【宫保鸡丁】Gong Pao Chicken

 

天凉了总想吃点味道重一些的，高热量的菜。宫保鸡丁刚好满足了所有要求，我觉得自己做的比餐厅的还要好吃哦！

When the weather gets cooler, I always crave richer, higher-calorie dishes. 

Kung Pao Chicken perfectly fits the bill, and I think my homemade version tastes even better than the ones in restaurants!

【奶香炖鹰嘴豆】Creamy Chickpea Curry

 

鹰嘴豆是印度常用的一个食材，可以做成不同类型的小吃和咖喱，今天做的这款奶香炖鹰嘴豆和之前做过的鹰嘴豆咖喱做法稍微不同，味道更加温和醇厚，全家都很喜欢。

就着发面油饼吃特别香呢！

Chickpea is a common ingredient in Indian cuisine and can be used to make various snacks and curries. This creamy chickpea curry I made today is slightly different from the Spicy chickpea stew I made before; it has a milder and richer flavor, and the whole family loved it.

It tastes especially delicious with Bhatura!

【叁巴臭豆】Sambal Petai

 

前阵子做了一批椰糖叁巴，刚好冷冻室里有两包臭豆，和一些海鲜，午餐就做了好久没吃的叁巴臭豆。

臭豆（Petai）是东南亚很常见的食材，味道特殊，特别健康。

I made a batch of palm sugar sambal.  Since I had two bags of frozen petai and some seafood in the freezer, I made sambal petai for lunch, a dish I hadn't eaten in a long time.

Petai is a common ingredient in Southeast Asia, known for their unique flavor and health benefits.

臭豆（Petai）富含天然糖分：蔗糖、果糖和葡萄糖。这些糖分可增强体力。

科研结果证明，仅仅两份臭豆，就足以抵挡90分钟的重体力活，所以那些头号体育明星们特别钟情臭豆食品。

此外，臭豆还有其它各种疗效呢！（注：资料来自各种渠道）
一、抗抑郁症 据MIND 研究证明，有许多抑郁症患者，服用臭豆以后，病情有所好转。因为臭豆含有色氨酸，一种蛋白质，能经人体转化为血清素，使人放松情绪、心情愉悦。
二、经前期综合症（PMS） 你如果经历经前期综合症的话，不用服用什么药片，吃臭豆就行了。富含维他命B6的Pete可以调整血液中的糖含量，从而调节情绪。
三、贫血症 富含铁质的臭豆有助于人体红血球的生成，改善贫血症。
四、高血压 臭豆这个含钾极高，含盐低的热带作物，是抗高血压的良药。美国食品及药物管理局（FDA）已正式批准种植，并公认其降压和预防脑中风的疗效。
五、 健脑 今年在Twickenham (Middlesex)的200名学生，早餐、中间课休时间和午餐时食用了臭豆，他们顺利通过了考试。科研证明，富含钾的果品有助于学习，使学生脑子更清醒。
六、 便秘 臭豆的纤维素含量很高，助消化，从而可解决便秘问题。
七、治眩晕臭豆奶昔加蜂蜜，是治疗眩晕症的方法之一。臭豆可宁胃，蜂蜜可增加血糖含量，而牛奶有镇静作用，并能恢复体内丢失的水分。
八、饱胀 臭豆在人体内具有抗酸剂作用，因食过饱而胃胀不适时，食用臭豆可缓解症状。
。。。。。。
十一、神经系统疾病 臭豆富含维生素V, 可对神经系统起到镇静作用。
十二、肥胖症 据奥地利心理研究院调查发现，工作压力大的人经常会吃一些诸如巧克力和土豆片之类去舒缓压力。从在医院就诊的5000名病人中调查发现，工作压力大会使人发胖。 因此，他们得出结论，为了避免因工作压力造成的食欲，必须控制血液中的含糖量，可采取每两个小时吃碳水化合物含量高的零食，使血糖保持平衡。
十三、胃炎 由于臭豆质地柔和，可作为一种养胃的食品。经好多严重胃炎病例证实臭豆是唯一可以生吃而没有造成不良效果的果品。它不仅能中和胃酸，还能增加胃表面涂层，以减少对胃的刺激。

Parkia speciosa (bitter bean, twisted cluster bean, or stink bean) is a plant of the genus Parkia in the family Fabaceae. It bears long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of plump almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, characterised by some as being similar to natural gas.^[1]

