INDIAN BORANGE BALM

Indian Borage Balm

 Specially made for insect bites and itch. 

It is suitable for babies too

Because I used all organic ingredients.

 Indian Borage Balm

Ingredients A

150g dry weight of Indian borage leaves

150g coconut oil 

Ingredients B

100g Indian Borage oil

25g organic beeswax

25g Shea butter (optional)

Method:

Step No. 1

1) wash Indian borage leaves and air to dry for 2 to 3 days

2) weigh 150g dried leaves

3) put 150g coconut oil into a sauce pan

4) put on medium to low heat, add the leaves slowly, reduce the heat if too hot

5) stir occasionally as you fry the leaves

6) when less bubbles appear in the oil it will soon be ready

7) the leaves will turn dark and crispy, off the heat 

8) let cool & strain the oil for later use

Step No.2

1) Weigh 100g the cooled oil and put into a cup (able to withstand heat)

2) add 25g beeswax 

3) add 25g Shea butter if used

4) put this cup into a small basin of boiling water to heat up the oil

5) stir until the beeswax has dissolved

6) remove from the hot water & pour into the balm containers

7) if thicken, can bring it back to the basin of hot water.

8) let the balm cool down, and cover until required.

STRESS RELATED HERBAL REMEDY

Unknowingly, stress and depression, 

can actually contribute to 'heat' in the body and upsets the digestive system.

Things are not going your way, 

and you feel stressed.

Sleepless nights make you irritable during the day.

The more you think about it, the more fearful you become.

You may feel your throat dry

and your lips lost its usual colour.

You have no appetite and it soon leads to digestive problems, and irritable bowels.

All these symptoms are rather scary as it can make a person depress,

and lose weight tremendously!

I found that 

Lily Bulb and Lotus Seeds

have been widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine

for treating problems like these.

Lily Bulb

Lily Bulb 

has a cooling property. 

It is beneficial to the heart and lungs.

TCM use it to moisturise the lungs, soothe the throat and relieve cough.

It is used to calm the spirit,

providing a sense of peace and tranquillising the mind.

Thereby, reduce irritability, 

improve sleep quality 

and alleviating symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

Caution:

1) use in moderation

2) overdose can cause diarrhoea

Lotus Seed

Lotus seed is a powerful antioxidant

and help fight inflammation 

and slow down aging process.

It is easily digested, so is suitable for both elderly and kids.

It helps to treat mouth sores,

improve appetite,

strengthen the digestive system,

treat insomnia and sleep disorders.

Caution:

1) may reduce blood sugar level

2) expectant mothers must avoid taking

I have used the following 2 recipes:

 (1) Lily Bulb Porridge

Ingredients:

rice, lily bulb & dried ginger

Method: 

add more water as cooking porridge

(2) Lily Bulb Lotus Seed Soup

20g lily bulb

20g lotus seed 

4 dried scallop

lean pork

1) combine all, add water and simmer over low heat for 2 hours

4 Dates Health Drink

Red Dates or jujuba fruits, 

commonly known as Chinese dates, 

is a popular traditional herb 

used in China long ago, 

both for food and health. 

TCM believe that it helps to prevent anemia 

and

 improve the complexion because of it’s iron content.

 As it is high in fibre it helps in overall health, 

improve bowel movement and strengthen the immunity and liver function. 

Both black dates and blue dates are good for the skin and hair.  

Blue dates are more expensive and they are longer 

whereas the black dates are rounded as shown in the photo.

The candies or honey dates is used to sweeten the drink.

To make 2 to 3 cups of this nutritious drink

You will need:

4 red dates

2 black dates

2 blue (nan) dates

2 honey dates

4 cups water

1) cut the dates in half. Some will advise to remove the seeds before boiling. 
2) Put everything into a slow cooker to boil for 2 hours. 
3) When done, Use the back of the spoon to press the dates to squeeze out the nutrients if you are not eating the pulp. 
4) Strain and drink either warm or chilled. 
5) You will be surprised how nice is the taste of the drink! You will love it.

