in (A) and mix well until the mixture is smooth and consistent.

Whip egg whites and cream of tartar of Ingredients B at medium speed until the egg whites are bubbly. Add sugar and whip at high speed until stiff form but not dry.

Fold 1/3 of whipped egg whites into mixture of Step 1. Then, pour this mixture to the remaining egg whites in the other mixing bowl. Fold lightly to combine both mixtures.

Pour this combined mixture into a ungreased 9-inch round cake pan(i lined the cake tin with aluminium foil).

Bake at a preheated over at 350 deg F for 40-45 minutes.

As soon as the cake is removed from oven, quickly invert the pan and let it cool. (i invert cake on to a cake rack and place cake rack on top of a colander)

When the cake is completely cool, run a knife around the sides of pan to remove the cake(i remove the foil and tear it carefully).

Slice cake into 3 layers.(Remove the brown layer from the top of cake - that was what i forgot to do)

Method for pandan Kaya:

(1) Put all the ingredients into a pot and stir till evenly mixed.

(2) Cook over medium heat till mixture thickens and smooth. Cool slightly before using. Make sure it is still in pouring consistency.

(3) Place a slice of sponge cake into a cake ring, pour in some kaya and continue the same process till the last layer is covered with pandan kaya. Press slightly after layering the cake onto the kaya and make sure that the kaya fills the sides on the last layer.

(4) Leave aside to cool and set before chilling in the fridge.

(5) Remove cake from cake ring and cover the whole cake with dessicated coconut. If you are using an ordinary cake pan, line the cake tin before putting in the first layer of cake and when removing cake, introduce air in by folding 3 or 4 strips of paper and slipped them to the side of cake. Cake will then dislodged easily.

(6) Serve chilled.

Pandan Kaya Fudge Cake

Pandan Kaya Fudge Cake

Abacus Beads/Sueen Poon Chee

This traditional Hakka dish is eaten during festive celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival for prosperity. sueen poon chee, or abacus seeds, are springy discs of yam, shaped after its namesake. For this dish, the ingredients cooked with this abacus seeds have to be very flavorful.

Ingredients:

1 lb taro, cleaned, peeled and thinly sliced(i used frozen ones, thaw and slice)

12 ozs tapioca starch

3 tbsp cooking oil

5 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced

1/4 cup dried shrimp, soak and coarsely chopped

11/4 cup shredded dried squid - soak

6 dried Chinese mushroom, soaked till soft and sliced

1/2 lb ground pork

1/4 lb chinese chives - cut into 1 inch in length

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp oyster sauce

1/2 cup chicken stock

Method:

Steam taro until soft and mash.

Place the tapioca starch in a large mixing bowl and add hot taro paste to it, stirring it in well

When the taro and starch mixture has cooled , knead it to form a dough.

Pinch off enough dough to roll into a ball , 1 inch in diameter. Press the ball between your thumb and forefinger so that it is depressed in the middle and shaped like an abacus seed.

Repeat until dough is used up.

Fill a pot with water to the three-quarter mark and bring it to a boil.

Place abacus seeds in the pot and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the seeds from sticking to the bottom of the pot. When cooked, the seeds will float to the top. Scoop out the cooked abacus seeds and leave them aside to drain.

To a hot wok, add 2 tbsp oil and fry the garlic till golden brown before adding dried shrimp, shredded dried squid and mushroom. Stir fry the mixture , then set aside.

Add the remaining tbsp oil to the hot wok and fry the ground pork until it is cooked and no more pink.

Add in the cooked garlic, dried shrimp, shredded dried squid, mushroom, abacus seeds and the seasonings.

Add in the chinese chives and stir briefly.

Dish out and sprinkle with sesame oil.

Serve hot.

