These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb. ~ Najwa Zebian A few weeks ago, winter officially set in with snow drifts and cold snaps across most of the Northern hemisphere. Here, hovering by the equator, I was trying to shed the pounds that has lovingly stuck onto me – stubborn […]
pork
Bakwan Kepiting – Pork and Crab Meatball Soup
Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential. ~Winston Churchill I confess mine is not the modern family which has the luxury of planning meals in advance? Let’s just say ‘it’s an ongoing endeavor’. However, Bakwan Kepiting will taste oh-so-much-better with some preparation ahead of time, I promise you. It will also save you a bunch of time. […]
Braised Pork Ribs with Black Beans and Bitter Melon
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau Bitter melon, also called bitter gourd, is a green-colored, tropical fruit with a waxy skin. Its slightly bitter taste can be discouraging to some but recipes usually include ingredients and sauces to offset the sharpness, resulting in a rather unique taste. Recently an old friend, J, mentioned […]
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Siu Mai Dumplings
“Never judge a Siu Mai by its wrapper.” ~ DIM SUM SERIES ~ Dim Sum (think ‘Chinese tapas’) restaurants are easy to find here in the Bay Area. However, good ones are another thing. They are but a handful, their credibility constantly reinforced by the ever-growing lines and wait times every weekend. True to Hong Kong dim […]
Taiwanese Gua Bao 刮包 (Braised Pork Belly)
“Sweet and salty, creamy and bouncy, tart and sour, sweet and salty again.” ~ TAIWAN STREET FOOD SERIES – Part 3 ~ Few things beat waking up to the warming, intoxicating scent of braised pork belly cooking on the stove. The dish was often made the day before it was meant to be eaten, usually a […]
Taiwanese Ground Pork Rice 卤肉饭
If you’re going to eat pork, eat it till your mouth drips. ~ Yiddish proverb ~ TAIWAN STREET FOOD SERIES – Part 2 ~ The last time we married east and west over a bucket of Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken amidst the drama of English aristocracy. Today we continue bringing the tastes of Taiwan street food into our homes in California. […]
Singapore Hokkien Mee (Noodle)
A uniquely Singaporean noodle in celebration of Singapore’s National Day. We are a few days away from Singapore’s National Day. As a schoolgirl, I looked forward to this day. I wish I could say, “for patriotic reasons”. The reality was more pragmatic: It meant we could have ‘an excursion’; this referred to a field trip taken during a school day. […]
Braised Pork Belly 扣肉
Spices and soy sauces turn this versatile meat into a tender and aromatic dish that melts in the mouth. There is some version of a pork belly recipe on just about every continent and in every cuisine. Maybe not in Arctic and Antarctica, unless pigs fly… and have thick fur. Until then, we have crispy pork belly, roasted pork […]
Steamed Tofu with Ground Pork and Gogi Berries
Tofu – the ‘miracle’ source of protein from soy that has zero fat and low in calories. Depending on what texture you are seeking, there are silken, soft, firm, rough versions and a slew more in between. There are fresh, fermented, fried, pickled ones to suit different needs. For all its versatility, tofu has only […]
Braised Eggplant and Ground Pork
Plump, firm, bright purple in colour – ‘Eggplant’ as it is widely known here in America, commonly called ‘Aubergine’ in Europe, and liltingly called ‘Brinjal’ in my homeland in South-East Asia, is rather bitter when raw but easily absorbs flavours used in the cooking process. Its versatility is evidenced by its widespread use in varying cuisines around the world, using a […]