Lobak (Five-Spice Meat Rolls)
Lobak is a deep fried minced pork roll wrapped in beancurd sheet. It has a crunchy exterior with a soft and chewy filling. On the island of Penang, lobak is often made at home by the Straits Chinese as one of the main dishes during festivals and celebrations. At the food courts, it is eaten [...]
In contrast to Chinese New Year in Asia with family and friends, over here it is a work day for most people. The snow that we “ordered for Christmas” finally arrived and Ro-Ri San had to fire up the snow thrower to clear the driveway. He took the day off to accompany me while the [...]
One of the most delectable aromas in Asian Chinatowns is the smell of Bak Kwa being roasted on a charcoal brazier in a nearby restaurant. Interestingly, there are Chinatowns even in predominantly Chinese cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Singapore where things feel more Chinese. In Kuala Lumpur there is Petaling Street or Chee Cheong [...]
Continue reading about Bak Kwa (Long Yoke Korn) – Dragon Meat for the Year of the Dragon
Ever thought of food as time capsules? Everyone can think of some food that instantly transports us back to an exact place and time in our lives with its unique combination of taste, scent, and texture. For me, some of these traditional Chinese confectioneries bring me back to long childhood road trips from Kuala Lumpur, [...]
Continue reading about Hup Toh Soh (Chinese Walnut Biscuits)
Leng Chee Kang is a dessert consisting of a variety of pre-cooked ingredients mixed in a syrup. Considered to have “cooling” properties, it may be served warm or cold with ice cubes. Hence, it’s popularity in Malaysia and Singapore where the climate is hot and humid throughout the year. While it is not exactly a [...]
A chicken dish is a must have at the Chinese New Year Eve reunion dinner. Typically the chicken is served whole with the head and all, symbolizing wholeness and prosperity. When I was a kid, the silky smooth “pak cham kai” (in Cantonese dialect) or “white cut chicken” was very popular. This dish is similar [...]
Holidays, holidays, we just can’t get enough of them. The Christmas ornaments are back in their year-long storage and the new calendars are up in place. Time to move on with the work year, right? Not so fast! Let’s bring out the bright red scrolls, pussy willow branches, and Mandarin oranges. The Chinese or Lunar [...]
Continue reading about Poached Pears with White Fungus and Red Dates
The weekends are too short and they go by too quickly! Even though I am home most of the time, I still look forward to the weekends because it is a break from my crazy schedule and a time to bond with family and friends. Saturdays are just the best! It is a day to [...]
The Chinese New Year festivities would not be complete without this much awaited dish called Chai Boey which literally means leftovers. This is a tangy dish of mustard greens boiled with leftover meats and vegetables, popularly known as Chop Suey in our family. There is no specific recipe and the taste differs each time depending [...]
While preparing the crispy taro shreds for the Yee Sang (Raw Fish Salad) last week, I was reminded of this lesser known Chinese New Year snack. I have only had these a handful of times as a kid visiting friends’ homes during the festivities. If I remember correctly, they are called “Wu Har” in the [...]
Continue reading about Crunchy Taro Fritters and CSN Giveaway
