Tong Sui

Tong Sui: means sugar water in cantonese.

I have tried to explain to the europeans what TongSui means.  It's eaten between meals but sometimes served as a dessert but it's not cold.  It sometimes is quite heavy because it contains root vegetables but it is not part of main meal.
I've given up explaining now.  

More info you can find in Wikipedia.

Some people add rose essence, some just plain sugar and water. I prefer mine with coconut milk. And if that is not available, I would use cream.

From my freezer, I found 3 bananas and a piece of tapioca a.k.a. cassava/manioc.
The perfect thing for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Ingredients

• 1 can coconut milk (400 ml)
• 200 ml water
• 3 small bananas
• 250 gm sweet potato
• 250 gm tapioca
• 2 tbsp sago/tapioca pearls soaked in 1 cup of water
• sugar or palm sugar to taste

Method

1. Clean and cut sweet potato and tapioca into 3 cm cubes.
2. Place potato, tapioca and water, cook on medium heat till soft.
3. Add coconut milk and sago and simmer gently till sago is clear.
4. Add sugar/palm sugar to taste.

Late summer garden

Summer of 2010 is no great year for nature. Wacky temperature, extreme dry spring and/or week long torrential rain in summer. Guess mother nature is taking its revenge. Autumn is already near as days (if it's not raining) are around 20°C, nights are around 10°C. Let's hope thisa autumn will be kind.

To keep summer as long as possible, I took some shots of flowers which are still surviving in my garden.

Kumquat Preserve

The kumquat can be eaten whole with skin, cooked in honey or sugar, or preserved with salt. Steep a few of these golden gems in hot water and it will become a delicious drink hot or cold, summer or winter to sooth the throat. It is a wonderful refreshment enjoyed all year round. Ingredients

• 250 gm fresh kamquats
  
• 250 gm sugar or 100 ml honey

Method

1. Wash kumquats and remove stems.
   
2. Use a pin and prick 4 or 5 times on each kumquat.
   
3. Place kumquats in a pan with 250ml water. Boil 5 minutes at medium flame.
   
4. Discard water.
   
5. Add sugar/honey and add enough water to cover the fruits.
   
6. Cook/simmer at medium heat for about 15 minutes or until fruits are soft.
   
7. Fill into a sterilized jar with twist-off lid.

Swabian Bauernschmaus

Bauernschmaus means peasant food. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly if it originated from Austria, Bavaria or Swabia but it is clear that it is german speaking region. The ingredients are basically what you find in a farm. It can be potatoes, sausages, ham, sauerkraut, cheese, eggs. The list is endless. Varies from farm to farm, season to season. Here is one version which I find unusual as applesauce is included. At the weekly fresh market in upper swabian town Biberach, there is a stand which sells this piping hot at €3.50 per portion, €3.00 if without applesauce. And here is the crunch.....You may get a second helping if you are still hungry... and even a third, if you don't feel embarrassed.

Ingredients

• 500 gm tagliatella (cooked)
  
• Smoked ham - cubed
  
• Onions - chopped
  
• salt and pepper
  
• oil for frying
  
• handful of chopped chives
  
• Apple sauce

Method

1. Heat pan at high.
   
2. Add oil and fry onions till it starts to brown.
   
3. Add ham and stir for 30 seconds.
   
4. Add tagliatella, stir carefully to loosen up the noodles.
   
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
   
6. Serve with sprinkling of chives and a good drollop of applesauce.

Happiness in a cup

With 1 carrot, a fruit knife, mandolin slicer and 5 minutes of my time. Happiness in a cup. Like the meaning of the real Gerbera flower's name.