Serves

Snow Pea Shoots with Oyster Sauce

Snow Pea Shoots with Oyster Sauce

Snow Pea Shoots with Oyster Sauce

Ingredients:

1 lb Snow Pea shoots - use only the young shoots - wash and drain

2 tbsp oyster sauce

3 - 4 tbsp garlic oil

Method:

Put drained snow pea shoots on to a large plate.

Pour the garlic oil over the snow pea shoots, cover with splatter cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes.

Remove splatter cover and add in oyster sauce.

Serve hot.

Snow Pea Shoots with Oyster Sauce

Serves

Steamed Pomfret in Teochew Style

This is the most popular recipe for steaming fish in the Teochew repertoire. The perfect combination of the ingredients create its very own flavors which enhanced the smoothness of the pomfret.

Steamed Pomfret in Teochew Style

Ingredients:

2 pomfret
1 tbsp ginger, shredded
1 stalk spring onions, shredded
1/4 lb lean pork- cut into strips, seasoned with salt, pepper and corn starch
2 dried shitake mushrooms (soak in warm water before slicing them up)

Topping:

1 tomato, cut into wedges
1/4 lb preserved green mustard-shredded
2 preserved sour plums - mash lightly

Seasoning for fish:

1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp corn starch

Sauce:

1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp fish sauce
1 tbsp rice wine or shaoxing wine
1/2 tsp sugar


Garnish: -

1 stalk spring onions, shredded
1 red chilli, shredded
a good big dash of sesame oil
.
Method:

1. Wash fish and pat dry. Make a few slits on each side of the fish. Rub lightly on the surface and inside of fish with salt, pepper and corn starch. Then stuff a few shreds of ginger and spring onions into the slits and fish stomach.

2. Heat up 1-2 tbsp oil. Add in the rest of the shredded ginger, pork and mushrooms and stir fry until fragrant.

3. Arrange fish on a steaming tray, arrange toppings over fish and pour mixture from (2) over the fish.

4. Steam over high heat for 12-15 minutes or until cooked.

Garnish with shredded spring onions and chilli.

Note: - when the eyes of the fish has popped out, this is an indication that the fish is cooked.

COUNTDOWN TO THANKSGIVING

3 MORE DAYS TO THANKSGIVING

The turkey should be defrosted - follow the instructions on how to brine, truss and then leave the turkey, uncovered for a vacation - cold drying in the fridge.While turkey is on vacation, the less fortunate relative - the neck, giblets etc will be taking a hot vacation - they are to be roasted for the gravy.The stuffing can be prepared today too or if it is too much, prepare the stuffing tomorrow.

Sweet Potato Balls

Sweet Potato Balls

Ingredients:

500g mashed sweet potatoes
200g glutinous rice flour
1 1/2 tbsp custard powder
3 1/2 tbsp castor sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
Enough Oil for deep frying


Method:

Combine mashed sweet potatoes, glutinous rice flour, custard powder and sugar with just enough water to form a smooth dough that is soft in texture but not sticky.(you might not need water if the mashed sweet potatoes is wet enough)

Divide dough into small, equal portions and roll into balls. Dip in water and coat with sesame seeds.

Deep-fry sweet potato balls till golden brown.

Dish out and drain well before serving

Serves

Radish/Daikon/Turnip/Law Pak Koh

"Law Pak' is in cantonese and in english it has been termed radish, daikon or turnip. This is a delicious savory Cake served in dim sum houses throughtout the year and most auspiciously, on Chinese New Year's Day as a symbol of prosperity and rising fortunes.

Ingredients:

500g radish(白萝卜)
15g tung min flour (澄面粉)
150g rice flour (粘米粉)
20g corn starch (太白粉)
500ml water
2 nos. shallots, sliced
40g dried shrimps
1-2 nos. chinese preserved sausages (腊肠)
4 nos. dried mushrooms
2 tbsp oil, for frying
A little oil for greasing

Seasoning;
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp sesame oil
Pepper, to taste


Method:

Shred turnip. Set aside.

