On the Grill : slow roast pork

This easy and delicious roast wins thumbs up for Christmas entertaining and gathering with family and friends.

Score fat of a few three layer pork belly. Marinate uncut pieces of for at least 2 hours with salt, pepper and good quality vinegar (dark or distilled) or lime juice. Toss over to ensure even distribution of marinade.

Preheat oven at 250 C fan force or set on level 1 grill.

Place fat layer facing upwards on a grill plate. Cook for 20 - 30 minutes till the meat sizzles and crackles but before it turns brown.

Turn down the heat to 200 C without fan and roast for another 30 minutes.

Let the meat rest for 10 minutes before cutting into bit sizes.

Prepare apple sauce or sweet vinegar soy dipping sauce.

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Fuzhou Peaceful Swallow Meat Dumpling Wanton Soup - Rou Yan Pi Recipe

Fancy finding dry yanpi skin made of pork and flour in the suburbs in Australia. It is akin to searching for an oasis in the desert. Count myself lucky to bump into an groceries importer and supplier.

Only in China and some Southeast Asian countries would you have an opportunity to try this home cooked dish, and only if you have good friends who are willing to make the speciality and even share the recipe with you.

Though it was a long time ago but the flavours still linger in your memories, gladly to be revived. A nostalgic trip down memory lane.

This shop named "Tong Li" in Fuzhou city sells traditional "rouyan" (meat swallow)

Here's how we make it at home?

INGREDIENTS

Yanpi : swallow skin made from ground lean pork, potato and flour, rolled into flat sheets and dried in the sun.

Filling : Fish paste, Prawn (peeled), Minced pork,
Water Chestnut

Seasoning : soy sauce, grated ginger, pepper.

Soup : chicken stock, seaweed, fuzhou fish balls stuffed with minced pork.

STEPS

1. Prepare filling using fish fillet, marbled loin pork (wuhua rou), dried shrimp and Chinese celery.

2. Mince the ingredients. You could either pound with a mortar and pestle, chop using a cleaver or simply blend everything in a food processor.

3. Season with soy sauce, pepper, ginger juice and sugar.

4. Cut yanpi sheets into 2 inch square. (Nowadays, some manufacturers make ready cut yanpi in wanton skin sizes)

5. Place a small amount of filling at the centre of a yanpi square. Hold in one palm and fold inwards to create the shape of a flower or pouch, commonly called "little everlasting spring".

6. Put into boiling water and maintain at medium heat.

7. Boil chicken stock and cook seaweed, coriander, seasame oil, beaten chicken or duck egg.

8. Add cooked yanpi wanton. Heat up briefly and turn off the heat. Ready to be served.

You may be interested in checking out other types of wanton too :
http://homecooksecrets.blogspot.com/2010/07/different-types-of-wanton-dumplings.html

XO Seafood Fried Rice

We all had third helpings. That's how yummy this spicy seafood fried rice was.

Ingredients :

- Seafood : yabbies (or prawn) deshelled.
I added leftover oyster omelette to add flavour to the stir fry.

For recipe, please refer to : http://homecooksecrets.blogspot.com/2009/10/oyster-egg-pancake-chaozhou-style.html

- Vegetables : asparagus spears, carrot, mushroom.

- Egg, diced onion (optional)

- Seasoning : soy sauce, salt, pepper, oyster sauce and XO sauce (preferably Lee Kum Kee as it is more concentrated and packed with dried scallops and shrimp with no fishy after taste). Sambal chilli and roast chilli paste can be added for a more spicy version.

- Garnishing : spring onion, cucumber, garlic and onion crisps.

To Cook :

1. Heat oil and fry garlic and shallots. Remove and drain. Do not burn.

2. Fry prawn and asparagus. Add XO sauce and mix well.

3. Mix warmed rice with salt.

4. Fry omelette separately and set aside. Add to the rice when ready.

5. Dish up and serve with garnishing.

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Kaohsiung Food Show - preview of Taiwanese food

The Kaoshiung Food Show is coming to Sydney in early November!

Taiwan is a matured industrialised economy which has built a reputation for quality control of its products. It has captured many exotic tastes from southern Chinese provincial foods in convenient packaging. Many are available in grocery stores all over the world for seasoned foodies and the adventurous.

