Hakka Style Braised Duck 【客家卤全鸭】

Braised duck is one very common dish Malaysian Chinese prepared for the Chinese reunion dinner. I personally liked to have it the next day, the taste of it will be fuller.

This recipe I am sharing today was given to my mom by my aunt, slightly different than my mom's recipe, it is very tasty.

卤全鸭是马来西亚华人过节时都会煮的一道菜。选择肉质比较紧实的番鸭来制作，口味丰富，隔天吃更是美味。

今年过年我妈口传了阿姨家的卤鸭秘方，和平常妈妈做的有点不一样，味道更醇厚，非常好吃。

Homemade Chili Oil 【家常辣椒油】

I like to keep a bottle of this homemade chili oil at home, adding a spoonful to any noodle dishes makes it taste much better. 

It is also an essential ingredient for Jiaozi/Chinese dumplings dipping sauce.

这款家常辣油用处非常多，吃面条或馄饨时加上一勺，味道马上升级不少。也是做凉拌菜和沾酱不可或缺的调料之一。

Lion's head meatballs in clear broth 【清炖狮子头】

Last year when I was back in Malaysia for Chinese New Year celebration，I made this less oily version of Shanghainese Lion's Head Meatballs for my family and they loved it. I also made a mental note that I will write a recipe of this delicious dish when I have a chance. I didn't get a chance to make it again until this Chinese New Year.

This is a simple yet tedious dish, requiring good cooking skill and patience. No wonder it is a signature dish for reunion dinner at the then Kuomingtang leader Chiang Kai-Shek's home!

去年回娘家过年的时候年夜饭我做了这道清炖狮子头。口感肥嫩不油腻，父母很是喜爱。

这道据说是过去蒋介石家年夜饭必有的年菜，做法看似简单，要做好却还是相当考验手艺和耐心的哦！

Happy Valentine's Day！Apple Roses 【酥皮苹果玫瑰花】

It is Valentine's day today, I went to a nearby flower shop yesterday thinking of bringing some flowers for Chinese New Year. The owner told me roses are about 7 USD each! It is way too much!

I quickly pick up my phone to call hubby and told him not to buy me any roses this year! Well, that does not mean that there will be no roses in the house this Valentines!

情人节快乐！

昨天和朋友约吃饭的时候刚好隔壁就是一间花店。吃完饭我想着去买点花回家插插，结果店主告诉我玫瑰花一朵要七美刀！价格真贵得不像话！

我马上走出店门掏出手机给俊爹打电话让他今年不许给我买玫瑰花了！

既然今年不然买玫瑰花，咱们情人节就自己做几朵玫瑰花吧！给自己烤的几个酥皮苹果玫瑰，美得让人舍不得入口哦！

BBQ Pig's Trotters 【香辣烤猪蹄】

BBQ Pig's trotter is a well loved snack in China, especially among students. Grabbing a piece or two after school from roadside stalls is not uncommon.

If you have a big pot of Braised pig's trotters that you prepared for Chinese New Year dinner and have some left over. Try this BBQ Pig's trotters, you will be so glad that you have left over!

香辣烤猪蹄是个但是名字听起来就很诱人的小吃，用碳烤的更是香得不得了。

年夜饭炖的红烧猪蹄如果没吃完，第二天拿来做这款香辣烤猪蹄，一定很受欢迎哦！

Braised Pig's Trotters 【红烧猪蹄】

I suspect that there will be at least one Pig trotter dish serves on every dining table during Chinese New Year in all Chinese family, it is considered to be one of the richer dishes that "counts".

Preparing trotters for cooking is a lengthy and tedious job, even at the comfort of the shop bought pre-cleaned trotters. I still find myself spending a good half hour cleaning the remaining hairs on it with tweezers.

A good pot of braised pig's trotters requires several cooking steps which includes long simmering towards the end. I liked my pig's trotters to be tender and fall off the bones while serving. This dish just fits the bill!

红烧猪蹄是个做法不复杂，只要炖煮时间足就自然美味的一道菜，很适合在年夜饭时做，只要把猪蹄处理好炖上就可以转手准备其他的菜了。

炖得香香糯糯的猪蹄入口即化，是年夜饭餐桌上的一道大菜哦！

Gold Coin Bak Kwa 【金钱肉干】

Bak kwa is a type of Chinese savory sweet jerky that traditionally takes the form of thin square slices. It is the Malaysian/Singaporean favorite snack, especially during Chinese New Year or festive season.

Its popularity rises weeks leading to Chinese New Year, many seasonal bakers steps in to grasp the market, many with interesting products that carry well wishes and meanings.

This Gold Coin Bak Kwa is one of the most selling ones. Prosperity galore, just as the name implies! 

肉干是东南亚过年时不可少的年货，年关越接近，卖肉干的摊贩就越多。除了传统的方型肉干外，好多肉干店还推出了各样新产品。

这款金钱肉干尤其受欢迎，它的形状像金币，春节时买来待客或送人都特别喜庆，吃了说不定新的一年里就财源滚滚来啦！

Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Green 【梅菜扣肉】

Mui Choy Kau Yuk (Pork Belly with Preserved Mustard Green) is a classic Chinese party/New Year dish. 

The Pork belly in it releases enough fat to compensate dryness of the preserved mustard green, and the preserved vegetable gives the dish its signature aroma and distinct taste. 

春节快到了，做几个年菜吃吃。

今天上的这道菜是客家人团圆饭桌上不可少的梅菜扣肉。蒸得糯糯的五花肉油脂渗入梅干菜里更带出了梅干菜的香气。吃起来肥而不腻。