Black-bone Chicken with Cordyceps

Black-bone chicken also known as Silkies is considered the best poultry choice when preparing medicinal or therapeutic food in accordance to Traditional Chinese Medicine.  With new technology and proper scientific research, this breed of poultry is naturally high in carnosine.  Carnosine is a type of peptide where it is available as a form of nutrient supplement taken by consumers in hope to aid in muscle strengthening, anti-aging, diabetes, anemia, menstrual cramps and postpartum disorders.

Cordyceps (Dongchongxiacao) are highly valuable to the Chinese people.  It is one of the best sought out herbs and one of the most expensive too.  It is known to many as an "anti-aging" herb.  It main usage is to treat impotence, infertility, chronic cough and asthma, and spontaneous sweating and aversion to cold due to frailty or illness.

This recipe requires double boiling method as form of cooking.  A smaller lidded ceramic pot is preferred to be used where the ingredients will be place in.

1 Black-bone Chicken - cleaned and cut to pieces

10g dried Cordyceps

10 red dates

5g Gou QiZi (Chinese wolfberry)

500ml hot boiled water

Method:

1. Placed all ingredients in a small ceramic lidded pot which can fit into a larger metal lidded pot.
2. Carefully pour in cold water into the larger pot until the water level is about halfway of the ceramic pot.  TIPS:  Placed a clean cloth at the bottom of the metal pot before placing the ceramic pot.  This will ensure the stability of the smaller pot and avoid movement while the water is boiling.
3. Secure lid and bring the water to boil, then turn down heat to simmer for 1 hour.
4. Check water level occasionally and always add HOT boiling water if needed.
5. Divide dish into two separate meals on the same day.  Have it between breakfast and lunch; lunch and dinner.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Blackbone Chicken - Warms the Middle Burner, Tone the Spleen, replenish and nourishes Qi and Blood, Tonifies the Kidneys and Essence.
2. Cordyceps - Tonifies the Lungs and Kidneys, resolved phlegm and stop bleeding.
3. Red Dates - Tonifies Blood and promote body fluids.
4. Gou QiZi -  Tonifies the Kidneys and benefits the Essence, nourish the Liver and brighten the eyes, moisten the Lungs.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. If Exterior syndromes presence e.g Wind-Cold, DO NOT use cordyceps unless prescribed by your TCM practitioner.  Failure to do so will bring harm to user.
2. If diarrhoea presence due to Spleen deficiency DO NOT use Gou QiZi.
3. Presence of Phlegm-Heat causing cough  and/or toothache, food retention and bloating due to excessive Phlegm accumulation in the Middle Burner arise from Spleen deficiencies much cautiously when using Red Dates.  Always consult your TCM practitioner for full advise.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.
 

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:

         

Frog and Bittermelon Essence

Now for something interesting and maybe shocking for most people but definitely no stranger to the Asians or the French - FROG!  How does it taste?  It taste like Poussin and Shark meat mixed together - delicate, sweet and tender.
Why is this dish is to be served to new mothers?  The combination of frog and bittermelon has great therapeutic value -  promote better blood flow as well as increases platelet count to arrest further bleeding from the wound due to tearing during birth.

Frog is high in protein, low-fat and contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.  From TCM point of view frog meat is Cool-Neutral in nature and Sweet in taste.  It enters the Lung, Kidney and Spleen Channels.

Whilst the bittermelon:

1. Aids digestion.
2. Contains antiviral properties.
3. Antihelmintic - inhibits Caenorhabditis elegans (round worm) growth causing gastrointestinal disease.
4. Antimalarial.
5. Antiviral. 
   
6. Cardioprotective. 
   
7. Immunomodulator.
8. Aids Diabetes
9. Anticancer properties.

It is Cool in Nature, and taste Bitter, Sweet.  It enters the Spleen, Liver, and Kidney channels.

So let's see how it is prepared.

1 medium size frog - cleaned and cut to pieces
1 small bittermelon - deseed and diced
250 ml water
Soy sauce or Tamari to taste


Method:

1. Placed all ingredients in a small ceramic lidded pot which can fit into a larger metal lidded pot.
2. Carefully pour in cold water into the larger pot until the water level is about halfway of the ceramic pot.  TIPS:  Placed a clean cloth at the bottom of the metal pot before placing the ceramic pot.  This will ensure the stability of the smaller pot and avoid movement while the water is boiling.
3. Secure lid and bring the water to boil, then turn down heat to simmer for 1 hour.
4. Check water level occasionally and always add HOT boiling water if needed.
5. Serve hot with rice or on its own.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Frog - Tones Yin fluids, lubricate Dryness, improves Lung Qi.
2. Bittermelon - Clears heat, tones Yin Blood and fluids, relief Blood stasis in the Liver channel, alleviates Liver-Spleen disharmony, benefit for Wasting and Thirsting Syndrome.

