Lava Queen

Weather has been crazy lately; extremely hot in the afternoon and thunderstorms in the evening. Bought a bottle gourd to boil soup to help 'clear heat'. This time I've chosen to boil this melon soup with corn silk and pork bones. The reason why it is called 'melon' soup is because all the 3 main ingredients; papaya (木瓜), bottle gourd (葫芦瓜) and chayote squash (佛手瓜) are called 瓜 (meaning melon) in Chinese. This soup is said to be suitable for those with dry skin as chayote can help to enhance skin condition and beauty, and those who suffer from poor circulation from prolonged hours of sitting as corn silk and bottle gourd can help to relieve edema. It is also good for those who suffer from constipation, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Love how refreshing and naturally sweet the soup is :D The 3 瓜 aka melons :) As I have mentioned before, corn silk are very nutritious as it can help to promote diuresis, dispel heat and improve the function of gall...

This is the simple version of the Chinese arrowroot soup (Also known as 粉葛湯 'Fun Kot Tong' in Cantonese). Our family love drinking this soup. It is tasty and cooking it with pork bones and dried squid makes it sweet and refreshing. Some people who like boiling arrowroot together with lotus roots or peanuts, and my mother-in-law usually boils it on its own and drink as 'cooling' tea. Naturally sweet and tasty. If you don't like seafood, you can choose to omit the dried squid. This is how the Chinese arrowroot looks like.  The arrowroot is a type of root plant similar to taro, potato or tapioca. However, it is harder in texture and incredibly starchy. When it is cut up, it has patterns that looks like the ages of a tree trunk. It is usually made into powder and used as thicken agent in cooking. The arrowroot is high in protein and fiber which is very beneficial to our body. Ingredients: 1 medium-sized Chinese arrowroot (Approx 700g) 10 red dates, ...

Another soup that's good for the ladies! :P This soup can help to calm the nerves, protect the heart and womb, and nourishes Yin. It is, of course, suitable for the whole family too. Chinese Yam can help strengthen the stomach/spleen and nourish the kidneys, while white fungus can help to nourish the lungs, expel heat and improve metabolism. As I mentioned before, white fungus is also known as the 'poor man's bird nest' as it is rich in phyto-collagen which can help to keep skin youthful :D This soup is also suitable for those after childbirth or who had just undergone a surgery as white fungus can help to speed up recovery. A soup that can help to brighten and moisturize the skin :D Ingredients: 1 tael (Approx 37.5g) Dried Chinese yam 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) gojiberries 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) dried longan 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) white fungus/snow fungus 10 red dates, pits removed 1 black-bone chicken, skin removed and chopped into pieces 2500ml water ...

Note: NO sharks were harmed in the making of this soup! 👅 Nothing beats a warm bowl of light and healthy soup on a rainy night :D Shark fin melon is a type of squash and it's a popular ingredient used in Chinese soups. As you may have guessed, this melon is called shark fin melon because its flesh breaks apart into slivers resembling shark’s fin when cooked. According to Wikipedia , it is said that eating this melon can help people with diabetes, due to its high D-Chiro-Inositol content.  This is how the shark fin melon looks like. The skin looks a little like watermelon . The whole melon is huge, so we normally buy a 1/4 of it, or 1/2 if it's a slightly smaller one. Some say the seeds are soft and edible after cooking but I prefer to remove them. The taste of the soup may be mild at first but as you simmer, the flavor of the melon, dried scallops, carrot, honey dates and pork bones really do come together, creating a sweet yet savory taste. M...

This is one good soup for nourish & rejuvenate oneself. American Ginseng Root Fibers or Yang Sheng Xu . American Ginseng Root Fibers (Known as Yang Sheng Xu in Chinese) are low-quality fibers taken from the rootstock of the Panax Quinquefolium (American Ginseng) plant and are one of the cheapest types of ginseng you can find in the market. Some call them 'Beards' as its Chinese name 洋参 (Yang Sheng) 须 (Xu) literally translates to American Ginseng 'beards'. They are fine fibers, which are the very ends of the ginseng roots, having a bittersweet flavor and aroma typical of ginseng, and are used as a nutritional supplement in order to support neuro-physical and organ health. A well known property of this ginseng is that it is cooling and can help to reduce heatiness in the body. Some people like boiling them in water for 10-15 mins and add a pinch of salt before drinking but I prefer double boiling them for a couple of hours to really bring out the lovely herby...

