Drunken Dong Guai steam chicken

Tired of thinking how to cook chicken? What sauce to use, what method to cook....how if we go back to the old time favorite, steam chicken. Be frank, I don't really enjoy steam chicken. That's why I try to give it a twist. This is my first time in my life to cook steam chicken, and it turns out very tasty. It's not possible to let you try my drunken Dong Guai chicken, however, I can let you try your luck with my easy peasy recipe.Recipe

Ingredients :
1. one whole chicken. ideal size will be 1.2-1.5kg.
2. some herbs like Dong Guai, Dang Shen, Huang Chi, Kei Ji, as well as red dates. (if you are not good in this, just use ready pack herbs will do)


Methods:
1. clean chicken thoroughly without removing its skin. set aside.
2. boil herbs for around 20mins in medium flame.
3. turn to high flame before put in the chicken. chicken breast facing up.
4. after 5mins or when water is boiling, turn back to medium flame, simmer for 20mins.
5. off your stove and let it stand for another 10mins.
6. rub salt thoroughly on chicken, pick out Dong Guai from soup and try to put it under chicken skin.
7. lastly, rub wine (Shao Xing) on chicken.

You can keep it in fridge and take out after few days. I can't. I served this for dinner. :-)

how to raise a calm child?

Many of time, mothers always seeking ways to keep their young one calming down; either drawing, reading or playing for longer time. The restless tods always torn their mothers apart towards end of the day. It's like a never-ending battles until the tods is old enough to attend nursery. However, sending kids to nursery may not solved the chaos forever as you still have to face them in the evening, or the worse is during weekend.

In fact, to have an enjoyable parenthood, mothers should adopt ways to raise a calm child even they are just months old. Not to forget, baby will become toddler in split second and their energy level will double or triple up. Mothers will find themselves wishing their young one still a baby. No running restlessly, no shouting, no temper tantrums, no fighting among siblings. Always wishing a peaceful evening, especially working moms.

Kids are generally energetic. If you can deplete their energy level by half, you will be able to have an hour or two of peaceful mind. I strongly believe kids should enjoy physical workouts in daily basis (if possible). Even half an hour of fun time in your nearby field or playground or your apartment swimming pool can improve their concentration as well as appetite. If the workout is carry out in the evening, you will find it easier to put them to bed.




*having fun in Penang Botanical Garden & swimming pool at Sunrise Garden.



*exploring & learning botany in my apartment's playground.

Spending some effort to guide them drawing, coloring or doing artwork. Normally, artworks, reading or watching educational dvd will keep them occupy without creating much mess to your living space. Designated an area for these activities and keep all related stuff in that area.



*invest in a variety of color papers, scissors, stick glue, color pencils as well as a simple drawing guide; they will have fun for at least one hour. You can help to collect used wrapping, packaging or promotion booklet from supermarket. Then give them a topic to work on, like "you are going to invite some friends to your house. What are the food or toys you would like to get ready? Cut them out or draw in this blank paper. "

*invest in board games like scrabble (for older kids), art puzzle (like the one in above photo), or a good set of Lego.

*invest in educational dvd, like nursery rhymes, Barney, Dora, or the expensive but highly effective one -- Magic Englis, with interesting & fun filled learning modules in total 25 dvd. The original set shall comes with 25 hard cover books & perhaps free Barney story books as free gifts. (kiddos are so lucky that their aunty has a complete set of Magic English kept at my bookshelf)

long time you didn't cook "lobak"

During dinner, suddenly Ian asked "mommy, long time you didn't cook lobak"
"hmm...."
"Why? I remember last time you cook few times before"

uh oh, how come kids nowadays so demanding.....(sigh)
"Why? when can you make lobak again? Long time I didn't eat lobak"
"well, it requires a lot of works to make lobak."

**you must be wondering what is lobak. those from northern state should know. :-)
lobak actually is 滷肉条. But in southern part, they call it 五香.

