Caboolture Christmas and Sutton Beach, Redcliffe

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Ipswich Art Gallery on Winter Solstice

Happy Winter Solstice!

"The Ipswich Art Gallery’s Children’s Gallery is an Australian first. It is the country’s first permanent, interactive children’s gallery space designed for the under-twelves, with specific programs aimed at the early childhood, lower primary and upper primary age ranges..."
https://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/visit/about-the-gallery/

Happy Birthday Bao

Sean's Graduation

Hip hip Hooray! You have just passed another milestone!

Recipe: Classic Easy Pumpkin Soup

So easy and yum! I normally make 1.5 portion and keep some in the freezer.

It is such a healthy and convenient breakfast. I would love to take it again with some crusty bread, thumbs up!

Recipe from: http://www.recipetineats.com/classic-pumpkin-soup/

Used:

1. 1 kg pumpkin flesh, chopped into large chunks (or 250 g carrot 750 g pumpkin) 
2. 2 medium onions, sliced
3. 2 cloves of garlic
4. 750ml chicken or vegetable stock
5. 250ml-350ml milk 
6. Salt and pepper

Boil 1-4 till softened, add 5, 6. Blend and serve.

For extra flavour, I added spices like cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg and a pinch of curry powder.

Happy Birthday Darling

It is your Big Day, my love

Happy birthday to you..muak...muak!

"Love is perhaps the most wonderful thing in this world. Indeed, the greatest thing that you will learn in life is to love and to be loved in return."

Recipe: Teochew Sweet Braised Duck, 潮州滷鸭

My childhood is filled with memories of grandparents and cousins. Mama and Papa were once neighbour. Then, you know...yessSS...they got married. Ma is Teochew nang, Pa is Hainam nang. I used to converse fluently in both the dialects. Now? no more. But...understanding the dialects...is still manageable.

KongKong ran a nursery business. To get sufficient energy, for breakfast, Popo normally fed family members with typical Teochew meal like porridge with fried fish, fermented bean curd, pickled shell and many more. When the big truck arrived, we, the little helpers and together with other workers will be positioned into a line... passing pots and potting soil of all kind.

So, this sweet braised duck recipe has been there, in ma's family, through generations. It is always in hot demand for 'big days', especially potluck.

Darling, Honey and Sean, I'm recording the recipe here, just in case...u wanna give it try...one day...

Teochew Sweet Braised Duck, 潮州滷鸭
-  2kg duck (cleaned, pat dry and neck separated)
-  2 tbsp salt
-  150g sugar, or less
-  12 star anise
-  2 cinnamon sticks +/- 15g (4" each broke into smaller pieces)
-  5 clove garlic, minced
-  95g galangal/ginger slices
-  1 tbsp black sauce (optional)
-  200ml water 
-  10 hard boiled eggs, peeled (optional)

1. Rub salt onto duck, including the cavity. Set aside for at least 3 hrs.
2. Into a wok, melt sugar with med-high heat.
3. When 70% of sugar turned caramel, add in star anise, cinnamon sticks, garlic and galangal/ginger. Saute with medium heat till fragrant (2-3 mins).
4. Turn it down to med-low heat. Place duck in the middle. Coat duck skin with sauce. Repeat a few times on both sides (add 1 tbsp dark sauce if darker coloured duck is desired).
5. Into the cavity, add a few pieces of spices from the sauce.
6. Pour in water, cover and braise for 60 mins. Turning the duck every 15 mins.
7. Remove the duck. 
8. Pour the sauce to a smaller pot. Add all eggs and braise for 30 mins.

Wash, clean and remove access oil. Neck separated.

remove the unwanted

Removed. Otherwise, it stinks!

Rub salt all over, including the cavity

Set aside for at least 3 hrs. Meantime, drain access water.

Med-high heat, melt sugar.

When 70% sugar turned caramel, add all spices. Saute till fragrant.

Coat duck skin with sauce. Repeat a few times on both sides.

Add 1 tbsp of dark sauce and coat evenly (optional).

Add 200ml water.

Braise duck for 60 mins, med-low heat.

Turn duck every 15 mins.

Remove duck from wok.

Pour sauce to smaller pot. Add all eggs.

Braise eggs for 30 mins, low heat.