Double-Boiled Apple With Gingko Nuts

I believed most of you have heard or even tried the Double-boiled Chinese Pear with either Almond or White Fungus or even both before. It is actually a very good and effect sweet tonic drink to smooth the lungs and ease the phlegm if you are having bad cough. Usually Chinese Physician believed that there are two different types of cough which is the dry and cold cough. As in dry is mainly due to heat in our body due to lack of sleep or consuming too much heaty food.
Dried Figs(无花果)
It is rich in vitamins A & C, proteins and fibers. It strengthens the Spleen, lubricates intestines and helps with dry cough and sore throat. There are two types of figs, fresh and dried. Dried figs are usually used to make soup.

As for myself, I am consider as a weak body build so I cannot take too much of the cooling stuffs, so rather than using Chinese Pear (which is suppose to be cooling) I replace it with Apple which is neutral. The overall effect of this soup will still be the same but the different is it will not be too cooling for those who are having weak body function.

Ingredients: (serves 2)
1 1/2 to 2 Big Apple, cut into wedges
10 Gingko Nut(白果), pre-packed type
1 Tablespoon of Sweet & Bitter Almond( 南北杏)
2 Red Date(红枣), cut into wedges
1 Teaspoon Gou Qi Ji (枸杞子)
3 Dried Fig(无花果), cut into halves
800ml Warm Water
Some Rock Sugar, to taste

Methods:
1. Wash and cored and cut the apples into thick wedges, rinse the rest of the ingredients and put everything(except rock sugar) into a double-boiler and double-boiled in the slow-cooker on auto for about 2 hrs.
2. Remove the cover and add in the Rock Sugar and contine to double-boiled for another 30 minutes.
3. You can served it warm or cool and this is very effective for dry cough.

Notes:a) I used those big pinky type of Apple (refer to the picture above)

Mango Jam Cake

What about having some freshly baked Mango Jam Cake for Morning Tea using some Homemade Mango Jam and serve with a cup of tea. This little Mango gem is soft and cotton like for the cake texture, juice and fragrant for the mango jam and as well, topped with some almond flake which give it a nutty flavour when they combined together.

Homemade Mango Jam

The name Mango is from the Malayalam word 'Manga' which was introduced to Europe from Calicut by the Portuguese in late fifteenth century during the spice trade. The ripe fruit is variable in size and color, and may be yellow, orange, red or green when ripe, depending on the cultivate. Mangoes are used in chutney; Western recipes are often sweet and so use ripe mangoes, but in the Indian subcontinent is usually made with sour, unripe mangoes and hot chilis or limes.

Mango is rich in a variety of phytochemicals and nutrients that qualify it as a model "superfruit", a term used to highlight potential health value of certain edible fruits. The fruit is high in prebiotic dietary fiber, vitamin C, polyphenols and carotenoids

After the Strawberry and Plum Jam, Tracy and I are kind of into jam making craze so on the 3rd batch of trial. We decided to test it on Mango which is commonly found in the local fruit stall. But I guess you won't be able to find mango jam or mango chutney in Singapore. So if you are a mango lover why not test out this lovely mango jam and you can use it for cakes or tarts filling too..... Like eg. I used this Mango Jam to make Mango Jam Cake.

Ingredients: (make about 250g jam)
3 Medium Size Ripe Mango, about 2 cups of cut fruits
1/4 Cup of Sugar
1 Tablespoon of Lime Juice
1 Lime Rind

Methods:
1. Peel and cut the mango into small cubes and combine all the ingredients in a heavy duty saucepan and cook on medium heat, stirring in between.
2. The sugar will melt and the fruit will break down within 5 - 7 minutes (refer to the picture above).
3. At first, the mixture will be soggy and watery but after another 5 minutes or so, it will bind together into solid and smooth texture.(the whole process takes about 15 - 20 minutes, remember to stir in between to prevent it getting burnt)
4. Turn off the heat and let it cool completely and store in a clean jar and store in the fridge.

Notes:
a) The taste and fragrant of this mango jam will varies from the type of mango that you use.