Chinese Fish Maw Soup #SundaySupper

Happy Sunday and Happy Yuanxiao Festival!  The traditional Chinese Yuanxioa Festival is celebrated on the 15^th day of the first lunar month.  Because the first lunar month is also called "yuan" month; the night of the 15th day of “yuan” month is the first night that the moon gets full; xiao means "night, "so the festival is named Yuanxiao Festival or Shangyuan Festival, Yuanxi Festival or Lantern Festival. 

In Malaysia and Singapore, this day is celebrated by individuals seeking for a love partner, a different version of Valentine’s Day. Normally, single women would write their contact number on mandarin oranges and throw it in a river or a lake while single men would collect them and eat the oranges. The taste is an indication of their possible love: sweet represents a good fate while sour represents a bad fate.  This day often marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities. 

This Sunday our #SundaySupper theme is “Souper Sunday Supper”.  We are required to cook and share a soup recipe to warm up with during a chilly day or any time of the year.  Our hostess for this week is Pam from The Meltaways. 

I took this opportunity share one of the popular soup recipes among the Chinese during this Chinese New Year – The Fish Maw Soup.  There are few types of fish maw in the market – the processed and the unprocessed.  I choose the processed type which means is already fried and ready, that you just need to soak in the water and ready to cook immediately.  I have use chicken broth for the base of this soup and I add in with some Chinese Shao-Hsing wine.  The other ingredients are mushrooms and I have used two types of mushrooms – the shitake mushrooms and straw mushrooms (in can form) which are perfect for this soup.  For those who love it to be thicker you may add in some cornstarch diluted in some water and lastly a beaten egg to make the soup even smoother, delicious and of course is ideal to warm you up during the cold seasons. 

Shrimp in Szechuan Sauce #Chinese New Year Recipe

Chinese New Year is round the corner, I was busy with this festive preparation.   Shopping, spring cleaning, etc,  but I don't want to miss out to share this recipe to with all of you, as it is perfect for your culinary during this festival.

What have you plan to cook for the coming reunion dinner on the eve?  I am sure shrimp is one of the dishes that you will bring to the reunion dinner's table as its symbolized the "Happiness".   

Today, I wish like to share with you a simple shrimp  recipe - Shrimp in Szechuan Sauce.  I am sure for those who love to add on some spicy taste on the seafood, this recipe will be perfect for you as the sauce is not too spicy and some sweetness in it.  That for the sauce.  What about the shrimps?  I pan-fried it to almost 80% cooked before I add it into to sauce.  This is to prevent the shrimps not over-cooked, so that you could still taste the freshness of the shrimps.  Of course, the crunchiness of the shrimps is important too and let's find out how it goes......

Wish all of you with a Prosperous & Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Old Fashioned Pork Chops #SundaySupper

This weekend #SundaySupper theme is all about "Retro Recipes", to bring back food memories that you had enjoyed during those days.......  It can be from your family members or any others.  I have chosen Old Fashioned Pork Chops.  It wasn't from my home's kitchen but it from a restaurant with classic or retro design that I visited with a bunch of my high school leavers class-mates during the 80's in the city of Kuala Lumpur.  I remembered they serves wonderful Pork Chop.  As we are staying about 40 km away from the city, we spent about an hour plus in a public transport (those days bus) to reach the city for our farewell gathering.

The taste of the pork chop is still fresh in my memory.  The pork chop is pan-fried style instead of deep-frying which was the popular at that time.  Even though the presentation is not that pretty, but when I first bite on the pork chop, I thought I have fallen in love with it, especially the mushrooms gravy on top, it just marvelous.  All of us enjoyed the food and the day very much.  

So, when I see Isabel posted this week event, I thought it was time to go back to old-fashioned cooking method - pan frying pork chop.  I season and coated the pork chops with a thin all purpose flour for about 3 hours, fully covered in the fridge before I fry.  As both me and hubby like half moist chop, its turned out just perfect for us.  My hubby even don't need the gravy and eat them up together with some mix veggies and peas.  As for the preparation - this no-fuss, easy method and you will get a beautifully browned old-fashioned pork chop for weekend or weekday supper.  Enjoy!

Coconut Curry Chicken Soup #SundaySupper 1st Birthday Celebration

Happy New Year to everyone!  I am super excited with this post as its celebrate so many "FIRST":

• The 1st post of the year of 2013
• The 1st post using my brand new kitchen
• The 1st post of #SundaySupper for 2013 and the
• To celebrate the 1st #SundaySupper Birthday

Thank you very much to #SundaySupper for this wonderful event this weekend that have motivated me to on track into my kitchen after a long break since my last post on last 19 December.    The new house was still in the mess when we moved in on the 31 December but we were glad that we managed to celebrate the New Year in our new house.  Now that is almost eight percent settled down.......hmmmm.....is time for me to get back into the kitchen and need some time to get use to it!

This week is #SundaySupper celebrating its 1st Birthday Bash!  It was eight months ago since I joined this big family.  I learned and gained a lot knowledge from this wonderful group of people.  A big thank you to Isabel Foodie of Family Foodie, the founder of this group.  I fully agreed of what she said - "Food Brings People Together"!  I also wish to take this opportunity to a mentor that assigned by Isabel to take care of me when I am still new in the group - Paula Montenegro of  Vintage Kitchen and also the rest of you too.  Thank you for all the supports and great memories for all this while and I love all of you AND Happy Birthday to #SundaySupper!

In conjunction with the 1st Birthday celebration this week by choosing one of the recipes from contributors of #SundaySupper.  I have chosen Coconut Curry Chicken Soup inspired by Chung-Ah of Damn Delicious.  

I always have a thought that making Curry Soup will take so many steps to prepare but Chung-Ah's recipe has proven me wrong and has stimulated me to try it on.  

I have made the curry soup extracted with more Malaysian style, which we called as "Curry Laksa".  I am not even have used the Thai Curry Paste but I have also added in with  chili paste and cayenne pepper (chili powder) to make the taste curry taste stronger.  I have also substitute the tofu with the popular ingredient in Malaysia - Fried Tofu Puff, which turn out great as its fully absorbed in the curry soup.  Once ready, serve with some cooked chili paste with fresh lime juice, love it!

There are so many different recipes of curry soup but I love this one as it is not so complicated and easy to prepare.  And, this recipe is absolutely perfect for those in the cold and chill weather!

Creamy Potato Salad with Peas

It's December the 19th today and indicated my stay for past 365 days at this new place.   New environment, new journey of life and indeed the year of 2012 is a challenging year for me that blended with sweet and sad memories.

December is suppose to be a festive celebration month, whereby everyone is preparing to relax down from their busy schedule to welcome the Christmas and the New Year but it was hit by a sudden sad heartbreaking incident happened in USA last week that has grab the  global attentions.   Nevertheless, I hope everyone will be able to put let down the sadness and move forward to welcome the new year.

As for me, I am rather busy with my new house renovations, which we are planning to move in by mid of January.  That's the reason you don't see my post as often as usual.  My apologies.  Hope I can get back on track after we have settle down at our new house, kind  of looking forward to move in to our new home.

Today, I am bringing a rather simple recipe, perfect for those who are always rush of time to prepare their meal (like me).  The Creamy Potato Salad with Peas will be fit for those who wish to have "meatless" meal.  I personally like the combination of the cooked potatoes with peas and what about you?  Hope you will like it like me!

I wish to take this opportunity to wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!