My parents are over for a visit and will be here for a week, so it's busy, busy and busy; Busy cleaning up the house (before they arrive), busy clearing the fridge, busy being their driver, busy bringing them to their favorite places to eat/bringing them to try some new food or restaurants etc etc. Lol. You know how people say even when you've grown up, you will always be a baby/kid in your parents' eyes... That's so true. E very time they come over, they will bring LOTSA seafood (Coz I love eating them!) - fish, prawns, scallops and crabs (That's the reason why we need to clear the fridge before they arrive :P).   They say that it's much cheaper and fresher in East Malaysia, which is true.  They even bring Bario/brown/highland rice over and say it's healthier and unprocessed, therefore  it's better for us, especially my LO.  Though I told them it's heavy, I don't want them to carry such load and hurt themselves, but they still continue to bring ...

This is one of the soups to calm upset stomachs resulting from irregular sleeping routines. It is said to be suitable for those who often stays up late at night, with weak blood and often feels lethargic.  Ginseng is effective in protecting lungs and enhances Qi. Angelica root invigorates blood and regulates menstrual cycle. Chinese wild yam tonifies spleen and augments stomach. Dried longan nourishes blood and calms spirit. Black-bone chicken replenishes blood, enhances yin and brightens eyesight.   A soothing clear soup with a mild bittersweet aftertaste from the ginseng :) Ingredients: 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) ginseng 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) Angelica root/dang gui 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) dried Chinese wild yam/huai shan 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) dried longan 2 large slices of ginger 1/2 a black-bone chicken, skin removed Scald black-bone chicken in boiling water for 5 mins. Rinse and set aside. Rinse all ingredients and set aside. Put all ingredients in a pot ...

This is more like a dessert than a soup. It is nourishing and can enhance beauty. Bird's nest nourishes lungs, purifies the blood, enhances skin, beauty and qi. This dessert is also suitable for those suffering from chronic cough and weak lungs as rock sugar can help to nourish the throat and lungs, stop cough and expel phlegm.  Beautiful skin is skin that is well nourished, literally! :D Note: You can substitute bird's nest with white/snow fungus, which is known as 'bird's nest for the poor', especially if you have fibroids as it is said that the nutrients in bird's nest might enlarge the fibroids. This dessert is suitable for breastfeeding mothers too as it is effective in promoting the secretion of breast milk. Ingredients: 3 maces (Approx 11.3g) bird's nest Approx 150g papaya 1/2 cup fresh milk Adequate rock sugar (Depending on how sweet you like) 1 cup boiling water Soak bird's nest til soft, clean thoroughly and set aside. Pe...

American ginseng is cool in nature and tastes bittersweet.  I usually like double boiling it with chicken and sometimes with added cordyceps militaris/ chong cao hua.  It can help to enhance Qi, nourish the body,  boost the immune system  and clear heat from the body. I simply love the bittersweet taste from the American ginseng :) This soup is warm and nourishing. It is good for the skin (white fungus) and respiratory system (Dried tangerine peel), and it can also prevent constipation (Papaya). Ingredients: 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) American ginseng slices 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) white fungus 1 green papaya 10 dried figs 1 pc dried tangerine peel Approx 300g lean meat 2500ml water Soak dried tangerine peel til soft. Scrape off the internal white pith. Soak and rinse white fungus for a few times til fully expanded. Rinse and set aside. Scald lean meat in boiling water for 5 mins. Rinse and set aside. Peel papaya, remove seeds and cut into pieces....

One may not be familiar with the name monk fruit, but I'm sure most have heard of Buddha fruit (It was first used by Buddhist monks in the 13th century, hence the fruit’s unusual name), or  luo han guo ( Luo Han means monk and Guo means fruit). This fruit has been used for thousands of years as both a medicinal remedy for a variety of diseases and a useful food additive, namely as an artificial sweetener - its extract is 150 to 200 times sweeter than sugar with no impact on blood sugar levels, and contains zero calories. Some of the most important health benefits of monk fruit include its ability to treat diabetes, help with weight loss, prevent allergies, prevent certain types of cancer (It's packed with antioxidants), stop coughs and clear phlegm. Fresh monk fruit doesn't store well, so it is usually dried and used to make medicinal teas.  However, not everyone is a fan of monk fruit’s fruity taste, and that includes my hubby and I :P....