 Drink

Discard

Bentong Ginger Drink Paste

Bentong Ginger Drink Paste

文冬姜紅枣茶

This is a ready to mix and drink Tea Paste.  The herbal ingredients can be obtained from the local Chinese Medical Shop. Genuine Bentong Ginger may not be easily available though it is known for its potency. 

If you are interested, here is the recipe:

125g bentong ginger, cleaned & cut

20 pieces red dates, clean & seeds removed

50g dried longan

50g wolfberry, washed

1 cup water

200g organic brown sugar

1. Blend together Ginger, red dates, longan & water
2. Pour into a pot and cook over low to medium heat 
3. Stir often and cook until quite dry
4. Add sugar and continue cooking until it thickens
5. Add wolfberry & allow to cook awhile
6. Let cool before storing 

To drink:

Just add 1 or 2 heaped tea spoon into hot water, stir and drink.

TAEKWANDO HERBAL OINTMENT

Taekwando Herbal Ointment
for External use only.

The herbs may be expensive, believe me
it is effective for sprain.

Note: Only for External use , cannot be consumed!

Soak all the herbs in 2 bottles of Chinese Rice Wine for 100 days.

3 HERBAL DRINKS

 3 HERBAL DRINKS

黃耆、杞子、紅枣湯

This herbal drink can be prepared easily.
It is beneficial in strengthening the immune system,
helps in digestive system and
improve vision.

Note:
Do not drink if you have flu, fever or sore throat
as the astragalus slices can be heaty too.

Huang Qi Drink 

5g Huang Qi (Astragalus)

10g wolfberry

10g red dates, seeds removed

500ml boiling water

Rinse all ingredients & put into 500ml of boiling water
and allow to simmer for 1/2 an hour

PAPAYA SNOW FUNGUS DESSERT

PAPAYA SNOW FUNGUS DESSERT

木瓜雪耳糖水

Papaya has been quite popular recently, especially for aches & pain.

The green papayas are boiled in water,

either drink plain or added to fresh coconut water.

When eaten fresh, papaya helps in digestion

and improves constipation.

During confinement, many use it to boil soup with fish.

It is said that it helps to increase milk flow for bread-feeding moms.

Sharing with you a recipe that helps to improve your complexion:

Papaya Fungus Dessert

1 or 2 Snow Fungus, soaked & break into small pieces

1/2 small papaya, remove skin & seeds, cut into small pieces

6 red dates, cut 1/2

2 pandan leaves, knotted

8 dried longan

some rock sugar 

1) put red dates, pandan leaves & snow fungus into 1/2 pot of boiling water

    allow to simmer 20-30min

2) add papaya and longan, continue simmering another 15min

3) remove pandan leaves & add rock sugar to taste.

4) when sugar dissolved, remove from heat, let cool

Note:

either serve warm or chilled

BLACK HAIR HERBAL TONIC

Black Hair Herbal Tonic

is nice to drink as a soup, nice & sweet!

It is good if you want a thicker, black and shiny hair!

To me, it doesn't really matters whether it helps or not, 

the soup is nice to drink!

It is boiled with the following

'BLACK' ingredients:

Black Hair Herbal Tonic

Herbs:

20g Heshouwu

50g black beans, soaked

3 black date or red dates, halved

1-2 dried mushrooms, soaked & cleaned

15g black fungus, soaked & cut smaller

3 longan

20g wolfberry

Either: 1/4 kampong chicken or

            1 black chicken or

            300g spare ribs

1 litre or more boiling water

Method:

1) All herbs, except wolfberry, into the slow cooker

2) pour in 1 litre (or more) boiling water

3) slow cook on 'HIGH'

4) when boiling, add meat & wolfberry, continue to cook on 'HIGH'

5) After 2 hours of boiling, set on 'LOW' to simmer until ready to serve.

Note: can be served with or without 'salt'

PEACH GUM DESSERT

Peach Gum Dessert

is sweet and flavourful because of the abundance in ingredients.

Love it especially when chilled!

