Steamed Chicken with Bitter Melon and Jujube

Our family loves Bitter Melon with Chicken stir fried with black bean garlic sauce.

I decided to do something different this time, I've added jujube ( red dates) and steamed instead of stir fry.

Ingredients:

1 lb - chicken drums + wings

1- bitter melon

Handful - jujube -red dates

garlic

ginger

scallion

Marinade: 

soy sauce

black bean sauce ( LKK )

cooking rice wine

cornstarch

sugar

white pepper

water

* mix marinade together, taste to your liking then add to chicken

Put all ingredients together, mix well.

Marinate for an 1-2 hours or overnight.

When ready, steam for 30-40 minutes.

Steaming was a very good idea. All the flavors came together really well.

 Can you see the delicious sauce!

Chinese Herbal Soup with Chicken.....

Are you a soup lover? I am! That's the main reason why I'm posting about this soup again! Who doesn't enjoy a bowl of something delicious and warm in your tummy? It’s almost like a hug from the inside out. As for chilled soups, nice in a different way and that will be another post for the summer.

Once again I've made my favorite soup with healing powers. Nothing beats having something so tasty and healthy at the same time. For those who missed my original soup post, here is a quick link* .

Working with Chinese herbs is one of the reasons why I enjoy making this soup. They are so pretty with their different shapes and color and add such deep flavor to the soups. I've worked with a few different herbs but did you know, there is a never ending list of Chinese herbs to cook with? How exciting! There is a lot to learn about Chinese Herbs from how to cook with them to their medicinal qualities. The Chinese Soup Lady ”is a very helpful site when you want to learn about the different ingredients and herbs which you may find in many authentic Chinese Soup. These herbs come dried so you can stock up for a few weeks or longer depending on which ones. Combine with your favorite meat and vegetables and you will have a meal in a pot!

Here are some pictures to share:

*adding chicken feet to your stock will make it more silky and they are fun to eat!

I like to dip them in some soy with white pepper...yum!

Aren't they pretty in those lovely bowls!

The bowls a gift from my sister....Thanks Em*

Bitter Melon ( Gourd ) Carrot Pork Soup

Flu Season is here ...eck! What do we have in the tool bag to fight this nasty ailment ?

Visit the Doc for the Flu Shot , excercise , daily vitamins , Purell, ignore it button , Mothers, don't touch anything or anyone..( I personally need to work on this list )I do know a delicious and very beneficial way!

Mama's Bitter Melon Soup!

This is another soup with healing powers, packed with vitamins and rich in nutrients.

The star of this soup is the Bitter Melon. To learn more click here*

Ingredients:

2 Bitter Melon - Clean , cut in half , scoop out the cotton like seeds and cut into 1-2" bite size

( to ease the bitterness rub salt on the melon and let it sit for 15 mins, it really works)

Pork Ribs - 1/2 lbs

1 lg Carrot - chop in chunks

Goji berries - hand full

Red dates - hand full

Ginger - 1 knob

Garlic - 1 clove

White pepper

Fish sauce

Oyster Sauce

Start a pot of water, bring to boil and add all ingredients.

( parboil the pork to remove impurities before adding to the pot)

Bring to a boil then let it simmer for 1 hour. I added a dash of fish sauce ,white pepper and oyster sauce.

How good does this look!

Had this with rice and oyster sauce on the side for dipping.

Bowl of goodness with the unusual bitter flavor ( almost like black tea bitterness) it can be strong but the fish sauce mellowed it out. Hints of sweet & tangy flavors from the carrots and herbs and of course there's the ribs..mmmmmmmm

slurp*

** Soup is tastier the next day**

Chinese Herbal Pork and Mushroom Soup

How about a delicious homemade soup with super powers! Mmmmm...mom used to make a big pot of soup almost every week and they are all delicious even the herbal ones.

It is the weekend, feeling overworked lately and decided to make a healthy soup. Here I made a nice hearty herbal soup. I used 2 nice chunky pork bones ( first time using these,  they are the blade bone near the neck )which gave the broth a nice deep flavor.

Ingredients:

dried shitake mushroom, potatoes, fox nuts ,wolfberries, red dates , yellow soybeans

soak all until soft except the wolfberries ( soak when soup is almost done or they will get mushy)

oh yes and garlic

look at this pretty mushroom after soaking

Here are the pork bones,
a bit scary looking but very tasty.
Parboil for a few minutes to get
rid of the impurities then rinse.
Then add bones into the pot of water with soaked
ingredients and potatoes.
Bring to a boil then lower flame and let it
simmer for 45 minutes. Then remove and take
all the meat off from the bone and add back
to the pot along with the soaked
wolfberries, simmer for another 10 minutes.

Aren't you proud of me! This smells and taste so gooooood. I will try my best to explain the wonderful flavors: a hint of earthiness from the mushroom, pork so tender & sweet, tang from the wolf berries and red dates, and the fox nuts with the yellow soybeans gave this soup a velvety finish. You can add soy or salt. Have it with rice if you like.. I just love soup and rice together ! Have a bowl of nourishing yummy tong !

You can learn more about chinese herbs from one of my favorite Soup Blogs:
Great photos and descriptions!
http://www.homemade-chinese-soups.com/chinese-herbs.html

lisa - Watercress Pork Soup

This is one of my favorite soups from childhood and is based on my memory of my mom's recipe. I started making this not too long ago. it's quite simple to make.

Ingredients :

Watercress - water

Pork ribs ( better flavor with the bone)

Carrot -Young potato

Goji berries or Wolf berries

Ginger- Garlic - Red Dates

Start a pot of water for the soup, and another for the pork, bring to boil.

Watercress- to clean, use a big pot under running water and sprinkle salt over the greens that helps to remove any sand or dirt. (standard salt ,don’t waste the good stuff)

I like to keep a portion of watercress aside and add that in after 45 minutes so you can still have some of the crunch.

Pork- put in boiling water for a few minutes to remove the scum and impurities and also the soup will be clear and not cloudy. ( see picture)

When soup pot is boiling, put in pork, watercress, ginger (sm knob), garlic, carrots, and the red dates. Bring to boil again then simmer for 45 minutes

45 minutes later
Add the potatoes, goji berries, and the rest of the watercress.

Simmer for 15 minutes.

Done, I like to add the seasoning on the side , salt, white pepper and oyster sauce. Can add rice or pasta - i like macaroni

This soup also works as a detox soup. Not only this taste great, is super good for you!