Minced Pork and Century Egg porridge

Porridge is not my darling favourite. However my Kwai G and son do eat porridge. Since my Kwai G was not feeling well, I cooked this minced pork and century egg porridge for him. I did this at night and so the next morning they can have a yummy breakfast.

Ingredients
1 cup of rice
150g minced pork
2 slices of ginger
10 dried scallops
2 dried oysters (optional)
3 tbsp dried anchovies (ikan bilis)
1 century egg (cut to small pieces - optional)
1/2 or 1 salted egg - depending how salty you want (boiled and cut to small pieces - optional)
- chopped spring onion for garnishing (optional)
- fried shallots for garnishing (optional)

Marinate for minced pork
1 tbsp light soya sauce
1 tsp corn starch
1 tsp sesame oil
pepper

Steps
1) Wash the anchovies and bring to a boil with 12 cups of water and then reduce heat to low and simmer for 15mins. Sieve the anchovies soup.
2) Add washed rice, ginger, dried scallops, dried oysters and the anchovies soup into the slow cooker. Turn to auto.  (If not using a slow cooker, bring to a boil in the pot.  Leave the lid partially open and reduce heat to low.  Keep stirring the bottom of the pot every now and then to prevent the rice sticking to the bottom. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes)
3) Marinate the mince pork and put it in the fridge (If not cooking overnight, then marinate it for 10mins)
4) Put in the marinated minced pork for about 6 to 10minutes before serving.
5) Garnish with chopped spring onions and fried shallots.

Home made nuggets

My little girl likes to eat chicken nuggets at fast food restaurant. So I thought why not do some breakfast with home made nuggets?  This is my first time making this and she said it's yummy like french fries.  Am happy :)

Ingredients
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 or 2 teaspoon garlic salt 
black pepper
2 skinless chicken breasts (cut into small bite sized pieces)
1 egg
Vegetable oil

Steps:
1) Place flour in a resealable plastic bag and season with the garlic salt and pepper.
2) Place the chicken pieces in the bag with the flour and toss to coat (work in batches).
3) Whisk the egg and 1 tablespoon water in a bowl - add in some salt & pepper here too.
4) Remove the chicken from the flour, dip in the egg mixture one by one.
5) Heat up the oil over medium-high heat.
6) Cook the chicken till brown on each side, about 8 minutes in total.
7) Transfer to the paper-towel lined plate

You may try one piece first to check out the saltiness and if not enough, add on salt in the whisked egg.  Serve it with Tomato sauce! My gal like it this way  

For crunchy crust, you can dip in flour, beaten egg, then finely crushed cream crackers or cornflakes.  

5 Ways to Clear the Air & Stay Healthy

Airborne chemicals are embedded inside our homes. They swirl around us as toxic gases emitted from the poorly labeled bottles of cleaning fluids in our kitchens and bathrooms, from the bug sprays and air fresheners we use, and from the glues, sealants, and flame retardants in our furniture. They are also dragged inside our homes on the bottoms of our shoes and then stirred up when we walk on our carpets.

5 ways to reduce Toxins by clearing the air
Remove your shoes at the front door. Shoes track in lead, pesticides and other pollutants. Stuff we track in from the outside can make our home toxic, especially for pets and young children who spend more time on the floor. At the very least get a good doormat to wipe your shoes before entering your home.

Vacuum with a well-sealed high quality HEPA vacuum cleaner. This can do a much better job of cleaning your carpets than the cheaper vacuum cleaners found at most department stores. Steam cleaning can kill dust mites and bacteria as well.

Avoid buying new upholstered furniture containing halogenated fire retardants. If it contains polyurethane foam, look for models where the foam is thickly covered or wrapped inside the cushion so dust from it is less likely to escape into your home. See if they offer non-toxic stain resistant fabrics as well.

Use an air purifier. Try one with HEPA (High Efficiency Particle Arresting) technology developed by the US Atomic Energy Commission to filter and trap sub-micron particles. Many reviews say this type of air purifier is the most effective.

Add house plants to green and purify your living space. A NASA study found that common house plants are natural air purifiers. Look for Aloe Vera, Philodendron, Rubber Plant, English Ivy, Ficus, Boston Fern, Gerbera Daisy, and Spider Plant, to name a few.

Article extracted from - Care2
For more information, log on to http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-ways-to-clear-the-air-stay-healthy.html#ixzz1tg49D3Mz

Benefits of Ginger

1. Ginger has carminative properties (anti spasmic) and can be used to calm in upset stomach, providing relief for the relief of bloating and gas.

2.The intake of ginger helps stimulate the secretion of mucus, quieting your cough and soothing any    scratchiness I your throat.

3.Ginger has been proven (in multiple studies) to treat feelings of nausea, particularly in the form of seasickness, morning sickness, motion sickness and as a side effect of chemotherapy.

4.Ginger contains anti viral, anti toxic, and anti fungal properties, and is used for the prevention of and treatment against the common cold.

5.Ginger acts as an antihistamine and aids in the treatment of allergies.

6.Ginger displays anti inflammatory properties and can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and various other muscular disorders. The chemical components of the root are instrumental in inhibiting the biosynthesis of prostaglandins which are responsible for causing inflammation. Thus the root has proven to be a highly effective form of treatment, in some cases, even more so than the NSAID's that are traditionally prescribed.

7.Ginger contains special enzymes responsible for catalyzing the proteins in your food, thus aiding in digestion and the prevention of cramps. The ancient Greeks used to eat ginger after a large meal in order to ease the digestion process.

8.Due to its promotion of mucus secretion, ginger protects against the development of ulcers, unwanted holes in the lining of your stomach.

9.Ginger has proven to help lower your cholesterol levels and prevent the formation of blood clots.

