Paprika Arrowhead Chips 辣脆慈菇片

Chinese New Year is just slightly over a month from now and it's the time of the year that you can find Arrowhead (慈菇) or Ngaku.

As usual, I couldn't resist buying them when I saw them in the market especially when they were a lot bigger than it was last year.

I made some Arrowhead Chips but this time, I seasoned the chips with Paprika and some Ground Black Pepper for a twist.

I'm going to experiment making the chips in other flavours. Keeping my fingers crossed that they will be edible.

Pork Ribs in Plum Sauce 排骨梅子酱

Not too long ago, I went to the supermarket to get Hoisin Sauce but grab the Plum Sauce instead. I only realised my mistake when I got home. Hence, I used it as a dipping sauce when I buy roasted duck.

At the rate I'm using it, I know it will end up in the bin when it expired, Not wanting to waste it, I experiment it with one of my rib dish and it went really well.

Ingredients:

• 500g Pork Ribs
• Salt to taste

Marinade:

• 1 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Chinese Cooking Wine
• 1 tablespoon Corn Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Power or 1 teaspoon grated garlic

Sauce to mix well:

• 2 tablespoon Plum Sauce
• 1 tablespoon Tomato Sauce
• 2 tablespoon Sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon Water
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce

How to do it:

1. Marinate pork ribs with marinade for 30 minutes.
2. Deep fry the ribs for about 5 minutes or 80% done.
3. Drain and set aside.
4. Heat the sauce in a wok.
5. Add in the rib.
6. Mix the rib well with the sauce.
7. Toss well till the sauce thicken and ribs are completed cooked.
8. Season with salt.
9. Dish and serve.

Cordyceps Militaris Chicken Soup 虫草花炖鸡汤

I had Cordyceps Sinensis 冬虫夏草 regularly when I was pregnant with my first child. And of course I want to do the same when I'm pregnant with my second child. However the price for Cordyceps Sinensis 冬虫夏草 has rose to a extorted price. Then I was introduced to Cordyceps Militaris 虫草花.

It has similar medicinal value to Cordyceps Sinensis 冬虫夏草 though not of comparable strength but the price of Cordyceps Militaris 虫草花 is also only a small fraction of the Cordyceps Sinensis too.

Logically, it is more effective to take  Cordyceps Militaris 虫草花 regularly then to take Cordyceps Sinensis 冬虫夏草 once a while.

We have since been having Cordyceps Militaris 虫草花 for the pass 6 years. Oh, there isn't much difference in the taste except the soup made using Cordyceps Militaris 虫草花 looks more orange in colour. My daughter called it Orange Soup, by the way. ;)

Ingredients:

• 1 Chicken
• 20g Cordyceps Militaris 虫草花
• 2 tablespoon Wolfberries 枸杞子
• 15 Dried Seedless Red Dates 红枣
• 1.5 liter Water
• Salt to taste

How to do it:

1. Blanch Chicken to remove the scum.
2. Put all ingredients, except wolfberries and salt in a pot.
3. Bring to a boil before reducing to a simmer.
4. Simmer for 3-4 hours.
5. Add wolfberries during the last hour before end of cooking
6. Add salt to taste.

Baked Mussels in Garlic Butter 奶油蒜烤青口

 My husband knows I love mussels so when he saw this pack of mussels when we were (supermarket) shopping, he picked it up for me. The first thing he commented was, "You mean mussels are so cheap?!" Yes, the pack of mussels cost only .... $1! It's small though but I prefer this than the larger one.

I used the Garlic Butter Spread I had in the fridge to make this. If you don't have any, you can substitute it with 4 gloves of grated garlic and 1 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder to 1 1/2 tablespoon of softened butter.

Ingredients:

• 200g Mussels, washed & cleaned
• 3 clove Garlic, chopped
• 1 1/2 tbsp Garlic Butter Spread
• 1 teaspoon Dried Mixed Herbs
• 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
• A pinch of Salt
• A dash of Ground Black Pepper

How to do it:

1. Mix all ingredients except Mussels, salt and ground black pepper together.
2. Combine butter mix with mussels. 
3. Season with salt and ground black pepper.
4. Bake in oven at 200C for 15 - 20 minutes or till all mussels are cooked.
5. Serve immediately.