The beans or other Parkia species (Parkia javanica and Parkia singalaris for example) are popular as culinary ingredient in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, southern Thailand, Burma, and northeasternIndia, and are sold in bunches, still in the pod, or the seeds are sold in plastic bags. Pods are gathered from the wild, or from cultivated trees: they are exported in jars or cans, pickled in brine, or frozen.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petai

【猪心炒咸菜】Pork heart Stir-fry with pickled Mustard Green

 

这道猪心炒咸菜是小时候妈妈经常做的一道菜，我很喜欢拿来下粥，特别好吃。

后来父母渐渐地就不吃内脏了，这道菜渐渐地就不再出现在咱家的饭桌上了。

最近突然想起这道菜，就去亚洲超市买了个新鲜猪心和一包咸菜，和妈妈要了做法之后就做了一盘久违的猪心炒咸菜。

This stir-fried pork heart with pickled mustard green was a dish mom used to make when I was young. I loved having it with porridge.

My parents gradually stopped eating innards, thus this dish slowly disappeared from our dining table.

I have been thinking of this dish of late, so I went to the Asian supermarket and bought a fresh pork heart and a packet of pickled mustard green. 

After asking my mom for the recipe, I made this dish for lunch, and it taste just like how I remembered.

【盐酥鸡】Taiwanese popcorn chicken

 

前不久我家附近开了一家米线馆，就去尝尝鲜，吃饭的时候被告知如果给他们家在谷歌上留个评语，就可以免费获得一份盐酥鸡。

想着店子比较新，就上网留了个言。后来随餐送的盐酥鸡味道比较咸，也不是在台湾时吃的盐酥鸡口味。虽然盐酥鸡在台湾本土做法调味也各有不同，但是这家米线店做的盐酥鸡对我而言只能叫做炸鸡块。

回家后我就一直想着自己做一次盐酥鸡，这几天刚好家里有鸡腿肉，就来做个好吃的盐酥鸡吧！

A restaurant recently opened near my home, so I went to try it out.  As I was ordering, I was told by the waitress that if I leave a review for the restaurant on Google, the restaurant will serve a plate of Taiwanese popcord chicken for free.

So I left a review online and get served a small plate of popcorn chicken. The popcorn chicken that came with my meal was rather salty, and tasted nothing like the popcorn chicken I'd had in Taiwan. 

Since I've been wanting to make popcorn chicken at home. And I happened to have some chicken thighs at home, so I decided to make some delicious popcorn chicken at home!

【仁当咖喱】Beef Rendang / Rendang Daging

 

这道印尼/马来西亚风味的仁当牛肉咖喱曾被某杂志评为世上最美味的食物，也是我做过的味道最丰富的菜之一，其实这道菜做了很多很多次，但是一直都没记录食谱，主要是因为步骤有点长，所以就懒得写。

这道咖喱最主要的除了香料之外，还有火候。肉类、香料和椰浆经过长时间慢火烹煮，逐渐浓缩成浓郁的酱汁，软烂的牛肉在浓郁的酱汁包裹之下真是人间美味。

This Indonesian/Malaysian-style beef rendang curry was once voted the world's most delicious food and is one of the most flavorful dishes I've ever made.

The keys to making a good rendang is of course the spices and the long simmering time. The meat, spices, and coconut milk are slowly cooked and concentrated into a rich flavor curry sauce that coats the tender beef. It is truly a beautiful orchestra of different flavors.

【竹笋红烧肉】Bamboo Shoots Braised Pork Belly

 

春天来了，雨后朋友的后院长出好多的春笋，她把春笋收获之后还细心地把笋子都处理好了再送给我。

这么有心的礼物，不做一顿红烧肉都对不起这份心意啊！

Spring is here again. A friend harvested a lot of bamboo shoots from her back yard. She carefully prepared the bamboo shoots before giving them to me.

It would be a shame not to make a good dish out of such a thoughtful gift!

【香肠炒马铃薯丁】Sausage and Potato Stir-fry

 

家里有小孩的都知道，偶尔还是需要做一次孩子喜欢的孩子菜，这道香肠炒马铃薯丁就是我们家的其中一道孩子菜，材料用的都是家里常备的，既快手又方便。

Having kids at home means it is inevitably that you have to cook children’s favorite dishes sometimes. 

