My Cooking Journal 2 - Braised Pork Belly with Mei Cai (梅菜扣肉)

I learnt this recipe during my stay in Dubai when I am a home maker. I took down this recipe from a chinese program known as "美女私房菜" by CCTV (China TV Production). My hubby and I have tried out the recipe together and we are pleased with the result (tasty).

Ingredient:

1. Pork Belly (五花肉)
2. Spring onions - 1 whole stalk
3. Pu Er Tea (普洱茶)
4. Mei Cai also known as Dried Salty Mustard Cabbage (梅菜)
5. Star Anise (八角) - 1 or 2 pieces
6. Ginger - crushed
7. Garlic - chopped
8. Dark Soy Sauce - 2 to 3 tbsp
9. Brown Sugar - 1/2 tbsp
10. Chinese rice wine (花雕酒) -1 tbsp

Method:

• Soak dried salted mustard cabbage (梅菜) in water (best washed
  a few times and soak overnight).

• Boil hot water, pour hot water into a pot, then put crushed ginger, spring onion, star anise (八角) and chinese rice wine (花雕酒) into the pot of boiling water. Lastly, put in the pork belly and cook for 30 minutes (cover up the pot). Purpose is to blanch (沸水) the pork.

• Take out the pork and brush the pork with dark soy sauce.

• Put oil in wok, then fry the pork till cripsy - place the skin on bottom (Use big fire and turn slow when cripsy).

• Boil Hot water in pot, then put in the Pu Er Tea (普洱茶) and pork belly. Cook
  for about 10 minutes ( 5 minutes for each side of pork).

• Bring out the pork belly and cut it in slice, then arrange the sliced pork belly in plate (skin on bottom of plate) and set aside for steaming later.
  
  
  

• Drain off water in mei cai (梅菜) and cut it into small pieces.Put mei cai (梅菜) in wok, stir fry a while to dry up water in mei cai (梅菜), then add oil and garlic, stir fry for 5 minutes, add brown sugar and dark soy sauce and continue to stir for another 5 minutes, then add water and stir to boil.

• Remove mei cai (梅菜) from pot, place it on top of the pork belly. Cover the plate with aluminium foil and steam it for 2 hours.

• Ready to serve.

Happy Cooking!

Children Day Celebration

Another family times...it was 1st Oct. 2010 - Children Day. We took company leave and brought our children to Sentosa - to visit Underwater world via cable car. This was our plan to celebrate Children day with our kids but I guess there are too young to understand the real meaning of 1st Oct. To them, it was just another usual outing that we would bring them for fun.

We bought a package tour at the Cable Car ticket booth which cost $69.50 for per adult and free for children below 3. The package include return ticket for cable car ride, entry to Underwater world and Sentosa Cineblast (a 4-D motion simulated ride). Transport to these places was included in the package. My son enjoyed the touch pool at the entrance of Underwater watching those sea creatures swimming in the pool and at times, get a chance to touch and feel them. He wasn't really excited at travelling along the 83m long tunnel walk watching those amazing sea creatures swimming around us. However, he was looking forward for the 4-D ride before it started and he thought it would be fun for him. Unfortunately, he was freaked out half way through and cried out loud when it almost come to end. My younger one fell alseep before the ride starts and was waken by his brother's loud crying noise. Both brothers ended up crying together till the ride ends. As for us, we pretty much enjoyed the air-conditioning inside the cinema rather than the ride as we were damn tire and sweaty.

After completing our tour, we took the free shuttle bus service from Imbiah station to Resort World Sentosa for our dinner at Baits (Ding Tai Feng). Prior entering the restaurant, my boy was overjoyed by those "walking candies" and be so happy taking pictures with them. Then we headed to Baits restaurant where my son love eating 'La Mian' (he would call it "Piak Piak Mee Mee" as he used to watch the chef making the 'La Mian' in such a manner that while stretching and pulling the noodle, they will bring the noodle together and smack it on the table - then this will produce a loud "piak piak" sound). He just love watching them making the noodle. Anyway, the food at Baits was nice and the staffs was friendly too. Worth trying!