Here's a sneak preview of some interesting foods from their website which look tasty and titillating. You may want to check out the Kaoshiung food fair when it comes to Sydney and tour of the world. Very handy for home cooks which love to replicate traditional dishes at home with minimal preparation and fuss.

http://www.foodkh.com.tw/en_US/index.html

Aloe Vera paste for vegetables.
XO scallop sauce.
Spicy sauce for noodles.
BBQ / Teppanyaki marinade.
Golden sesame paste.

Red Soy sauce.

Black bean sauce.

Tea leaves.

Taiwanese companies also have product line of sauces for European cuisines. Many Taiwanese have either studied or worked in other countries.

E.g., Italian pasta sauce, peanut butter, garlic mince for bread.

Yummy ...

Registration is required for entry. You may have to show trade or professional credentials. For more information contact : sydney@taitra.org.tw

Food Brighter Vision - halt macular degeneration - Greens, Fish, Nuts, Goji, Flowers

Macular degeneration (MD) affects one in seven persons over the age of 50 in Australia. While the reduction of vision is gradual, it can lead to blindness if not arrested in time.

Younger mypoic teens and adults are not spared. Macular endema which has simlar symptoms to MD can cause vision impairment if they persist to ignore or put up with the symptoms.

The good news is : the risk of developing MD and losing vision can be reduced if one follows a diet that is rich in certain classes of foods.

1. Fish oil
2. Green leafy vegetables
3. Nuts
4. Fresh fruits
5. Lucetin, zeaxanthin and carocarotenoids

Refrain from taking food laden with saturated fats (that includes margarine).

And most importantly, abandon smoking and sedantary lifestyle.
Ensure adequate protection of the eyes and face from sunlight and glare.

What the eye medical specialist and researchers recommend

* The views of opthamologists and consultants whom I've consulted.

* Information as shown on Australian TV Channel 7 two months ago featuring research findings and interviews with medical experts and patients.

Rather than dictate what and how much to eat, it is much easier to make slight modifications to our habits to improve eye health.

INCREASE INTAKE :

Spinach and silver beet are rich sources of lutein. It is important to diversify types of vegetable intake and include some green leafy vegetables at least twice a week.

Steam sweet corn is especially good for protection against M.D. It is a much better substitute to instant noodles or snacking on cookies.

Eat more : multigrains, muesli, oat bran, wheat germ and nuts.
Brazil nuts are said to be most beneficial for macular health. Almonds and cashew are good too.

Traditional herbal and Chinese remedies

Goji berries (枸杞子 Chinese wolfberries or Fructus Lycii) contains antioxidant compounds including zeaxanthin. Cone cells that affect the clarity of central vision, have a high concentration of zeaxanthin.

In TCM, goji is considered a tonic for the kidney which is believed to have a direct impact on eye conditions.

RECIPE

1. Put dried chrystanthemum flowers into a stainless steel tea ball.

2. Wash under running tap water for a few seconds. Tilt and drain the water away but do not open the teaball. Place gently into a tea pot.

3. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons washed goji berries into the bottom of the teapot.

4. Bring distilled water to the boil in a kettle.

5. Pour boiled water into the teapot and let the flowers steep for at least five minutes. The hot water will plump the goji berries which will exude a light fragrance that blends harmoniously with the flower scent.

6. When slightly cooled, pour into tea cup and enjoy.

Honeysuckle flowers are said to be good too but I have yet to research on this remedy.

I followed this chrysanthemum goji tea regimen for two weeks on a daily basis (in addition to adhering strictly to the above five classes of foods and the dos and don'ts). Without any active medical treatment safe for moisturising eyedrops, I had to rely on whatever dietary remedies at my disposal. Fortunately, I was certified to have recovered completely after six weeks by a renowned opthamologist. Of course, this is only a personal experience and may not work for everyone.

If you have symptoms of centre vision blurring, please consult a medical practioner or optometrist as soon as possible and seek more specialised expertise if necessary. Patients with positive prognosis normally take 3 to 4 weeks for complete recovery. Others may take longer or conditions may even deteriorate.

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