Precautions and Contraindication:

1. Overall this dish is Cool-Neutral in nature and slightly Damp.  It is not recommended for person with Excessive Damp accumulation in the Lungs due to Cold pathogen.
2. Bittermelon is Cool and it effect Liver Yin Blood and fluids.  Therefore it is not recommended for pregnant women.  The blood moving and cooling properties may cause spotting and induce contraction.
3. For those who are insulin dependent, must be cautious when ingesting bittermelon because it may have additional effect when used concomitantly, especially drinking the juice when pressed raw.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:

    

Spiced Vinegar Pork Knuckle Stew

This recipe is believe to be originated from the Canton province in China.  It is a main dish produced by the Cantonese people to celebrate the arrival of a new born.  The significant of this dish can be branched to few different levels - nutritional, energetic, and spiritual/cultural belief.  There are a few variation to this recipe alone based on personal taste and family "handing down" ways of preparation.  The recipe given here is how I remember it when my beloved grandmother preparing for my aunties.  The brands of ingredients have changed due to my current global location - Melbourne - but the taste seems to stays on and reside in my heart.

Without wasting more time, let's look at the ingredients shall we?

1kg pork knuckle - cut into manageable pieces

1kg pork knuckle meat with skin on - diced to similar size as the knuckles pieces

2 large garlic bulbs

1 fist size old ginger (brown skin) - crushed

3-4 large dried red chillies - soaked and removed seeds

5 shelled hard boiled eggs

1L premium Sweetened Black Vinegar (Pat Chun* Brand or Pearl River Bridge Brand)

500ml Premium Black Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar

500ml water

1/2 cup dark muscovado sugar

1 cup light soy sauce

Salt to taste

Coriander and Spring onion to garnish

1 cup Chinese Cooking Wine/Rice wine

*My preferred brand of vinegar

Method:

1. Prepare a pot of boiling water and add in the rice wine.  Let it boiled for 2 minutes to reduce the alcohol.  Then placed the meat in the pot to blanched.  Bring the water back to simmer for additional 5 minutes.  This process will rid impurities from the meat.  Strained the meat out and leave it under running water.
2. Using a heavy lidded pot, place the meat first then rest of other ingredients EXCEPT the eggs.
3. Secure the lid and bring to the boil.  Then transfer the pot to smallest burner and lowest setting and let simmer for 3-4 hours with the lid tilted slightly.  Stirred content every 30 minutes to prevent sticking.
4. About 2 hours into braising the meat, add in the eggs.  Gently bathe them in simmering liquid.  Leave it to simmer for another hour.
5. The liquid will then slowly evaporate and thickened turning into glossy and lustrous dark sauce.  Taste the sauce and if needed add some salt.
6. Served up and generously garnish with coriander and spring onion.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Pork knuckle - Tonifies Qi, Blood and Marrows, lubricates dryness, and tones Yin.
2. Vinegar - Warming, Assist yang, Tonifies Qi, dries damp, benefits Qi, remove blood stasis, expels cold, disperse coagulation, and haemostatic.
3. Ginger - Regulates and benefit Qi, remove blood stasis, expels cold, and warms Middle Burner.
4. Garlic - Tones and gegulates Qi, remove blood stasis, expels cold, warms Spleen and Stomach, moves sluggish Qi, and an appetent.
5. Chillies - Assist and tones Yang, Tones Qi and Blood, warms all Three Burners, Disperse blood stasis, and diaphoretic.
6. Muscovado sugar - Assist Yang, Tonifies Qi and Blood, remove blood stasis, expel cold, Tonifies MJ, and relaxes Liver.
7. Eggs - Tones Qi and Blood, lubricates dryness, and tones Yin.

Precautions and Contraindications:

1. This dish is not recommended for daily consumption by the "general" people.
2. It is a rich dish.  It is specially made for the new mother whom in need of both nutrition as well as therapeutic food in order to recover well and also the energy needed to produce milk to feed the new born. 
   
3. However, besides it benefits for new mothers, this dish will too benefits those who are in musculoskeletal post-surgery rehabilitation program combining with daily exercise to strengthen muscles and sinews.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:

     

New Born

In the past few days, life have had been very exciting.  A new member is added to the family.  Let us welcome Jacob James (Jay-jay)!!

To celebrate this very special and joyous occasion, I will be posting some recipes specifically for post-natal moms.

Most of these recipes bring back a lot of happy memories because they remind me of my growing years.  The Chinese, like some similar cultures around the world, keeping families under "one roof" is quite a common practise.  Although in this turn of millennium keeping such practise is dissipating in a rapid pace.  Our family used to occupy a big house with 8 rooms and 2 kitchens.  Under one roof, there were 4 families living in it and one of them would be my parents and me.  Luckily some of my aunties left home after they were married.  So you could have imagine the hectic and the joy growing up with uncles, aunties, grandparents and my cousins.  At one stage there were 17 people living there at the same!