This dish of sausage and diced potatoes is one of my son's favorite dishes at our home. The ingredients used are easily available at home, a quick and convenient dish when I am short on time.

【黄瓜凤梨泡菜】Acar Timun Nenas

 

前几天去附近的农夫市场买菜的时候看见凤梨正在打折，刚好我这两天打算做牛肉仁当咖喱吃吃，买个凤梨回来做这个清爽的黄瓜凤梨泡菜，吃着解腻又营养。

Pineapple was on sales a few days ago, when I went to the nearby farmer’s market for groceries. 

I happened to be planning to make beef rendang curry in the next two days, so I bought a pineapple and made this refreshing Acar, which is both refreshing and nutritious.

【潮州蚝面】Teochew Oyster Noodle

这道面食是回乡每次去潮州餐厅必点的一道面，潮州人喜海鲜入菜，尤其是营养美味的生蚝，潮州蚝煎/蚝烙也是一道非常有名的小吃。

This noodle dish is something I must order every time I go to a Teochew restaurant. The Teochew clan use a lot of seafood in their dishes, especially nutritious and delicious oysters. 

Teochew oyster omelette/Or Chien is also a very famous snack.

【客家算盘子】Hakka Abacus Seeds

算盘子，是东南亚和广东省大埔县颇负盛名的传统客家小吃。它是用蒸熟的芋头与淀粉搓成一一颗颗中间凹陷的丸子，看起来就像是古时候使用的算盘上的算盘子，因此得名，也因为中间凹陷有聚宝的寓意，很适合在节庆时做来吃。

算盘子口感滑爽再带点Q弹，加上肉末、香菇、虾米之类和自己喜欢的蔬菜简单调味炒熟，就非常美味。

Hakka Abacus Seeds is a famous traditional Hakka dish common in Southeast Asia and Dapu County, Guangdong Province in China. 

It is made using steamed taro and cassava starch, rolled into balls then pressed with a dent in the center. The impression makes the balls look like the abacus seeds on the abacus (a type of calculator) used in ancient China, hence the name. 

Hakka Abacus Seeds have smooth and slight chewy texture, very delicious when it is lightly seasoned and stir fried with minced meat, mushrooms, dried shrimps and vegetables of your choice.

【酸甜鸡块】Sweet and sour Chicken

孩子回马来西亚经常吃不惯餐厅里的炒菜，尤其是带着骨头和皮的肉类料理，他压根就不敢尝试。据说这是外国出生的孩子的通病。

每次和家人出去餐厅吃饭的时候只有古老肉是唯一一个能入他法眼的菜。回美后他偶尔还会让我给他做，我也经常为了方便，用鸡腿肉做这款酸甜鸡块，也非常美味好吃呢！

Whenever my son visited Malaysia, he struggles to enjoy most of the dishes in restaurants, especially dishes with bones and skin cooked in it. 

 

The only dish that he could enjoyed was the good old sweet and sour pork/Gu lou Yuk. He liked it so much that even after returning to the United States, he still asks for it at times.

I have made the dish using chicken thighs many times, and personally think it is juicier and equally delicious!

豆沙多多的【豆沙馒头卷】Adzuki Bean Steamed Roll

 

我经常在家做红豆包，是个很方便的早点和点心，自己做的也可以按喜好调整豆沙甜度，没有买来的齁甜。

前两天特别想吃豆沙多多的豆沙馒头卷，刚好冰箱里有炒好的豆沙，就做了一批，真的特别好吃。

I make this Adzuki bean steamed buns a lot for breakfast, I liked that it is healthy and I could make it less sweet comparing to the shop bought version.

【蒜香香草白脱】Garlic Herb compound butter

 

最近几个星期因为禽流感的关系，美国这里到处都买不到鸡蛋。Costco去了三次都空手而返。后来有个朋友跟我说，如果不是周末的时候一大早开门时去Costco就大概率买得到。前两天就一大早把孩子他爸叫醒等着超市开门就去买，还顺便让他带些蒜头回来。

结果就是鸡蛋果然买到了，但孩子他爹大概以为蒜也缺货，他居然给我搬回两大包一共四磅的蒜头回来。😓😓😓

Costco 食品退货大概率会被丢弃，为了不浪费食物，我硬是两天离剥了三磅的蒜瓣，磨成蒜蓉后冷冻大半，剩下的做了两个这款蒜蓉香草白脱，下午就做了几块蒜蓉面包，爱吃蒜蓉面包的爷儿俩边吃还边自夸有先见之明，买了很多蒜呢？！

USA has been suffering egg scarcity for weeks, we went to Costco three times in past weeks only to come back empty-handed. A friend told me that I should try Costco early in the morning when it opens the door for eggs. 

