Cauliflower :purple florets with pinenuts

Purple cauliflowers are only found in the colder months of temperate countries. They are naturally purple, not dyed.

Cauliflowers are versatile. They can be boiled, steamed, baked, stir fried, or deep fried.

For this dish, I cut the florets into bite size. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees Centigrade for 20 minutes.

Sprinkle with lightly toasted pinenuts and grated cheese.

Goji Soup : goji berries and leafy vegetable for good health

Goji is the new alternative supplement touted for health benefits especially for clear vision and restoration of energy.

A quick and easy boiled nutrients packed soup of goji (wolfberries) and gao gee (goji vegetable or spinach) is a useful starter of your meal in winter.

Besides breakfast museli, there are some interesting ways one could prepare goji such as steaming with fish, making a drink with chrysanthemum or jelly.

Chinese Mixed Vegetables Fry and Stew - Chap Chai

Different from Korean Chap Chae (which is fried sweet potato noodles)

http://homecooksecrets.blogspot.com.au/search?q=chap+chae

1. Fry garlic till fragrant. Add salted soy bean.

2. Fry soaked shitake mushroom slices, followed by cut cabbage and carrot.

3. Add pepper and oyster sauce (or thick dark soy sauce).

4.  Add water and slowly bring to simmer.

5. Add precooked soy bean sticks and soaked bean vermicelli (dong fen / tang hoon)

6. Cover and cook slowly till vegetables have absorbed most of the sauces.

7. Add water if necessary. Keep the heat low and ensure the bottom of the pot does not burn easily.

Gaeng Liang - Thai special vegetable soup for health

This is not the typical Thai chilli based soup or curry. It is a actually a classic complete tonic soup believed to date long before curries became the staples of the present-day Thai people. It is recommended for expectant mothers and post-natal nourishment, as well as growing children. This recipe has been adapted from a professional Thai chef recipe which has a longer list of ingredients using Thai produce.  A simplified list has ingredients that are quite easily available from ethnic grocers in most parts of the world.

The must-have basic ingredients are :
lufa (angled gourd) - cut into cubes
pumpkin - cut into bite size
mushroom (preferably straw mushroom, canned if not fresh, or else use fresh button mushroom),
baby sweet corn
green zucchini (optional)

Spicy paste : Pound - 
peppercorn, fresh prawn, garlic, coriander root, shallot bulb, fresh red chilli, dried shrimp or shrimp paste.

Traditionally, this herbal soup is supposed to be quite peppery. Adjust the fiery level accordingly. Cut down on the chilli and peppercorn if you like it mild.

Seasoning : fish sauce (2 Tbs).  

1. Bring 4 cups of chicken stock to the boil.
2. Add spicy paste and stir well.
3. When the stock is boiling again, add pumpkin first as it takes longer to cook.
4. Add lufa, then mushroom and zucchini. Lastly add baby sweet corn.
5. Season with fish sauce.
6. Serve hot with rice. Garnish with basil leaves.