Lotus Roots And Tricolour Beans Soup

This Tricolour Beans Soup is replicated base on my memory from the “Hearty Soup” that I always ordered during my visit to “Fragrant Hong Kong Pork Rice” at Hong Lim Food Centre(behind Chinatown Point Mall). I am sure for those who frequent that food centre during lunch hours would have at least tried one of their varieties of steam rice and this homecook soup. If I remember clearly their soup consists of peanuts, black-eyed peas, chicken feets, dried mushroom, dried shellfish and etc that make it full of flavour.

As for my home consume version I have added lotus roots, red beans, red dates, wolfberries and dried tangerine peel to it. Below is my recipe for this soup.

Ingredients: (Serves 2 - 4)

1 Medium Section Lotus Roots, 150g
10 Pieces of Chicken Feets
50g Red Beans
50g Soup Peanuts
50g Black-eyed Beans
5 Pieces of Dried Shiitake Mushrooms
1 Piece of Dried Tangerine Peel, soaked till soften
4 - 6 Red Dates
1/2 Tablespoon Wolfberries
1.8 Litres Hot Water

Method:

1. Mixed all the beans together in a big bowl, add hot water and soak them for about 5 minutes till a bit soften. Rinse a few time, remove any decay beans and set aside.
2. Soak the dried tangerine peel in water till soften, use a small spoon scrapped out the white pith from the peel to prevent bitterness.
3. Blanched the chicken feets in boiling water, rinse well and get ready a soup pot with 1.8 litre of water.
4. When the water boils, add in all the ingredients except wolfberries and let it simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes before low the heat and let it simmer for about an hour or so till the beans are soften and soup is flavourful.
5. Add in wolfberries, season with salt and serve.

Note:-

~ You can replace the chicken feets with chicken drumsticks, pork ribs or etc.

We loves the taste and texture of this soup especially with a hint of refreshing fragrant from the tangerine peel. But if you feel that these soup takes up too many ingredients that is not available from your pantry, you can always mix and match with your own preference according to the ingredients you have. But if you have tried and love the SOUP from "Fragrant Hong Kong Pork Rice", this recipe is worth giving a try.

Kichi Kichi Express Rotary Hotpot

When you talk about Hotpot, what is the 1st thing that comes in your mind? Varieties of Foods, Environment, Pricing or ? I am sure you would like to enjoy fresh quality of food when it comes to hotpot. No one would like to see a plate of dry and dull meat or wilted vegetables when making their selection.But in Kichi Kichi you can be assumed that all the food on their rotating conveyor belt are freshly packed and prepared in order to let patrons enjoy their food in peace of mind.

Steamboat is normally not my cup of tea, as I don’t like the hot and stuffy environment where we need to sit around the hotpot cooking each and individual items with a tendency that others might drop in uncooked food or items that I don't prefer before I retrieved mine.

But when we steps into Kichi Kichi last week I was kind of caught up by the bright and attractive layout as well as its interesting dining concept whereby each of us owns our individual hotpot with large varieties of food being easily access from the rotating conveyor belt. With this new dining experience it definitely makes meal more relax without being worry about the hot and steamy hotpot session that makes you sweat.

There are two types of sitting area available where patrons can choose either having individual hotpot on the highchair counter seats or enjoy family and friend quality time at booths fitted with ‘yuan-yang’ hotpots that can hold two different stocks for sharing between 2 - 6 people. And since all the hotpots are using heat sense that can auto control the temperature, patrons can easily adjust the temperature according to their preference without must trouble like those traditional charcoal steamboat.

From the ordering list, you can choose your own soup broth from their soup range such as:- Chicken, Tomyum, Mushroom(house's special), Sze Chuan, Prawn or Herbal(with additional S$1.50 top-up). During the tasting we tried their Mushroom(tasty and genuine broth with scent of mushroom aroma), Tomyum(indeed very spicy but on the downside it seems to be lacked of those traditional tomyum taste) and Herbal was rather better than tomyum with hint of herbal taste.

