Winter Melons - Thirst Quencher, Vitamin Storehouse Extraordinaire

Always look to Nature for the answers to a healthy life and my grandparents have always tried to infuse this thought into us eversince we were young.

"Look at the foodstalls and see what is in season and eat it. It will help counter all ills of that moment." This has been what my grandparents used to tell us when we were young. And like doting granparents, they will serve us various concoctions, meals and herbal drinks, to keep us healthy as an ox.

This recipe is eaten when the weather is hot and humid. The wintermelons, known to the Chinese as Tungkwa, assists in dissipating internal heat. If the weather is hot and you don't get enough sleep during the humid nights, your liver will be warm and hot. This can be seen from bloodshot eyes and bad breath as the heat seeks ways to emerge from your body. If it can't, your blood will work hard to extract toxins, and boils (and in the younger set, pimples) appear.

So here goes and hope you will enjoy its goodness on a hot day.


Steamed winter melon with chicken

Ingredients:-
1 medium size winter melon
15 red dates,stone removed
20 kei chi
50gm dried longan
2 slices of chicken meat (choose breasts-side)
2 tablespoons water
50gm rock sugar

Method:
1.Slice off the top of winter melon, remove seeds and scoop a big hole for stuffing the above ingredients.
2.Combine all the ingredients and put into the melon.
3. Replace the top of the melon.
4. Sit the whole melon in a deep, heat-proof bowl and steam this over low heat for 1-2 hours. Serve hot.

Discover the Secrets of Rejuvenation

The Chinese have for years known and used bird's nests (swiflet's actually) gathered from the high walls of limestone caves in their diet. During the bitter months of winter, they sustain themselves nutritionally using this recipe. For the poor ones, bird's nest double-boiled with rock sugar is a must during convalescence period. For the more financially able, birds' nest efficacy is multiplied when prepared with ginseng, the man-root which is known for its rejuvenative values.

This is a recipe my parents would prepare for us when we were kids, at least once a month. Although were were not exactly rich, my parents would save every cent to buy bird's nests and, when we have more, ginseng, to prepare this simple revitalising recipe for me and my siblings. And if I remember, we do not suffer from colds or flu as often as other children, even during the coldest and wettest months of the year.

Looking back, the bird's nests have long been known to strengthen the lungs and ginseng the heart. It is thus no strange to me now that we have been given assisted in providing us with good health.

If you are able to afford it, do it for your children and your family too. The Chinese say that it is better to spend money on good food than on good medicine.

Anyway, here goes my family recipe:

Bird's Nests With Ginseng

Ingredients:
2pcs of bird's nest
10gm ginseng
1 litres water
50gm rock sugar

Method:
1.Soak bird's nest for 4 to 5 hours in a cold water before picking out the impurities.Drain.
2.Combine all ingredients and double boil*for 4 hours.
3.Remove cover and cool for a while and serve warm.

(*Double-boil cookers can be purchased at any kitchen utensil suppliers. You don't need a huge one, so just estimate how much you need to prepare for your family and get that one)