This is made with the following dried peach gum

bought from the Chinese Medical Shops.

Other ingredients include red dates, dried longan and goji berries.

I have added 3 pandan leaves for the pandan fragrance.

Peach Gum Dessert

1/2 handful of peach gum, soaked overnight, remove the impurities

3 pandan leaves, knotted

red date, slit open

dried longan

goji berries

rock sugar to taste

1) bring 1/2 pot of water to a boil

2) add pandan leaves & red dates & peach gum, allow to simmer for 10min

3) add dried longan, continue to simmer

4) remove pandan leaves, add goji berries and sugar to taste

5) when sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and allow to cool

6) best served when chilled

TURMERIC CHICKEN

Turmeric
is a commonly used spice in Asia countries.
It is also used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.

It has an active substance known as Curcumin.
And Curcumin is found to be among the most effective anti-inflammatory compound in the world.
It speeds up wound healing.

Curcumin is also used by rheumatoid arthritis patients
because of its pain-reducing characteristics.

Perhaps you may like to have a look at the extract from Dr. Josh Axe

After reading all the benefits of Turmeric
are you anxious to cook this?

Turmeric Chicken

tastes good if it is dry and crispy

It tastes even better 

if fresh turmeric is used

when you do not mind your fingers, knife & chopping board turn yellow

Turmeric Chicken

1/2 chicken, cut into bite size

2-3 tsp turmeric powder

2 tsp sugar
salt to taste

3 Tbsp sesame seed oil/cooking oil
1/2 egg, beaten
2 tsp corn flour

1) marinate chicken with turmeric powder, salt & sugar
    leave aside for 1/2 hour or more

2) add beaten egg & corn flour to the marinated chicken
3) heat up oil in a frying pan
4) add chicken pieces and fry until cooked

Notes:

1. egg & corn flour is added to make the chicken tender
2. if you can poke through the the chicken pieces with a chopstick, it is done.

4 HERBS TONIC SOUP

4 Herbs Tonic Soup

(Si Shen Tang)

四神汤

was originally known as 

4 Ministers Soup

(Si Chen Tang)

四臣汤

The herbs used in this soup is neutral in nature.

It is ideal as food remedies

to support digestive system, increase appetite
and help to improve immune system.

健脾、開胃、养颜、清火、利尿

This Si Sheng Tang is suitable for all ages,
Children, adults and seniors.

You can eat the herbs in this 4 herbs tonic soup.
 I normally finish most of it.
Sometimes it is taken as a meal by diabetic patients too.

This classic formula consists of 4 herbs in equal parts as follows:

4 Herbs Tonic Soup

25g Poria (Fu Ling) 茯苓
25g Chinese wild yam (Huai San) 淮山

25g White lotus seeds (Lian Chi) 蓮子

25g Euryale Seeds (Qian Shi) 芡实
8 longan for sweetness, optional

Note:

1. Pork ribs or lean meat can be added for flavour 

2. Rinse the herbs, blanch the pork ribs & put in a slow cooker
3. Add hot boiling water & allow to boil for 2-3 hours.

SPORTS HERBAL RUB

藥酒

Sports Herbal Rub

shared by Mei Su @meisuskitchen.

According to its owner,

this recipe is more than 40 years old!

活血、舒筋、活絡

It is used for 

muscles fatique and blood circulation.

This rub aids in recovery after hurt in sports

and soothes pain.

As Mei Su is an extreme sports women herself

she says this herbal rub is

"Perfect for extreme sports preparation and daily training"

Herbal Rub Infusion

Soak for 3 months

and draw out some to use, let the remaining continue to soak.

SAVOURY DRIED FIG SOUP

无花果

Dried Figs 

are usually eaten as snacks.

I do not know that it can be boiled in soups until Long Yen introduced.

Figs are rich in soluble fibre and essential minerals.

Besides improving general health, 

it also promotes bone density,

lower blood pressure,

rejuvenate and improve skin conditions.

Look at this extract....

