what is lemon?

Lemon is quite a common fruit used in our daily meal. But do we really realise that it's really a healthy fruit for our body besides its sour taste?



Health Benefits:
1. Lemon helps in killing bacteria.

2. Fragrance in lemon can help to remove meat's odor and improve meat texture.

3. Lemon helps in preventing heart artery problem or high blood pressure.

4. Lemon contains Citric acid, which improve digestion, and help in dissolving kidney stone.

5. Lemon contain high amount of ascorbic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B complex, other mineral such as iron, copper, and potassium, small level of vitamin A, and other anti-oxidants.

Cooking with Lemon:

1. Beverage: Ice Lemon Tea

- Red tea, Lemon, honey, mix well

2. Beverage: Honey Lemon Juice

- refer to honey lemon juice step-by-step

3. Beverage: Lemonade

4. Lemon slice can use to garnish salads, or mix little of lemon juice in salad

5. Use lemon juice in preparing seafood/fish for the nice aroma

Extra tips:

1. Mix little of lemon juice during bath, or face washing, or hair shampoo, as the natural skin care.

Source: From Nutrition and You, wikipedia, and Baidu Baike.

Singapore Food: Jollibean

I had Jollibean drink at Changi Airport. I found from their website that they have lots of kiosk in Singapore, i didn't count how many, but it's surely more than 20 branches. They have normal plain soymilk, but their special soymilk attracted me.
They have
- Ice-fruit soya blended
- J-nutty soya blended: peanut, black sesame, almond
- J-freeze series: dark chocolate, coffee, french vanila, mocha
- Others: Ginger soymilk, soy latte, Grass Jelly, Chocolate soymilk, etc!
Everything with combination of Soymilk. How can i resist the temptation?







In their Ice-fruit soya blended, there are watermelon, banana, papaya, honeydew flavour. Can you imagine a papaya ice-blended with soya? I can't! Hence i decided to try on banana. It tasted special, original and healthy as they use fresh banana. For me, it's a nice combination: Banana+ soya.



This is their J-special! Japanese Azuki Red Bean over Matcha Soymilk! What a nice name ya! This even tasted better! I love this!


Besides special soymilk, they also have lots of pancake choices, which looked quite nice. But the drink attracted me more.



Swiss roll pancake?


Hot pancake made on the spot,



Location: Jollibean Singapore Changi Airport T3
Famous for: Food and Beverage made from Soya bean
Their website link: http://www.jollibean.com

Dish: Tomato Egg

Ingredients: (Serving for 2)

Egg 2
Tomato 2
Garlic 3 pieces
Cooking oil 5 tbsp
Salt 1 tsp

Method:
1. Clean all ingredient and cut the tomato into small pieces.



2. Heat up cooking oil for 2 minutes and garlic for 3 minutes.
3. Beat egg in a bowl, add in salt and pour into the pan.
4. Fry the egg until it is cooked.
5. Remove and serve hot.

Here serve the healthy Tomato with egg:



Cooking Tips:
1. Meat sliced can be added for better taste.
2. This dish is best to be served with rice or sandwich bread.

Health Tips:
Tomato and egg are the best combination for vitamin C.


Preparing time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Total Serving time: 15 minutes

What is Persimmon?

Originally cultivated in China, Japan and Vietnam, it is known as “fruits of the gods”. In Malay, we called it as “Pisang Kaki”. Now it is the season of persimmon, until December.
Before it is fully ripened, it has a bitter, astringent taste due to high level of tannins (the same polyphenols found in tea). When ripe, it is a sweet thick pulpy jelly encased in a waxy thin skinned shell.



Health Benefits:
1. Persimmon is high in fiber, and vitamin A, carbohydrates, natural sugars, and no fat.
2. It has compounds called Shibuol and Betulinic acid, that are known to have anti-cancer properties.
3. Peel of persimmon contains phytochemicals, which may protect cells against oxidative damage associated with ageing.

Tips:
1. Avoid eating persimmon on an empty stomach, especially unripe one, as it may form gluey coagulum that causes intestinal obstruction.



Special way for delicious persimmon meals:
1. Persimmon Pancake, waffles or French toast: Add in chopped or blended persimmons for extra nutrient!
2. Persimmon Salsa: Mix chopped persimmon, tomatillo, cilantro, chilies.
3. Persimmon Salad: Mix cubed persimmon with grapes, pomegranate seeds, cubed apples and kiwi fruits.

~Courtesy from The Star Sunday Metro, on 28th November

What is Red Rice?

Red rice is different from white rice, as it contains higher Zinc and Magnesium elements, and is less common than white rice. It's similar to brown rice, but it has some differences from brown rice. Both Red and Brown rice are considered healthy rice.

In Malaysia, you can get Red rice in any hypermarket.

The red rice in China has been tested to have rich of health elements such as Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium, Phosphorus, protein, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6 and others. The small amount of Selenium, taking in an adequate amount, is proposed as may help in prevent cancer by acting as antioxidant or by enchancing immune activity.

