Vegetarian buddhas delite

tonite dinner is spinach wantan noodle n buddhas delite.there are 22 ingredients,not 18 arahants coz some newcarahants like thich nhat hanh n ajarn chah joined the list.the sauce is red fefmented vean curd n white fermented bean curd.i gonna add red yeast rice lees.the black moss looks creepy like human hair.the rest are dried lily bulbs,wood ear fungus,snow fungus,gingko nuts,straw,enoki,oyster,shitake n button mushrooms,sweet bean curd sheet,glass noodles,napa cabbage,sweet peas,carrots n corn,arrowhead root,goji berry.so much work to prepare but my favourite dish.prep ingredients take one and a half hours.somw are soaked ,some need to deep fry like fuchok.then cooking takes two hours as i wait for harder ingredients to braise n soften before adding softer onws like vermicelli n black moss.qhen you eat the individual texture comes out.

Home is where the heart is

No food wastage

just cooked enough for reunion dinner with no leftovers.yippy.i hate eating leftovers.so for xmas eve n new year reunion,i plan just enough food.now i cook one meat,one vegetable n one soup for the first day of new year.dont throw away any leftover food.with prices so high,its wrong to throw away food having stir fried kale with chinese sausage,white perch in buttermilk sauce,foo yong crab mwat n bean sprouts,chinese oolong tea n tang yuen black sesame in lemon grass n ginger.sis is salivating.im so tired as i havent filled empty red packets,mop the floor and prepare ingredients to cook tomorrows buddhas delite or lohan chai.jun is going to send sis home n go the temple to pray for good wishes n see his romantic prospect or peach blossom luck next year.mom used to take us every year to chinese temple but im not in mood as backache is bad.i need to bake bread n cook vegetarian food tonite

LUNAR New Year Reunion dinner

Phew we just had a big feast for reunion dinner.my elder er jia came over to help me cook.we cooked six dishes like steam fish,steam prawn,mini abalone in truffle sauce,stir fried sabah scallops w brocolli,stir fried asparagus clam with fish maw and black moss with lettuce and yee sang rainbow salad with smoked salmon n marinated hotate lips.then we ate dessert i made earlier n pomelo fruit.the dinner was relaxing as my niece n nephew helped to wash up n i used disposable cups,plates,bowls n cutlery.less things to wash up.my niece love the osmanthus jelly.my sis liked the clams n fish maw .i used imported lee kam kee oyster sauce from hong kong.im so full now.

A han cakes sold out

home baked cookies sold out.this year business is good.cookies n biscuits sold out.long queue at bakkwa shop weng cheong.must warn cookie monster not to eat all my biscuits.even red chilli n pomelo sold out at wet markets.so tiring run everywhere.my healthy china dates stuffed with walnut sold out too

Health is true wealth

last nite jun won a cash prize at a lucky draw.instead of claiming it,he asked them to donate the money to a charity of his choice.im proud he realises health n harmony are true wealth.we are all healthy to eat together in reunion dinner tho younger bro n sis families are overseas n cant come home.still we enjoy good food for reunion.compared to the disharmony in my in laws family n not hosting reunion with the siblings,we the chans have put aside differences to eat together.thats the value mom taught,the family stays together thro good or bad times.dont let petty differences tear us apart.its a pity that harmony and peace is not maintained "ga wo man si hing " when the family is in harmony,a million things will prosper

Get ready welcome the new year

Banana hoen kwe

i cooked a banana jackfruit hoen kwe for desssert for new year reunion dinner.hown hwe is indonesian chinese dessert made of mung bean flour but south east asian using coconut milk,banana n jackfruit.

Big kid

i m still playful like a kid.fooling around with my new year toys n getting thrilled by the tiger and dancing lion.one is a japanese lion n the other chinese lion.i wonder if balinese barong dance is a lion or not.wish i can play fireworks again.i miss the firecrackers n sparklers of new year as its so merry to make noise.

Stock up early

inflation is reducing our purchasing power.bought locally sourced fish maw,fish,sea cucumber ,scallops,prawns from sabah,pulau ketam n kuala selangor a month ago.ration each diner eat one mini abalone and one shrimp.buy local kai lan not hong kong vege n buy just enough waxed meat to cook one meal of claypot rice. even dried shitake i buy china ones,not japan coz too costly .if the govt increase electricity next month,the middle n low classes sure tak boleh cari makan coz inflation will shoot up due to electricity rise or petrol rise.if election,the rakyat will condemn Barang Naik n sure state election the Barang Naik gang will suffer defeat.now i may use oil in plastic bags to reduce cost.i havent deep fry food in decades cos its unhealthy n use too much oil.i dont understand how cooking oil can naik if we produce palm oil.i also buy less mandarin oramges n bake my own cakes as gifts for cny.

Sun bird

lucky new year.shot a picof sunbird

Safety in kitchen

its cheaper to use gas to cook but more dangerous.the rented condo opposite mine had gas explosion in kitchen.now im wary n use induction cooker as less risk of getting burns on gas flames or risk explosion when i forget switch off gas knob. now i even wear rubber sole slippers in wet kitchen.the kitchen is a risky place for elderly coz we risk falls,burn n cuts.cooking is blood,sweat n tears.

Chinese in south east asia

in vietnam,ethnic chinese make up 1 million,in thailand they comprise 6 to 9 million.in malaysia and indonesia they make up 7 million.so what they have in common as hua qiao is their ability to be multicultural n speak multiple languages n adapt to the food n customs of their country of residence.the love of food n common customs unite them from celebrating lunar new year,lion dance ,eating nien gao n roast pork to giving lai see.that is a huge market for china to tap into to export waxed meat,mandarin oranges,lychee and chinese tea.

Life is magic

life is like a magical wand.if you are patient,things will turn out well.i like the bright sunshine n i discovered wild fragrant pigeon orchids on a tree.magical it was blooming.

Dont worry be happy

smile be happy