"really?"
"yeah, nowadays with no maid, it's quite hard for me to do it. Last time kakak help me out."
"ok then." (phew....relief)
"since you say it's difficult, can you tell me the steps?"
(eyes popping out >____<)

I can't think of an excuse to not telling him the steps. However, I try to emphasize how tedious the steps are. But to him, it seems like nothing much. He just nod his head as if the steps are simple to him.

After finished explaining, he asked "ok, when can you make it?" @.@

you know, school holiday can be very fun (part I)

school holiday is over but my articles still sitting in draft box. :-p


The long awaited school holiday is finally here. We went back to mom's hometown for a month. My dad joined us for 5 days.

Our very first exploration is Sabah Museum.

RM2 per entry (f.o.c for kids below 12)

We invited my little aunt (mom youngest cousin) to join us.

We are not allowed to take photo inside the museum. Thus, I can only snap exterior photos.

After visited the museum, watched documentary about the state below wind. We posed for more photos, and walked through a hanging bridge that led to traditional houses.

Yvaine enters new stage of life

Yvaine is getting more cheeky and talkative since this school holiday. she will try to make up her own story without any main points. I think she is trying to mimic her brother whom she think is the ideal role model. She always starts her story with the same line "mummy, I want to tell you a story..." (copy & paste from her bro)

"ok ah, here is my story..... This afternoon, I took my nap. Then I wake up, so blur."
huh, why? what happened?
"ya, I'm blur. Not dreaming. just blur only"
>_< ok. So, this is your story?
Happily, she say "yes"

@she makes me recall Ian's riddle. *What does the triangle says to oval? "you are so pointless" *

This evening, they were playing Lego while I was in the kitchen preparing dinner. I overheard below funny conversations from kitchen.

I : Yvaine, bring me light green. This shape.
Y : Ok! (after some time, diligently digging from the container) I can't find light green.
I: then green la. Why you can't find light green?
Y : I think finish.
I : heiyo, let me see. If I can find. ..(he must have thinking very hard how to threaten her)
I : nah, this is not green ah! still telling me don't have.
Y : but this is not light green.
I : light green and dark green both consider green (sound impatient)
**** then both silent.......

out of sudden........
"hoooiiiii, why you take my blocks without permissions!"
I : POLICE!!!! someone steal my blocks.
(guess what was Yvaine's reaction. I can't stop laughing)
Y : huh, police ah. ok, beng, beng, beng....... done!
I : you cannot take this.
Y : but I want this
I : If you want to take something from me, you must ask for permission.
Y : ok. koko, can I take this?
I : CANNOT
Y : but you say ask first?
I : ya, then my answer is CANNOT.
** poor girl.

still they are playing happily and enjoy each other company.

tips to parents : try not to interfere when your kids are playing. This is how they learn ways to deal with their siblings as well as their friends in later years.

time flies

It was like few months ago we brought Ian to register on his 1st day of school at Kuo Kuang 2. Now, he has completed his standard 1. Can't imagine how fast time flies. 11 months just gone in a split seconds.

He is no longer blur boy as he can convey his teachers' message clearly. No longer confused with time. Sometimes I tried to recall how about my standard 1? It seems too far for me to recall. When I turn demanding, I always asked myself "Can I do this when I was at his age?" I supposed I'm still learning writing the basic mandarin, whereby he already able to make sentences.

Yummy tortillas

Remember the curry chicken filling? I intended to bake more puff but I can't find the frozen pastry skin in Carrefour. So, I ended up buying tortillas.

Well, for a change, we have tortillas for dinner. I fried egg crepe (with spring onion inside), washed some lettuce and cut Japanese cucumber into stick. I added a piece of cheese to enhance the satisfaction.

*my neighbour passed me a bowl of chicken curry. I was thinking to include in my tortilla. After rolled in all my own ingredients, I found the portion just perfect.

Today, on his way back from school, Ian asked "are we going to have tortorli for dinner" I LOL LOL....
Then, he tried again. "Oh, is it tartarli?" I just can't stop laughing.