  While having your hotpot, don't forget to look out for one of these sauce that is on the rotating conveyor belt.   Kichi Kichi have 8 different types of homemade sauce which are:-

Row 1(in front): Vinegar and Ginger, Chilli Padi with Vinegar, Chilli Chin Chalok
Row 2(center): Chilli Padi and Soya Sauce, Kichi Kichi Chilli Sauce, Japanese Soya Sauce,
Row 3(back): Kichi Kichi Sesame Sauce, Hoi Sin

After trying these sauce a few of us voted Chili Chin Chalok as the best dipping sauce over the rest eventhough it taste a bit spicy but it is indeed a very appetising sauce that stands out from the rest. But if you prefer something sweeter you might want to consider their Kichi Kichi Sesame Sauce.

  Since Chinese New Year is around the corner, if you are having the mood to enjoy early steamboat with friends and family without having the trouble to prepare those ingredients and washup, perhaps you can consider visit Kichi Kichi and try their exclusive CNY Buffet Package! This CNY Buffet Package allows you to enjoy delicious hotpot buffet with additional items such as Abalone, Sea Cucumber, Salmon, Lo Hei and Mandarin Oranges too.
Price: CNY Buffet Package S$38.80 NETT

Each set of the CNY Buffet Package also come with a generous plate of Sea Cucumber which is a great steal if you like these jelly and crunchy texture stuffs.

Overall the food was quiet good with wide range of over 60 ingredients that are available for patrons to pick from their rotating conveyor belt. And we all agreed that their customers’ service was good and efficiency with friendly staffs clearing the empty plates regularly and asking to refilled the soup broth even before it reached the half line.

In addition to the buffet items, there is also a premium A La Carte selection items available such as Salmon Belly, Fish Head, Oysters, Scallops, Sliced Venison, Sliced Wagyu Beef and etc.
Price: Ranging from S$3.00 - S$5.00 ++ per plate

  Or if you are look for a quick and affordable weekday hotpot lunch, you can also choose from any of the 4 Combo Meals during Monday - Friday (except public holidays) from 11.00am - 3.00pm at any of their Kichi Kichi outlets(refer end of this post). And furthermore, each combo meal also includes a bowl of rice, soup, one soft drink and fruit too! (more details HERE)
Price: Ranging from S$7.99++ to S$8.99++ per set

After a good and fulfilling lunch, I was caught up by surprised from the group of friends as they have prepared my favourite "Chocolate" cake to celebrate my Birthday. I didn't thought that a normal food tasting session would turn out to be a Birthday celebrations and I am really touch and grateful to each and everyone of them who give me this warm hearted surprise. Thank you my dear friends!

Lastly I would also like to say thanks Jasmin and Kichi Kichi - Express Rotary Hotpot for hosting this food tasting event.

BUFFET PRICING AND ADDRESS OF KICHI KICHI OUTLETS

Kichi Kichi Express Rotary Hotpot

City Square Mall(outlet)
180 Kitchener Road
#02-23/24


Ngg Ann City(outlet)
391A, Orchard Road
Podium Block, Level 5
#05-32

Website: http://www.expressrotaryhotpot.com/


Reservation And Enquiries @ (65) 9170 1146

Cassata with Walnuts

Cassata is a traditional sweet treat from a town in Italy. Sometime it may also refer to a Neapolitan ice cream top with candied or dried fruit and nuts. This dessert is made using sponge cake moistened with fruit juice or liqueur then layered with candied peel, chocolate or vanilla ice cream together with chopped nuts.

Continue from last week Philips, MyKitchen (www.philips.com.sg/kitchen) recipe post on the "Baked Sweet Chili Chicken", this week let's look at some sweet dessert which you can prepare ahead and served after meal to impress your guest.