Savoury Dried Fig Soup

200-300g pork ribs

3 dried figs

3 red dates

some wolfberry

2-3 bowls of water

1. rinse pork ribs in boiling water to remove impurities

2. all ingredients into a pot, bring to a boil

3. lower heat and allow to simmer for an hour.

4. enjoy warm

Note:

This soup is sweet. Adding salt is optional

HERBAL TEA EGGS

茶叶蛋

Herbal Tea Eggs

so fragrant and nice, 

I usually cannot resist buying some when passing by the shop.

Thank you Krystal Wee for sharing the recipe.

Don't be like me

attempt to eat it the next day.

The colour is not dark enough.

According to Krystal Wee the key is love & patience, haha!

Yes,

"2 to 3 days old eggs taste best!"

Here are the herbs and tea leaves used in the recipe

Using a spoon to crack the egg shell when it is cooled.

Here is Krystal Wee's exclusive recipe if you are interested:

Herbal Tea Eggs 

10 eggs, small or medium size

2 slices dang gui

2 slices chuan xiong
2 star anise
3 Tbsp Tea leaves

1/2 handful of red dates

1/2 handful of dried longan

1.5 tsp salt

Seasoning:

4 - 6 Tbsp brown sugar

4 - 6 Tbsp dark soya sauce

1) wash eggs, add enough water to cover the eggs

2) add herbs, tea leaves and salt and bring to a boil. 

3) Simmer for 10min, and let cool

4) remove eggs and crack them gently with a spoon

5) put back the eggs, with shell on, into the herbal water

5) add seasoning, more water if necessary and bring to a boil

6) lower the heat and simmer for 30min

7) turn off heat, cover & leave over night

8) reheat until boil. Enjoy

SEA CUCUMBER DESSERT

Sea Cucumber
has long been used in Chinese Cooking,

Sea Cucumbers are expensive
and
it takes long time to prepare,
so they are mainly used in expensive dishes,
like braised sea cucumber,
sweet and sour sea cucumber
and
the famous Foochow Delicacy,
'Buddha Jump Over The Wall'

Recent discovery
is that Sea Cucumber is a good source of collagen.
so it has been introduced in many dishes.

Johanna Wong
recently introduced to us a tub of Sea Cucumber Tong Sui
which she bought from the local market!

It looks nice
and here I am with this simple recipe.

Sea Cucumber Tong Sui

1 small sea cucumber, soaked, softened and cleaned (cut into small pieces)

some wolfberries

some red dates

some dried longan

some white fungus (optional)

Method:

1) all ingredients into a double boiler, add enough water

2) double boil for 1-2 hours 

3) add rock sugar to taste

4) enjoy your collagen dessert

Note:

If you do not like the fishy smell of sea cucumber

you may like to add a few slices of old ginger 

HERBAL DRINK FOR EYES

Eyes

nowadays need to work extra hard for us.

As such they get tired easily.

With so many electronic devices,

like handphones, tablets, laptops and desk top computers etc.

it is really taxing on our eyes!

I have consulted several

Chinese Sinseh,

and they recommended brewing a cup of this herbal drink regularly

for your eyes.

The herbs are easy to get.
If you like to give it a try, just follow the list below:

 Herbal Drink For Eyes

1 tsp Black Goji Berries 黑枸杞

6 Chrysanthemum Buds 胎菊

1 Dendrobium Nobile 石斛

2 Red Dates 紅棗

Method:

1) put Chrysanthemum, dendrobium and red dates in a cup

2) rinse the herbs by pouring boiling water over it and drain immediately

3) Pour 1 cup fresh boiling water over the herbs, cover and leave for a minute

4) rinse Black goji berries with water, drain

5) add gojiberries into the cup and steep together with the herbs for 15-20min

6) sieve and remove the herbs, drink the clear drink

Note:

If you only have some black gojiberries,

go ahead and steep one or two teaspoon of it 

with a cup of  warm water.

WEIGHT LOSS RED BEAN SOUP

Red Beans

is loved by many for its taste and soft creamy texture.

It is commonly used to cook desserts

like sweet soups and pancakes.

It is also used as fillings for Bao and Buns.

