My Comfort Food

This came about when my hubby and I went to Ikoi resturant to celebrate his birthday. On the menu "japanese porridge".. I was curious how it was cooked and the taste of it. The moment I tasted it.. Oishii!! It reminded me of mummy's love when I was sick or had no appetite to eat or on days I just want something light on my palate..

So the next day, I improvised it and cooked it for my daughter. She loves it! Then another day for my hubby. He likes it too..

Here is my version of "Japanese Porridge"

Ingredients:

Cooked rice (about 1.5 cup of uncooked jasmine rice)

1 carrot

Spring onions

Teochew fishcake

3 eggs

Diced all the ingredients.



I boiled big pork bone stock (Ta Gu) but you can also use chicken stock.

To make the stock: 

2 big bones,

some cloves of garlics

About 2.5 litres of water

Method:

Blanched the bones twice

Put in slow cooker with the garlics and water.

Slow boil them for about 5-6 hrs.

Transfer stock to another pot.



Add the diced carrots and the bulb of the spring onions.

Cooked till carrots are soft.

Add the diced fishcake.

Add the cooked rice and stir.

Add the rest of the spring onions.

Crack the eggs into a bowl.

Add a dash of pepper and light soya sauce.

Beat the eggs.

Bring the porridge to boil.

Turn off the heat.

Slowly add the beaten eggs and keep stirring.

Add seasonings:

Pepper

Sesame oil

Concentrated chicken stock (for saltiness)

Ready to be serve.

As you can see its a big pot as I was cooking for 3 persons. You can reduce the quantity of the ingredients and the seasonings are up to your taste buds.. "Agar Agar" like our elders who teach us how to cook.

As for the pork stock, I usually cooked more so that I can use it for other dishes as to save energy and time. Let it cool down and store in the fridge. I will normally finish the stock within 2 days. When I removed the pot of stock from the fridge, I will first skim off the oil that had harden as it is easier to remove, thus healthy meal.

Hope you like this easy-to-cook meal. Do feed back me if you do try it out!

Blessings,

Ivy



One Dish Meal: Steamed Chicken

 Ingredients:

2 chicken thighs

Jin Zhen (dried lily flowers)

Black Fungus (Hei Mu Er)

Mushrooms

Toufu (optional)

Seasonings:

Oyster sauce

Light Sauce

Sesame oil

Hua Tiao Jiu

Pepper

The amount of dried food used, is based on your preferences.

This is the amount that I used.

Wash the dried foods and soak them in different bowls of water.

(Please take note: The black fungus will expand alot so do not soak too much and some mushrooms need to soak longer.)

Score the chicken thighs on both sides.

Put all the ingredients into a big bowl.

Add the seasonings: About

2 tablespoons of oyster sauce

1 tablespoon of light soya sauce

1 tablespoon of sesame oil

2 tablespoons of Hua Tiao Jiu

Pepper

Mix them well.

Place the ingredients on a plate.

Cover with cling foil and put in refrigator.

Allow it to marinate at least an hour before steaming it.

When the water in the steamer is boiling, put in the plate.

Steam for about 20mins.

It is Done!!

Use a deeper plate if you add toufu as the gravy will overflow.

Add a dish of vegetables if you like.

This variation is without toufu. Before you steam, add some water.

Another dish taught by my mum.

It is a healthy and simple dish. Easy to prepare. You can marniate it overnight and after work, put it in a steamer and you can have a hot meal after your shower!!

If you have any easy-to-prepare-meal, do share with me!

Have a blessed day ahead! :)

Ivy







"BLEACH" The Toilet Bowl

Do you find it a chore to scrub your toilet bowl frequently to keep it sparkling clean?

This is what I do..

Bleach

(Get the cheapest, it works the same)

Detergent Powder

An empty bottle with a small opening at the top.





Remove the cover and place a funnel in the opening.

Put about 1 tablespoon of detergent powder.

Pour in the bleach slowly.

Put back the cover. Its done!!

Squirt the bleach around the toilet bowl.

Try to leave it over night.

The toilet in the common bathroom, I will leave it over night. The toilet bowl in the master bedroom, I put the bleach in the morning. I do this "bleaching" 2-3 times a week.

Benefits for me:

• Don't have to scrub the toilet bowl frequently (I scrub only once a week or even in 2 weeks).
• No  unsightly stains or smell.

 **Important: Please remember to leave the bathroom window open.

One Dish Meal: Luo Bo Feng Ruo

Lo Po Feng Rou

Serve: 3-4 persons

Preparation time: 15 mins

Cooking time: 50mins

Ingredients: 

 Mei hua rou 500g

Radish

Carrots

Coriander leaves

Spring onions

Ginger

Garlic

Seasonings: 

2 tablespoons of Hua Tiao Jiu

3 tablespoons of Oyster sauce

Thinly sliced the garlic.

Use a teaspoon to scrape the ginger skin.

Slice the ginger, then cut into long strips.

Remove the skin of the radish and carrots.

Cut into big chunks.

Wash the spring onions.

Cut them about the length of your index finger.

Wash the coriander leaves.

Cut them about 3cm in length (half of your index finger).

Rinse the meat.

Cut into big pieces.

Preparation is done. Ready to cook.

Heat up the pot till its very hot.
(Do not add oil)

Put the meat into the pot.

Flip the meat over when they are slightly brown.

Add garlic, ginger and spring onions.

Fry till fragnant.

Add 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce.

Add 2 tablespoons of hua tiao jiu.

Stir it well.

Put the radish on top of the meat.

Put in the carrots.

(No need to add water or stock)

 Cover the pot.

Cook in medium heat for 5mins.

Then in low fire, simmer for 30-45mins.

Poke the meat to check if its soft and tender.

Put in the coriander leaves.

Simmer for 1 min.

Serve with rice.

Optional: Cut the meat into smaller pieces.



I learnt this dish from a newspaper clipping (from my mum).

• Healthy dish, no need to add oil.
• Easy to cook, just simmering.
• Not much to clean up after cooking.
• One dish meal.