Clean and soak both dried shrimps and dried mushrooms until soften. Chop dried shrimps slightly. Cut mushrooms into small cubes.

Cut sausages into small cubes.

Grease a pan with some oil.

Place tung min flour, rice flour and corn starch in a mixing bowl. Pour water into flours and stir well.

Heat up 2 tbsp of oil in a pan/wok and fry these ingredients by order ,remove and set aside, first the sausages , then the shallots, lastly dried shrimps. Without removing the dried shrimps, add in the mushrooms and then the shredded radish.

Season with the seasoning ingredients.

Pour the flour mixture into the pan. Cook until the mixture thickens.

Place the thick batter into the greased pan prepared earlier.

Steam at high fire for 1 hour.

Set aside. Slice when turnip cake is cool.

Cake can be served as is or pan fried and best eaten with chilly sauce.


Serves

Golden Rice

Ingredients:

21 oz (600 g) basmati rice - soak for 30 minutes and then drain dry

2 oz (55 g) ghee or butter

Aromatics:

1 tsp chopped ginger

1 tbsp chopped garlic

4 shallots - thinly sliced

Spices:

1 - 2 inch cinnamon bark

8 cardamons lightly crushed

6 cloves

Seasoning:

1 chicken cube

1 1/2 tsp salt

40 fl oz (1.1 litre) boiling water

Coloring for the rice:

Mix 1 tsp yellow food coloring with 1/4 tsp Rose essence and 4 tbsp water.

Method:

Heat ghee or butter and add in the cinnamon bark and fry until the bark opens uo, then add in the aromatics until lightly browned.

Add in the rest of the spices and the drained rice.

Stir fry the rice until coated with oil and smell fragrant and nutty.

Pour in boiling water and seasonings.

Transfer to rice cooker and cook until done.

Sprinkle with yellow color mixture over rice and raisins(optional).

Loosen rice to mix in the color.

Top with fried shallots and cashew nuts before serving.

Serves

Ipoh Sar Hor Fun

Ingredients:

1 lb fresh rice noodle/dried Hu Tieu

1 lb shrimps with head - on

2 nos. whole chicken leg

Chinese chives (sectioned)
2 stalks scallions (chopped)

Ingredients for Chicken Broth:

3 nos. whole chicken carcass/2 packets of Swanson Chicken stock
Shrimp's shell (removed from the above 1 lb shrimps)
1/2 lb soya bean sprouts (tai tau nga)
2 x 1 inch size rock sugar
1 tsp whole white peppercorns (crushed)
5 liters water
salt to taste

Ingredients for Shrimp Oil:
125ml cooking oil
Shrimp head (removed from the above 1 lb shrimps)

Method:

To cook the shrimps, bring 1 liter of water to the boil and blanched the shrimps until they turn pink and cooked through. Remove and shock in ice water. Remove the heads and drain dry, to be use for frying with the oil. Remove the shells for making the chicken broth.

To cook the chicken legs, bring back the above water which was used to cook the shrimp, to a rolling boil. Put in the chicken legs and when water comes back to a boil, let it simmer for 5 minutes and cover with lid, turn off heat and let chicken legs poach for 15 minutes. Remove and shred when cooled.

To make chicken broth, rinse the chicken carcass,place them into a stock pot, add in the rest of stock ingredients, together with the water which was used for cooking the shrimp and chicken legs, bring to the boil. Reduce to low heat and cook for approximately 1-2 hours. Alternatively, use the pressure cooker which will take less than 1/2 the time.

Season with salt and strain the stock. Leave aside.

To make shrimp oil, heat up the cooking oil in the preheated wok, place in shrimp heads, stir-fry over low heat until the shrimp oil separates. Remove from heat, strain well.

Pour some of the prawn's oil into the chicken stock.

Blanch the "Hor Fun", Chinese chives in boiling water separately. Dish up and drained.