10.Ginger is often used to settle an upset stomach or treat severe stomach ailments such as dyspepsia or colic. It is frequently used today in developing countries to treat diarrhea.

Article extracted from - Hubpages
For more information, please log on to http://annetterozen.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Health-Benefits-of-Ginger

Fish Oil Dangers: Getting to the Truth About this Popular Supplement

What are the dangers?

While the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil are indeed beneficial, it all boils down to how YOUR body metabolizes these supplements. You see, studies have shown that mammals (of which you and I are included) who eat large amounts of oily fish (the types used to produce fish oil supplements) the vast majority of the fish oils become rapidly oxidized in the body’s tissue.
When this high level of oxidation occurs, cancer mortality rates significantly skyrocket. All it takes for your body to start on this dangerous process is for you to increase your fish oil intake and maintain a normal level of Vitamin E in your system. This is one of the extreme fish oil dangers that the experts just don’t take the time to tell you about.

Your Alternative

While fish oils certainly aren’t the greatest nutritional evil in the world, their reputation as being a cure-all for the entire world is certainly doing much more harm than good. If you want to increase the healthy levels of Omega-3 oils in your diet, try adding some cold pressed, organic flax seed oil, instead of toeing the company line and cramming more fish oil caps down your throat. This is a sure-fire way to avoid the very real fish oil dangers that we’ve been discussing.

Article extracted from - Buzzwell
For more information, log on to http://www.bewellbuzz.com/nutrition/fish-oil-dangers-truth-popular-supplement/

LIFE BOOK

It's been a long time since I update my blog after moving to Singapore.  Life has been busy with settling down, packing, unpacking, doing registration for my daughter's primary school, cooking, cleaning, washing, waking up early, picking her from school, working...and so on and so forth. Being a mom is a 24 hours job as a teacher, friend, nurse, lecturer, maid, ..... and the list goes on.

Spending time to write my blog, will be the last in my priority list already.  Yes, priority needs to be changed as time goes by.. and it has been changed to spending more time with my daughter.  I love to spend time with her, especially when we do arts & crafts together.  I feel so much relax and happy when we paint a picture together.

After going through a lot of ups and downs in life, I know that we have to appreciate and be happy with what we have in life.  Always thank GOD for whatever we are having and try to make the best out of it.

Wealthy life is not just by having a lot of money but also having a good health and a quality time for yourselves and your family.  Try and live by this code. And you will be a happier and richer person!!

LIFE BOOK  (not sure who is the writer of this but it's a good one to read and follow by us)

Health:

1.    Drink plenty of water
2.    Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
3.    Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants (factories)
4.    Live with the 3 Es -- Energy,  Enthusiasm, and Empathy
5.    Make time for prayer
6.    Play more games
7.    Read more books than you did last year
8.    Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9.    Sleep for 7 hours
10.  Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day - and while you walk,  SMILE!

Personality:

11.  Don't compare your life to others. 'You have no idea what their journey is all about'.
12.  Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.  Don't over do; keep to your limits
14.  Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does
15.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
16.  Dream more while you are awake
17.  Envy is a waste of time.  You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.  Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20.  Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present or future
21.  No one is in charge of your happiness except you
22.  Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.  Smile and Laugh more
24.  You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Community:

25. Call your family often
26.  Do a random act of kindness without expecting anything in return
27.  Forgive everyone for everything
28.  Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the  age of 6
29.  Try to make at least three people smile each day
30.  What other people think of you is none of your business
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32.  Do the right things
33.  Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
34.  GOD heals everything
35.  However good or bad a situation is, it will change. Nothing stays the same for ever.
Everything is subject to change. Change is unavoidable
36.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up !
37.  The best is yet to come
38.  When you awake up alive in the morning, thank GOD for it
39.  Your Inner most self is always happy. So, be HAPPY!

Home Cooked Bak Kut Teh

Mom bought 2 packets of this Wonderful Bak Kut Teh (Herbal Soup Spices) for me to bring over to Singapore, so that I can have home cook soup.   So here it is my home cooked Bak Kut Teh in the morning and I put it in the magic pot to cook till am back from movie.  We went and watched "Bridesmaid" movie and it was such a funny and meaningful movie for best friends.. and it's forever!!  Only best friends know the best of you and I do agree.  Miss my best friend in Malaysia! and of course all my friends there too.  Personally I have a lot of friends and I hope to keep contact with each and everyone of them, but it's not easy.. anyway, I'll try my best.  With facebook now, it's easier to say hi to them and see what and where they have been and doing.

Okay, here is the ingredients used for my Bak Kut Teh.


1 pack of Wonderful Bak Kut Teh pack (Herbal Soup Spices) 
or you may try this: Starflower Brand “Pure Bak Kut Teh Spices” 
1kg Pork Loin and prime ribs (I only use 0.5kg)
200 gm whole garlic (I use 2 here and do not peel but just wash it clean)
some salt (to rub on the meat)
4 tablespoon light soya sauce
1/2 tablespoon dark soya sauce


Optional:
6 taufu puff (taufu bok)
1 fried beancurd stick
6 chinese mushrooms
1 pack of enoki mushrooms (Kam cham ku)
1 lettuce (here I used baby romaine and you can use any vegetables that you like)
a small handful of wolfberries (kei chi)
a small handful of tong sum (refer to photo)


Condiments: Fresh raw garlic with chilli padi in soya sauce

Steps:
1. Prepare 1kg of meat (marinate with some salt for 10 minutes and rince with hot water).
2. Add Wonderful spices, garlic, wolfberries and tong sum to 3.5 litre of hot water and boil for 20 minutes.
3. Add the meat and simmer for another 1 hour.
4. Add 4 tablespoon light soya sauce, 1/2 tablespoon dark soya sauce and the rest of ingredients. 
5. Boil till all ingredients are cooked.