Seldom people realize that it has medicinal value too.

It is used to eliminate 'dampness' from the body

as recorded in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

It is effective in removing fluid from the body

and reducing swelling.

It is an agent to stimulate weight Loss too.

Very often, water retention in our body makes us look fat and swollen!

Perhaps you may like to have a look at the benefits 

of red beans here

To help reduce body fluid, you may like to try this:

Weight Loss Red Bean Soup

38g red bean

38g lotus seeds, shoots removed

8g Fu Ling, break into small pieces

600g water

raw sugar to taste, optional

          

1) soak red bean, lotus seeds and Fu Ling for 3 hours or more

2) drain and add 600g water and bring to a boil

3) lower heat to simmer for 1 to 1.5 hours until the nuts and beans are soft

4) add sugar if necessary

Note:

1) After cooking, you should be having a watery soup instead of a thick creamy porridge.

2) Better to consume everything, nuts and water to get the best benefit

3) Lotus seeds and Fu Ling are added for its medicinal value too.

    You can have a look at the medicinal value on the link high lighted.

   

BLACK GINGER GEMS

Black Ginger Gems

a name I give 

to these little black Candies that are so precious

as remedies to cold, 
indigestion,
to expel wind from body 
 & general health of ladies especially 

This is not meant to be eaten as candies or sweets
as sugar content is quite high!

Ginger

although it is good, how many will chew it, fibre and all?

To boil it, takes time & effort to prepare.

The idea of having it always in the pocket

leads me to explore and prepare these little candies

which I fondly call 

Black Ginger Gems

One time cooking

can provide one month supply

does that sound acceptable?

If your answer is 'yes'

try this recipe and you will have no regrets.

Black Ginger Gems

250g fresh old ginger, I use Bentong Ginger

275g granulated sugar

115g black sugar

60-80g water, help in blending of ginger

1) wash ginger thoroughly & scrape away ginger skin. cut into small pieces

2) blend until fine & leave aside

3) heat granulated sugar until golden, stir caramel evenly taking care not to burn

4) add blended ginger & black sugar, stir regularly until thick

5) when mixture comes together & leaves the sides of pan, it is ready

6) remove from heat & spread on parchment paper to cool

7) roll into balls or cut into cubes, leave to cool until hard

8) store when hardened

Ginger Gems cut in cubes

 Ginger Gems roll into balls

GINSENG 'BEARDS' CHICKEN SOUP

I am using 

Korean Ginseng Fine Roots or 'beards' 

for this chicken soup

The 'beards' of Korean Ginseng

is similar in colour 

to the main root

but

the strength has been greatly reduced.

It is no longer heaty

and

it helps in cleaning of blood

especially useful to those who have skin problems

like pimples and rashes

Ginseng roots are sold in bundles like this

Ginseng 

has a bitter taste

As such, other herbs such as huai san, dried longan and wolfberries 

are added to sweeten the soup

1 chicken thigh, or other parts (kampong chicken)

10-20g ginseng roots

2 rice bowls of hot water

12g huai san

8 longan

1-2 Tbsp wolfberries

salt to taste (optional)

1) blanch chicken in boiling water, drained

2) rinse all herbs & put into a steaming bowl

3) add hot water & chicken

4) double boil for 3 hours

5) add salt to taste if required

6 HERB SOUP

六味湯

六味湯
This is an appetizing

and clear soup

with 6 herbs 

as shown in the photo below

The following has an additional item:
 sar shen.

  

It is good as a dessert
by adding some barley pearls to boil together.

When ready, sweeten it with some rock sugar

This is good for the little ones in the family

as it helps to increase appetite 

6 herbs soup

(can be bought in ready packet from a chinese medical shop)

15g huai san

25g dried lotus seeds

30g yu zhu

15g see sud

25g pak hup

15g longan

1 chicken thigh

2 chicken feet

1) rinse the herbs & put into a double boiler or slow cooker

2) add chicken thigh & feet

3) add enough boiling water

4) double boil for 2-3 hours

5) serve