To assemble, place the "Hor Fun" into a serving bowl, add in blanched Chinese chives, , chicken shreds and shrimps.

Serve with hot chicken broth, add in a little shrimp oil and chopped scallions.

Serve hot with fried sambal or chopped chilly in soya sauce.

Serves

Hainanese Chicken Rice

This hainanese chicken rice meal was eaten awhile ago and everytime i sat to write about it, my mind was blank and finger's frozen, fingers are on the keyboard but they were not moving. It could be the cold that froze the fingers and i think the mind too. The fingers must have been saying - come on, i am ready but no text???????. Hope i am thinking better this morning.

Oh, i am supposed to write about Hainanese Chicken Rice - should i write about Hainanese, i think not cos this is a food blog and i am sure all would want to know about the chicken or the rice. What so special about having a chicken meal nowadays, it is served practically daily but not so when i was growing up. We only have chicken during festivals and a whole chicken would have to shared amongst our family of 3 adults and 7 children and festivals only come around 2 - 3 months apart. The day of the festival, in the early morning, my mom would go to the wet market to get the chicken. The chickens then were still very much alive and were housed in large bamboo baskets. Mom had a friend, his name is Ah Kau(cantonese for dog or the number nine - we finally found out that he was the ninth in his family)who owned the chicken stall, as soon my mom arrived, he would look into the baskets, looking for the fattest and most beautiful hen - no cockerel/rooster for the festivals. He would reach for one and the first thing Uncle Ah Kau did was to feel the breast and commented that this was fat and meaty. The next thing he would brush the feathers at the butt apart and showed to mom, i don't know what they were looking at but she nodded and seemed to agree with him. I have now found out what they were looking at, the butt of course. They were looking to see if the hen laid eggs before and that will show that it is too matured and the meat will not be as tender if it were to be prepared the one and only way/recipe - white steamed/poached. We might not be given the priviledge of looking at the butt now in the supermarket but make sure that the chicken is 4 lbs/2 kg, then you can be assured of producing a very velvety, meaty chicken for Hainanese Chicken Rice.

This chicken rice meal we had for dinner was sponsored by my dear friend Ting Ting, who have a chicken coop enough to house more than 20 chickens. She had reared them from chicks and now there are pullets, hens and roosters. It is the roosters that get to be our dinners cos Ting Ting does not want to have anymore unpleasant complaints from her neighbor, she told her sons Hunter and August to observe the roosters and as soon as they start to crow, the rooster will be Ting Ting's dinner or her friends.

Below is good read and good to know:

Chick: A hatchling


Capon: A castrated male used for meat. (How much could that yield?) Yeem Kai

Pullet: A female chicken under one year old.

Hen: A female chicken over one year of age

Rooster: A male chicken over one year of age

I will not write about the rice now of which the preparation is also very important cos i am into something which i promise you will be a good thing. Look for the good thing in my coming posts, pray that i don't get writer's block.

Ingredients:

Chicken - more than 4 lbs (if you are lucky, Ting Ting's rooster will crow)
Jasmine Rice
Sides - cucumber and tomatoes
Sauces - chopped garlic, special homemade chilly sauce, oyster sauce with fragrant oil or black sauce.

Serves

Gingery Chilli Sauce

Gingery Chilli Sauce

Gingery Chilli Sauce

Gingery Chilli Sauce Ingredients:

Fresh red chillies
Fresh red chilly padi
Young ginger
Garlic
Calamansi juice/lime juice
Salt and sugar to taste

Method:

Seed the fresh red chillies.

Remove the skin off the young ginger and garlic.

Put all the ingredients except the calamansi/lime juice, in the food processor and process until it becomes a paste.

Remove into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 1 minute.

Add in salt and sugar and let it cool, then add in calamansi/lime juice.

Pour into a sterilized jar/bottle and keep in the fridge.

Before serving, a little rendered chicken fat and sesame oil can be added.

Gingery Chilli Sauce

Serves