Red rice is proposed to have these health benefits:
1. anti-aging
2. anti-stress
3. improve iron deficiency and prevent anemia
4. improve immunity system and malnutrition
5. improve night blindness
6. Reduce fatigue and insomnia
7. May help in preventing colon cancer

So, you may want to consider replacing half portion of your normal white rice consumption with Red rice, or even start to take total Red rice in your daily meal.

Honey Lemon Juice

If you are feeling heaty and need something simple for your body cooling, why not try to have a cup of warm Honey Lemon Juice?

To prepare a cup of this healthy drink, it is very simple.

1. Buy a lemon from hypermarket.

2. Cut into slices.

3. Pour 2 to 3 tablespoon of honey into a cup.



4. Use a spoon to slightly squeeze the juice from the lemon slices.



5. Add in half cup of hot water and the other half with cold water. Here is the completed healthy beverage!



6. Warm water can also be replaced with cold water according to personal preferences!

Healthy Chinese Style Porridge

Ingredients: (Serving for 2)

1 cup of Red rice and 1 cup of normal white rice



(you may refer to this page for description on Red rice:
http://princevsprincess.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-red-rice.html)

100 grams of dried Wolfberries, 100 grams of dried scallop, 100 grams of dried gingko nuts



(you may refer to this page for description on Ginkgo nut/seed:
http://princevsprincess.blogspot.com/2010/11/what-is-ginkgo.html)

Seasoning such as pepper, salt


Method:
1. To prepare dried Gingko nuts, firstly hit and remove the hard skin, peel the soft skin, and remove the bitter seeds.
2. Clean red and white rice thoroughly under running tapped water.
3. Heat up plain water in a pot, together with remaining ingredients.
4. Boil for at least 2hours.
5. Remove, put into bowls and serve hot.



Sesame can be also added to the porridge..



Tips:
1. Do not close the pot cover to avoid overflow and stir well from time to time to avoid buring.
2. Red rice has higher iron contain than white rice. However, it's not necessary to use red rice. White rice can be used to replace the Red rice.
3. Add more water than cooking portion as water will get evaporated while cooking.


Health Tips:
This porridge is good for health especially during cold weather, with mixes of typical chinese healthy ingredients.

Preparing time: 30 minutes
including time to prepare Gingko nuts)
Cooking time: 2 hours
Total Serving time: 2hours and 30 minutes

What is Ginkgo?

~courtesy from en.wikipedia

Ginkgo nut/seed Culinary use:
1. It is used as a traditional Chinese food, in occasions such as wedding and Chinese New Year.
2. In Japan, it is used in dishes such as Chawanmushi, the Japanese egg custard.


Health Benefits:
1. Improve blood circulation, protect blood vessels
2. May help in curing asthma
3. Improve brain function and memory
4. Anti-aging
5. May help in preventing Alzheimer, hypertension, coronary heart disease, etc.


Precaution:
1. Overdose of Ginkgo nut/seed can cause poisoning by MPN. The possible side effects are vomiting, diarrhea, headache, etc. Hence it should be taken under a suitable portion.
2. To prevent poisoning, Ginkgo nut should be eaten when it's totally cooked.
3. The outer shell contains of chemical, which may cause allergic to skin. Hence the nut/seed should be handle with care while preparing for consumption.

Roti Canai Western Wrap

Ingredients: (Serving for 2)

1. Roti Canai/ Indian Bread 2 Pieces
(can buy from any Mamak Stall or buy frozen Roti Canai from hypermarket and pan fry for 10 min)

2. Lettuce and Carrot
(or other types of vege)

3. any brand of Tuna


4. Chili Sauce

Method:
1. Wash all fresh ingredients.
2. Heat up the Roti Canai.
3. Put a few Lettuce on top of Roti Canai.
4. Spread tuna on top according to own favour.



5. Put the remaining ingredients on top, add some chili or tomato sauce, and wrap it.


You can also roll it like this:



Or you can wrap like this:




That's it! As simple as A, B, C!..and you can add own ingredients according to own creativity: Tomato, Onion, Spinach, Chesse, Meat Slice, Ham, Scramble Egg, Mustard, Pepper and other more!
Enjoy this healthy and simple breakfast!

Preparing time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Total Serving time: 15 minutes

Homemade Old Town Breakfast

Believe it or not, this is prepared by the Prince for the Princess!

1. Pretty easy, get a packet of Oldtown White Coffee, pour the coffee powder and boiled water into a cup.

2. Next, boil 2 eggs in a pot for 5 minutes. Obviously the Prince has overcooked the half-boiled egg.

3. Next, toast the whole-meal bread, apply Fruit Jam, Butter, Peanut Butter or Kaya (according to own favourite) and cut into two.