Cassata with Walnuts

Preparation Time: 15 Minutes                        Baking Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients For Batter:

250g Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vinegar
375g All-purpose Flour
50g Cocoa Powder
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
10 Tablespoons Olive Oil
200ml Boiling Water
A Pinch of Salt

For the Filling:
1 Litre Vanilla Ice Cream
4 Tablespoons Walnuts, chopped

For the Chocolate Fudge:
200g Milk Chocolate
125ml Cream
2 Tablespoons Cognac
500ml Sour Cream
6 Tablespoons Sugar

Method:

1. In the mixer, beat the sugar, eggs, olive oil and vinegar.

2. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate, salt and then the boiling water.

3. Place on a greased tray. Bake at medium heat (180°C) for approximately 30 minutes. Set aside and let it cool completely.

4. To make the fudge, melt the chocolate and add the cream and the cognac. To make the frosting, beat the cream and sugar in the mixer until you have whipped cream.

5. To assemble, line a rectangular baking dish with baking paper. Add alternate layers of ice cream, chocolate cake, chopped walnuts and chocolate fudge.

6. Decorate with green and red M and Ms and mint leaves.

Tips:

If you don’t want to use spirits, use milk instead of cognac. Or for variation, try using chocolate chip ice cream instead of vanilla ice cream.

Although I have not I have not tested this recipe yet but it look rather easy to prepare from the list of ingredients and instructions shown. Perhaps I would get a ready-baked sponge cake from bakery (to shorten the preparation time or those without oven can also use this shortcut) to try assemble this traditional Italian dessert.

For more quick and easy recipes you can refer to Philips MyKitchen at www.philips.com.sg/kitchen or stay tune for next week post on Chinese New Year - 5 Treasure Soup.

8 Chicken Choices from Burger King

Recently as a part of Burger King ongoing commitment to their consumers, they have served up 8 different sumptuous chicken varieties meals for chicken-lovers. Be it grilled or fried, juicy or crispy, spicy or mild, from set meals to snack treats there is sure a deal that suits your choice.

From "The Classic - BK Chicken" to "Mushroom Swiss Tendergrill Chicken" or Snack such as "Mexican Drumlets" to the NEW "Black Pepper Basil Drumlets", Burger King leaves you spoilt with all its chicken varieties that you can enjoy during anytime of the day.


Whenever you look step into Burger King there is always varieties of items on their menu  such as  creating your desire Whopper with any of the different add-ons sauce/toppings, chicken-lover you can select your choice from the 8 different types of chicken varieties or fish burger. With these I am sure there is definitely one choice that sure your mood and taste for the day. 

And if you fancy something spicy and crispy, this "Spicy Tendercrisp Chicken" that made from 100% premium chicken thigh meat, deep-fried to perfection with every succulent and juicy bites would be a great choice. This burger is also served with bed of fresh shredded lettuce, slice of ripe tomato and creamy mayo sauce in between corn-dusted bun.


  [Good News!] From 13 January - 16 February 2011, you can get 2 pieces of Black Pepper Basil Drumlets FREE with any purchase of  LARGE Chicken Meals(comes with large fries and drink). These Black Pepper Basil Drumlets are perfect as an appetising snack or serve it as an extra side for a satisfying value meal. Most of us who tried  it during the tasting love its hint of aromatic basil flavour and spicy black pepper taste.

You can purchase this separately without ordering the set meal at:-
~ 2 Pieces @ S$1.95
~ 4 Pieces @ S$3.90

Furthermore as part of the new campaign for its 8 chicken varieties, Burger King release "NEVER CHICKEN OUT" spoof videos to send a message of empowerment. You could check out the spoof videos  and their facebook fan page contest at the following links for a laugh or opportunity to win a Microsoft XBOX 360 and Burger King food voucher :-

1. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/BurgerKingSg

2. Burger King Singapore Facebook Fan Page: http://facebook.com/BurgerKingSingapore