Our final destination was to bring the kids for free monorail ride (within the island) from Waterfront Station at Resort World Sentosa or also know as "Sentosa Express" (You have to pay $3 when you board the ride from Sentosa Station at 3rd level of Vivo City). The journey was short as it only contains four stations - Starting from Sentosa Station, Waterfront Station, Imbiah Station and lastly, Beach Station. We alight at Beach Station and wanted to spend sometimes at the beach upon my boy's request. He was delighted in the first place but changed his mind completely when we arrived at the beach and commented: "Mummy...eeeee.... the beach was so dirty". Then, we headed back to Imbiah lookout via bus service and to complete our cable car rides and return to Singapore Island - our home.

It was a "Transportation Day" for us as we took different transports travelling from our home to Sentosa and within the island, i.e. MRT, Coach, Bus, Carble Car and Monorail. It was indeed tiring but perhaps fun for my children as my elder boy loves travelling with different types of transport.

My Tai Tai's Life Ended

I have stopped blogging for long times. I realise , time flies and I am back to my real home for almost 16 months. My baby already 10 months old and my first boy will be 3 next month. Oh no, I really cannot bear to see both my kids grown up so fast! They are really fun and loving to be with. I would say, you will miss their baby moments. Baby times are the cutesiest and funniest moments to be with. Though it can be real tiring looking after them (no joke), you will still feel great enjoyment watching them developing and shower you with surprises at every stage of their growing process. So is a 'MUST' cherish moments!

My 'Tai Tai' life has vanished since my return to Singapore. I started my working life the moment I returned to Singapore. At that time, I was 4 months pregnant (with my 2nd one) and I really appreciate my ex-boss's willingness to accept me back. Hence, I do not need to go through the agony to look for new job, sending resume, attending job interview etc.

I would say, my reside in Dubai was a temporary training camp. It helps to funish my skills in looking after my kids as well as my cooking skills. Now, I am a full time working mummy. I have at least equips myself with those skills and has less hassle managing works, kids and family.

Everyday was a BUSY day for me as well as my hubby....from morning to night. Here are the lists of things I'll or my hubby will need to do daily:

In the morning

1. We need to get myself ready for work;
2. I prepare my kids - shower and change them, prepare milks for them;
3. Sent them to Child Care Centre, then rushed to work

In the Night

1. We need to rush home from work;
2. I need to prepare dinner (My hubby helps me if he return home early from work);
3. We fetch them from Child care centre (after I am done with my cooking);
4. We spent times woth them (watch TV, play toys, go shopping or coffee time together);
5. We prepare them to bed (My hubby showered the elder one and I settle the young one);
6. Sometimes read story book or sing nursery rhythms for my elder one (upon his request);
7. When they slept, I'll do my household chores, prepare cooking ingredients for my next day dinner, pack their stuff for school (with my hubby's help);
8. Last but not least, we will surf net/gaming together till mid night for our own relaxtion and at times have supper together.

Whew! It so tiring but what to do! This is life right! Whenever I feel groomy, I will look at my two 'bao bei' pictures or video and it will brighten my mood.

Sticker Photos (大头贴)

I still remember our 1st 大头贴 was taken at Heeren (Orchard) at year 2003. We were then not married yet. We have our ROM ceremony on 13 October 2003 but has yet to complete our chinese custom ceremony. We still stay in our own parent's house at that point of time.

Then, it became our habit to take Purikura (in japanese) or Da Tou Tie -大头贴 (in chinese) once every year. This one above was taken in year 2004 on my birthday. I still remember those "stressful and tough times" that we have had together.

This one above was taken on 13 Oct. 2005 - our 2nd anniversary (ROM). We were in progress planning for our Chinese Custom Wedding Ceremony. It was supposed to be held in year 2005 but due to some unforseen circumstances, we have to delay it to 18 March 2006.

This one above was taken on 13 Oct. 2007 with my big tummy protruding out. We were then celebrating our 4th anniversary and awaiting our 1st child arrival which will be due in Nov. 2007. However, we didn't manage to take any photo stickers on year 2008 as we then relocated to Dubai (You know, can't locate any photo stickers machine in Dubai...What a pity!).

This one above was taken in year 2009 on our 6th anniversary. This time with new member, my 1st boy - Zhe Xian. We took this picture at Heeren (Orchard).

Then, this year (13 Oct. 2010), we missed it again! We didn't manage to take any stricker photo as we were in rush to send our two kids to see chinese physician after our work (both were down with flu and cough). Then, we have our dinner at Jack Place (Marina Square) for our 7th anniversary and we took our photo in Jack Place's. This time, another new member, our 2nd boy - Zhi Xian (10 month old) has joined us.