This soup is full of natural nourishing ingredients that works to expel heat and balance our intake. It also contains a few ingredients that can help boost metabolism and enhance beauty:  White fungus contains plant gelatin, proteins and vitamins. It clears heat, moisturizers the lungs and body.   It also increases the metabolism of cells, in the process whitening and moisturizing the skin. Job's tear is effective in whitening skin, expelling heat, promoting metabolism and has diuretic effect to help lose weight.  Chinese mushroom tastes sweet, benefits the liver and kidney, improves stomach, boost brain power, enhances beauty, reduces high cholesterol level and high blood pressure.   It is said that this soup is suitable for weak stomach and intestine, slimming, reducing blood fat and expelling of heat from the body.  It's naturally sweet and it is nourishing for the skin at the same time :D Ginkgo nuts are a traditional food item in the oriental cuisi...

This soup is said to be suitable for those who suffer from insomnia, with poor metabolism, excessive heat in the body, fatigue and indigestion:  Burdock promotes diuresis, reduces swelling and detoxifies, radish clears heat and promotes digestion, lily bulb nourishes lungs, euryale seeds strengthen spleen and expel dampness, and goji berry benefits essence and brightens eyesight.  We love its earthy aroma and taste :) Burdock root generally is considered an edible food product, especially in Asia. They are known to have been anti-oxidant, disease preventing, and contain health promoting properties. The root is earthy and has a distinctive taste. Some say the flavor can be slightly astringent, somewhat like ginseng.  Burdock root's white flesh can oxidize after it is peeled. To prevent this, submerge the root in water and use immediately after cut. Ingredients: Approx 300g burdock Approx 600g radish 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) euryale seed/qian shi 1 ...

Angelica root is often used in cooking as it is tasty and nutritious, in addition to its healing and strengthening properties. This soup is said to be suitable for those with poor blood circulation, cold limbs, blurry vision or lethargic: Angelica root replenishes blood and regulates menstrual cycle, conch nourishes yin and brightens eyesight, astragalus root tonifies spleen, while red date and black-bone chicken replenishes blood.  Slices of Angelica root. Angelica root, known as dang gui in Chinese, tastes sweet, slightly spicy and slightly bitter. It is nicknamed the 'female ginseng' because of its benefits for women; tonifies blood, regulates menstrual flow, improves blood flow, eases cramps and other symptoms of PMS, has a calming effect on nervous system and promotes relaxation . I usually buy the whole root in Chinese herb stores and request them to pre-slice for me. I'll use them in steamed herbal chicken or simply double broil them together with chick...

Perfect for hot days, this refreshing soup can help to 'clear heat' and combat the toll that it can take on the body. Just like the winter melon (which is actually a gourd and not a melon), bottle gourd makes a great soup in the summer. It  tastes sweet and it can help to reduce heat, promote diuresis and reduce swelling. Also known as 'lauki' in Hindi, the Indians usually make this into an amazing, thick, rich, creamy and nutritious soup. But I've chosen to use a Chinese-style recipe and the result was this light, naturally sweet, refreshing and healthy soup. This is a good and easy recipe when you’re in the mood for a Chinese soup that satisfies. A clear and pleasing soup that will keep you cool when you’re heaty :) Clockwise from top left: Bottle gourd, honey dates, dried conch, black-eyed beans and corn silk. Bottle gourd, corn silk and black-eye beans promote urination, relieve edema and reduce high blood pressure and high blood sugar....

Was shopping at the usual supermarket recently when I saw a lady promoting something which, from far, looked like sweet potatoes to me. I didn't pay attention to her til she called out to me and handed me a piece to sample. She was promoting organic yacons, not sweet potato. The moment I put it into my mouth, I remembered eating this looong time ago, but because I seldom see it in the supermarkets, I had totally forgotten about such a thing.  The yacon is a traditionally grown for its crisp, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots. Though the root looks like a   sweet potato, the taste and texture are completely different. Its crispy texture, juiciness and mildly sweet taste makes it somewhat similar to water chestnut or snow pear. It can be eaten raw or cook. It is said that yacon  is very high in fiber and low in calories which makes it a healthy and nutritious snack.   Some of the health benefits of yacon include its ability to regulate blood sugar ...