My grandparents spoiled us (grandchildren) crazy and everyday seems to be a family reunion.  Anyway I should stop writing about my family history and get right the good stuff - food recipes!

Food is the soul of the house and the main kitchen, being only 4mX3m and one of the smallest space, is the heart, Qi and blood of the house.  Countless recipes born in this match box space.  Few of those can be categorised as the "Confinement Period Food".

In the coming weeks, there will be some interesting recipes with ingredient such as pig hocks and knuckles, black-bone chicken (Silkie), frogs, turtle and placenta.  Sounds radical and off putting?  Don't be.  Besides the last three key ingredients are almost can't get hold on to in Australia anyway.

Interesting read:

     

Chopped Tomato and Sweet Sausage Omelette

This is third variation using the key ingredients but notice how the property and usage changes with the change of cooking method.

Instead of use to relieve Liver Yang Rising, it is now more suitable to build Qi and Blood, tones the sinews and muscles and promote growth.

One more variation to come and I am sure you will love the next one.  Until next week, happy cooking!!

2 medium size tomatoes – diced

1 small brown onion – chopped

1 Chinese sausage or Italian sweet sausage – sliced

4 eggs – lightly beaten with ½ tsp of salt

Chopped continental parsley for garnish

2tbsp oil

Method:

1. Heat oil in wok or frying pan.  Fried the onion and sausage until onion is soft and the sausage start to browned.
2. Then pour the egg over and spread in the diced tomatoes.  Turn heat to medium and let the egg cook through to the top without flipping the omelette.  Check the base of the omelette as it turns from golden yellow to crispy golden brown.
3. Lastly quickly sprinkle the chopped continental parsley then fold the omelette in half.
4. Serve up as it is or with some rice or bread of your choice. 

This is a simple omelette to tones the Spleen, Liver and Kidney Qi.  It benefits those who are:

1. Recuperating from injuries or post-surgery
2. Pre-natal and Post-partum

Generally this a a great omelette  to share with family on the dining table.

Functions and Benefits:

1. Tomatoes – clears heat, tones yin, produces fluid, and quenches thirst.
2. Onion – benefits and regulates Qi.
3. Sweet sausage – sweetness of the sausage help tones the Middle Burner and the meat helps tone Qi and Blood; an appetent.
4. Egg – lubricates Dryness, tones Yin.
5. Continental parsley – aromatic and regulate Qi.

Precautions and Contraindication:

1. Sausage can be omitted and replaced with sweeten tofu, e.g. 2 pc of Inari (Japanese sweet fried tofu pocket)
2. Chinese sausage or Italian sweet sausages are greasy and fattening.  Excess consumption is not recommended.  Excess Damp/ Damp-Heat Accumulation in Zangfu consume cautiously.
3. This is not a dish for everyday consumption.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
 

DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further reading:

 

Elite Dame Contact Details and Recommendations from StartLocal®

Elite Dame Contact Details and Recommendations from StartLocal®

Fried Eggs and Tomatoes

This recipe is a variation from the previous post.  Meat is omitted but if you wish to have some sweet sausages, then remove brown sugar as the sweet component.

2 more variation to come.  At the meantime enjoy and happy cooking!

4 medium size tomatoes – quartered
1 medium red onion – chopped
4 eggs – lightly beaten

2 sprig spring onions – chopped
2tbsp oil
100 ml water
salt to taste
2 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon brown sugar

Method: 

1. Heat oil in wok.  Fried the onion until soft before adding the chopped tomatoes.  Fried for 2 minutes.
   
2. Dissolved brown sugar in water then mix with egg.  Pour the mixture  into the wok and sprinkle some salt.  Turn heat down to medium.
   
3. Gently fold edge of the mixture as it cooks.  Keep folding until the eggs mixture is cook.  Plate up and sprinkle chopped spring onions.  Serve hot with some rice.

It is a simple summer dish to relieve Liver Yang Rising manifest as mild hypertension, or a hot day causing heat dizziness.
 

Functions and Benefits:

1. Tomatoes – clears heat, tones yin, produces fluid, and quenches thirst.
2. Red onion – benefits and regulates Qi.
3. Egg – lubricates Dryness, tones Yin.
4. Spring onion – clear heat, and disperse Qi.
5. Brown sugar – tone Middle Burner.

Precautions and Contraindication:

1. Excess consumption of egg is NOT recommended.

If you have any doubt or want to know more about this recipe, contact your TCM practitioner or myself.

Thank you for reading.

Kenny Law
Australia Registered TCM Practitioner.
DISCLAIMER:
Information given are purely for references and it is not intent to diagnose medical conditions or to be used for self-diagnosed. Always consult medical health personnel for proper medical diagnosis.

© COPYRIGHT 2010 KENNY LAW

Sharing and/or reproduction of any part of this document is prohibited without written consent

For further readings