Here is the sweet homemade Oldtown Breakfast made from 101% sweet heart:




Preparing time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Total Serving time: 20 minutes

Enoki Scramble Egg

Ingredients: (Serving for 2)

Egg 2
Enoki Mushrum 150 grams
Fresh prawn/shrimp 100 grams
Black fungus (soak in plain water before cut) 10grams
Garlic 3 pieces
Cooking oil 5 tbsp
Salt 1 tsp



Method:
1. Clean all ingredient and cut into small pieces.
2. Heat up cooking oil for 2 minutes and garlic for 3 minutes.
3. Add in prawn, follow by black fungus and enoki.
4. Beat egg in a bowl, add in salt and pour into the pan.
5. Fry the egg until it is cooked.
6. Remove and serve hot.

Cooking Tips:
1. Soak Enoki in hot water for 5 minutes can help to take away the smell.
2. Soak black fungus inn plain water until it expands before cutting it into small pieces.
3. Enoki Mushrum can be replaced with other type of mushrum such as black button mushrum. Add in any types of ingredients depending on individual creativity.
4. This dish is best to be served with rice or sandwich bread.

Health Tips:
Mushrum is good for health especially in preventing cancer.


Preparing time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Total Serving time: 30 minutes

Dish: Taufu with China Leek

Ingredients: (Serving for 2)
China Leek 150 grams



Soft or hard Taufu 3 pieces



Fresh prawn 5 pieces
Cooking oil 5 tbsp
Salt 1 tsp


Method:
1. Clean all ingredient and cut into small pieces.



2. Heat up cooking oil and fry taufu for 5 minutes.
3. Add in prawn and fry for 5 minutes.
4. Add in China Leek and fry for 10 minutes.
5. Add in salt and stir well.
6. Remove and serve hot.



Cooking Tips:
1. China Leek and taufu are the best combination for the best aroma.
2. Fresh prawn can be replaced with chicken or meat slices.
3. This dish is best to be served with rice.

Health Tips:
China Leek has almost the same function as garlic, which is to kill bacteria and prevent flu.

Preparing time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Total Serving time: 25 minutes

Dessert: Red Bean Soup

Red Bean Soup Dessert
Ingredients: (Serving for 2)




Red Bean 150 grams


Sago 50 grams


Stone sugar (Peng Tong) 3 tbsp


Plain water 4 Bowls

Method:
1. Clean red bean thoroughly under running tapped water.
2. Heat up plain water in a pot.
3. Put red bean into the pot and boil for at least 2hours.
4. Put sago into the pot and boil for 15 minutes.
5. Lastly put sugar into the pot and stir well for 5 minutes.
6. Remove, put into bowls and serve hot.

Tips:
1. Do not close the pot cover to avoid overflow and stir well from time to time to avoid buring.
2. Stone sugar is more healthy than white sugar.
3. Add more water than cooking portion as water will get evaporated while cooking.
4. Add some dried longan to add flavour.



Health Tips:
Red bean is rich in Iron and good for digestion.

Preparing time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Total Serving time: 2hours and 25 minutes

Soup (3): Western Vege or Soft bone Soup

Ingredients: (Serving for 2)
Western Vege or Soft bone Vege 150 grams

Chinese Red Dates 50 grams

Plain water 2 Bowls

Method:
1. Soak all the vegetables in tapped water for 10 minutes and clean thoroughly.
2. Heat up plain water in a pot.
3. Put all ingredients into the pot and boil for at least 30 minutes.
4. Remove, put into bowls and serve hot.

Here is cooked soup:

Cooking Tips:
1. Chicken or meat slices added into the boiling soup will serve better taste.
2. Boil the soup before the vegetables turn yellowish for better fiber. Or boil the soup until the vegetables turns yellowish will serve better taste.

Health Tips:
Western Vege is good for eye, and best for body cooling.

Preparing time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Total Serving time: 40 minutes

Soup (2): Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients: (Serving for 2)
Fresh Pumpkin 150 grams



Garlic (finely chopped) 3 Pieces
Plain water 1 Bowl
Cornstarch 1 tbsp (to add with half bowl of plain water)

Method: (can refer to Tomato Soup for the similar procedures)
1. Prepare pumpkin and cut into small pieces.
2. Heat up pot and 3 tablespoon of cooking oil for 1 minute.
3. Heat up chopped garlic for 3 minutes until the garlic turns a bit yellowish.
4. Stir fry the pumpkin for 10 minutes.
5. Add plain water into the cooked pumpkin and boil for 20 minutes.
6. Lastly thicken the soup with cornstarch solution, remove, put into a bowl and serve hot.

Here served the Pumpkin Soup:



Cooking Tips:
1. Chicken or meat slices added into the boiling tomato paste will serve better taste.
2. Blender can be used to blend pumpkin before cooking for smooth textures.
3. Cornstarch will help to thicken the soup for better taste and appearance.
4. This serves best as appetizer before main course.

Health Tips:
Pumpkin has rich of Vitamin C and fiber. It has rich of Potassium, which helps to reduce the risk of hypertension. And it is a powerful antioxidant and prevent build of cholestrol on the arterial wall.

Preparing time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Total Serving time: 35 minutes