Long hours of working in front of computers often lead to a multitude of other problems such as aching eyes, reduced vision, poor blood circulation in the lower limb and aching neck/shoulder. This soup can help to brighten eyesight and replenish blood.  The soup tastes sweet and earthy. Fleece flower root replenishes blood and makes our hair black and glossy. Black bean is rich in antioxidants, helps in lowering cholesterol and replenishes blood. Red date tonifies blood and heart. Astragalus root nourishes qi and can help to increase energy level . This soup is suitable for those with blood and qi deficiency, poor blood circulation, and poor eyesight.  Ingredients: 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) fleece flower root 1 tael (Approx 37.5g) black bean 6 red dates, pits removed 3 maces (Approx 11.3g) dried longan Approx 15g astragalus root/Huang qi  1/2 chicken Dry-fry black beans in a pan til the skin cracks. Remove from heat, rinse and set aside. *This ...

Hectic lifestyle and changes in emotions can cause exhaustion. Especially for women, the effects are seen in a decrease in physical strength, early signs of ageing, dull complexion, lost of radiance, irregular menstrual cycle and deterioration of metabolism rate.  A soup that can help improve metabolism. This is one of the soups that can help improve metabolism. Dried rose tastes sweet and is warm in nature. It can regulate qi and blood circulation and is especially helpful to women suffering from constrained liver qi. Both red dates and dried longan help to replenish/nourish blood and spleen, calm nerves and regulate women's metabolism and enhance beauty.  Clockwise from top left: Dried rose, lotus seed, white fungus, dried longan, lily bulb and red dates. Ingredients:  3 maces (Approx 11.3g) dried rose 1 tael (Approx 37.5g) lotus seed 1 tael (Approx 37.5g) lily bulb 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) dried longan  5 maces (Approx 18.9g) white fungus, r...

Our family loves lotus root a lot so we'll boil soup with it whenever it is in season. Fresh lotus root is cool in nature. It helps to clear heat, cools the blood, moisturizes the body and quenches thirst.  Carrot and job's tear can also help to expel heat. We have summer all year long here in Malaysia. Besides the hot and humid weather, too much fried food, not drinking enough water and insufficient sleep too can cause excess heat in the body. Therefore, it is important to reduce heat and dampness in the body. This is another soup that can help to expel heat and dampness. It is also suitable for those who suffer from constipation as carrot, dried fig and euryale seed can help to strengthen spleen, nourish the stomach/intestine and promote digestion.  Ingredients: 1 carrot, peeled and cut into pieces Approx 300g lotus root 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) euryale seed/qian shi 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) job's tear 5 maces (Approx 18.9g) lily bulb 5 maces (Approx 1...

The haze is back recently, causing common problems such as nasal congestion, respiratory problem, cough and other related illnesses. To prevent such problems, it is important to nourish/strengthen the lungs and boost our immunity. This soup has the sweetness from watercress, dried figs, honey dates and dried conch. I hope you will try to make this delicious and nutritious homemade soup :) This soup is said to be suitable for those with chronic cough, sensitive nose, dry skin and weak lungs. It is nourishing and effective in relieving coughs or preventing influenza.  The dried herbs used. Conch tastes sweet, can help to brighten eyesight, improve appetite, relieve dyspepsia, enhance beauty and protect the kidneys. The other ingredients like honey date, lily bulb, sweet and bitter almonds all help to moisten lungs, dissolve phlegm and relieve coughs.  Ingredients:  Approx 300g watercress  5 maces (Approx 18.9g) dried conch 5 maces (Approx ...

It is said that fleece flower root can help to improve blood circulation, therefore helping hair growth. Fleece flower root (called he shou wu in Chinese) is well known for its benefit in darkening hair color.  It is used as a remedy for treating hair fall and baldness, for premature graying of hair and also for reducing other signs of aging. Besides that, it is also hailed as a natural herbal remedy for various health problems: improve blood circulation, improve the functioning of the kidney and liver, strengthening bones and muscles, good for detoxification, constipation and irregular menstruation.  This soup is said to be suitable for those with aching back and knee, insufficient blood, premature greying of hair and suffering from dizziness or amnesia.  Fleece flower root. Picture taken from the Internet . However, I've read that some products that are marketed as natural herbal medicines based on fleece flower root may contain some toxic...