I told N to go early to check at Costco two days ago, and bring me some garlic too. He came back not only with the long awaited eggs, he also brought with him 2 bags/4 lbs of California grown garlic!!! 😓😓😓

Costco food returns are likely to be discarded, I will hate wasting foods,so I spent two days peeling three pounds worth of garlic, minced and stored most of them in the freezer.

And turn the rest into two logs of this Garlic herb compound butter. 

【芹菜香干炒肉丝】Shredded Pork with Celery and dried Bean Curd

 

芹菜香干炒肉丝是我最喜欢的客家小炒，非常下饭且营养丰富。

Shredded Pork with Celery and dried Bean Curd is my favorite Hakka stir-fry dish, it goes well with rice and is also very nutritious.

【酸辣汤】Hot and Sour Soup

才稍微回暖了几天，这两天天气又变冷了。这种天气就想来一碗热热的汤，就做了这款酸辣汤。真是暖心又暖胃呢！

The weather was a little warmer for a few days, and turned freezing cold again in the past two days. 

A bowl of hot soup feels so right in this kind of weather. So I made this hot and sour soup for lunch, it really warms the heart and stomach!

【柠檬饭】Lemon Rice

 

多年以前我在马来西亚一个学院工作，有个同事是南印度来的婆罗门，她每天的早饭一定是芭蕉叶裹着的酸奶饭，而午餐则是一定会有这个柠檬饭的。我也是那个时候第一次知道这款主食。

后来在印度居住的时候，也经常在餐厅里或者朋友家吃到这个饭。后来也学会了在家做这款米饭，因为它真是冷饭的好去处噢！

Many years ago, I worked in a college in Malaysia. One of my colleagues was a Brahmin from South India. The breakfast she brings to work must consist of yogurt rice wrapped in banana leave, and her lunch will be this lemon rice many a times. 

Later, when I lived in India, I often had this rice in the restaurants or at friends'.  I also learned to make this rice at home during my time in India, it is really a good way to turn left over white rice into a yummy staple!

【豆爽】Tao Suan

 

绿豆爽（Tao Suan）是一种潮汕甜品，也是常见的马来西亚/新加坡甜食。它是绿豆瓣做的一款甜羹，一般配上切成小段的油条或椰浆一起食用。也可以加上切碎的马蹄吃，口感更丰富。

Tao Suan is a type of Teochew dessert and a common sweet dish in Malaysian/Singaporean. 

It is a sweet soup made from split mung bean and is usually served with cut-up fried you tiao (Chinese Churro) or coconut milk. It can also be eaten with diced water chestnuts for a richer texture.

【腰缠万贯-泰式面条肉丸子】Thai Moo Sarong

Moo Sarong 是我很喜欢的一款泰式美食，几年前很热衷一套非常好看的泰剧 【天生一对】Buppesannivas，女主在剧中学做过这个面条丸子，完整地展示了做法和材料。我也在春节期间做了一次，非常好吃也很适合做个寓意很好的年菜呢！

刚好今天是元宵，上个面条肉丸子食谱祝福大家2025年都腰缠万贯，万事丰盛！

Moo Sarong (Meatballs wrapped in noodles) is a Thai dish that I really enjoyed. A few years ago, there was a very good Thai drama [Buppesannivas] that I was watching, the heroine in the drama was learning to make this moo sarong, and elaborated the method and ingredients called for. 

I also find it suitable for New Year dish! Today is the last day of Chinese New Year, I decided to post this recipe to wish everyone a prosperous 2025!

【客家南乳炸肉焖木耳】Hakka Char Yuk Black fungus Stew

南乳炸肉是客家人的传统美食，过年过节的时候家里老人都会炸好一大盆，吃不完的南乳炸肉可以制作非常下饭好吃的南乳炸肉焖木耳，也是很多人的心中所爱。

Fried pork with fermented bean curd is a traditional Hakka delicacy, it is commonly serve during the Chinese New Year and other festivals.

The elders in the family will fry a large batch of this fried pork and served hot, and the leftover  can be used to make Nam Yee Fried Pork braised with black fungus, which is also a favorite of many.