Almond Crispy

With the Chinese New Year only about 2 weeks away, everyone must be busy baking away their favourite cookies and cakes.  Nothing is easier than this Almond Crispy biscuit with the cookie mix bought from the baking shop.  Just follow the instructions on the packet and you have these delicious crunchy almond crisp.

1)  Mix the almond flakes (I toasted them for about 10 mins at 150 deg. C) together with the cookie
      mix.
2)  Spread them thinly on a tray which has been lined with parchment paper.  Bake for about 7 -12 mins at    
     180 deg. C.
3)  Cut into squares with a pizza cutter while still warm.  Cool and put them into air-tight container.
      Enjoy!

Black Vinegar Pork Trotter Soup

Today I cooked my 1st  Black Vinegar Pork Trotter soup.  This soup is normally taken by  ladies during the confinement period after giving birth.   There are many recipes on this and thanks to my good friend Josephine who taught me this easy method.  It is really delicious.

Recipe

1 pork trotter -   cut and clean
400gm Old ginger -  skinned and cut into small pieces & give them a smash with the cleaver
1 tabsp of sesame oil
1 bottle of black vinegar (Hei me chu)  750 ml 
1 bottle of water  750ml
90gm gula melaka (or rock sugar)
some black beans - washed

Method

1)     Pour the bottle of black vinegar and same amount of water into a pot.
2)      Heat the sesame oil in a wok and fry the ginger pieces until fragrant. Add into the
         pot of black vinegar solution.  Put in the black beans and the gula melaka.
        Let it boil and lower heat for another 20mins.
         Off the fire.  This done preferably the night before.
3)     Blanch the pig trotter pieces in hot water for 15 mins.  Drain the water and wash the meat.
4)     Fry the meat in the wok (without oil) for a while.  Transfer them to the black vineger solution
        and boil for about 40 mins  or so on low heat depending on how tender
        you want the meat to be.