Easy, healthy, and delicious lotus root ! Lotus root is the root of the lotus plant. It can be used as a salad, or stuffed with glutinous rice and steamed as dessert, or squeezed into a drink, or stir-fries, or double-boiled with pork spare-ribs as a popular summer time soup, which, according to my mum, helps to clear the heat and improve the appetite.

1. Fill a pot of cold tap water with a tablespoon of vinegar. Peel and clean lotus root. Slice the lotus root and put them into the vinegar water to prevent lotus roots from browning.
   
2. Heat up a pan with oil and add chillies. Stir-fry a bit before adding spring onions and ground pork. Stir for 30 seconds, then add bean sauces, rice wine and lotus root slices. Splash the chicken stock and cover, reduce heat to medium and cook for 30 seconds. Dribble in the sesame oil Serve hot.

I bake foam cakes very often, as I prefer the fluffy, light chiffon cake to other baked goods. Whenever I baked a chiffon cake, I would reserve one or two layers well-wrapped in the freezer just in case I don't feel like to bake, but happen to have an itch to eat something light and sweet. So this is the result of cleaning up all the saved foam cakes.

1. Remove the cake layers from the freezer and defrost them at room temperature, about 1 hour. Slice the peeled bananas and figs and have a round cake board ready.
   
   
   
2. Place the matcha chiffon cake layer on the prepared cake board, spread a thin layer nutella on the cake, and then top with babana slices. Arrange another two layers of cake in the same way. (There’s still some nutella left after placing the 3rd layer of cake, so I decided to top the cake with last layer of matcha chiffon cake, which resulted in a mismatched colour appearance to the cut.)
   
3. Arrange the fourth layer of cake on the top and spread the nutella. Arrange the sliced figs and bananas in a decorative pattern on top and the chocolate praline in the center. Spread the strips with whipped cream and surround the sides of the cake. Use a mousse ring or a ribbon to stabilize the strips.

Bright red, remarkably juicy and flavourful strawberries are truly a delight to both the eyes and the taste buds. When selecting fresh strawberries, look for firm, glossy, red fruit with a fresh-looking green hull and no visible bruises. Do not wash strawberries until ready to use.

1. Dissolve the gelatin in cold water and set aside for about 5 minutes until soft. Stir over a bowl of simmering water until the gelatin is dissolved. Mix the strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and gelatin mixture in a food processor and puree. Transfer to a large bowl and chill until it just beings to thicken.
2. Whip the cream until it drops from the whisk when it is lifted. Add in powdered sugar along the sides of the bowl, and continue to beat until the cream holds soft peaks. Remove the mousse from the fridge and fold the whipped cream into the strawberry mixture until smooth.
   
3. Place a layer of chiffon cake on a serving plate and surround with the mousse ring. Pour one thirds of the mousse onto the cake, and scatter the cubed berries on top. Arrange the waffle wedges, round side down, along the side of the ring. Cover the diced strawberries with second thirds of mousse and gently top with anther layer of chiffon cake, being careful not to press down firmly. Pour the rest of the mousse mixture over. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours until firm.
   
4. Prepare the sauce. Stir together jelly and cachaca in a bowl. Gently mix in the halved strawberries and set aside at a cool are for 2 hours. Remove the mousse cake from the fridge. Spoon the sauce on the center top and arrange the halved strawberries between two waffles. If desired, sprinkle the lightly roasted almond slices (or coconut shreds) over the strawberry sauce and then the sugar pearls.

The reason I used balsamic vinegar for this recipes was because I had no Chinese rice vinegar left...and haha....the dish turned out very very good. A little balsamic vinegar goes a long and right way.

1. Combine together cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Wash chicken breast, pat dry and cut into inch size pieces. Season them with salt, half tablespoon of maggi sauce and one tablespoon of rice wine. At last add in cornstarch, and water and combine.
   
2. Heat up a pan with oil until hot. Fry the marinated chicken until golden. Remove and drain on a kitchen paper. Using one tablespoon of frying oil to stir-fry ginger, scallion and garlic until aromatic. Pour in balsamic vinegar and fried chicken, drizzle in the rest of rice wine and maggi sauce. Toss to mix all the ingredients and chicken has thoroughly coated with sauce. Dish off and sprinkle some chopped scallion if desired.

Soy milk is made by soaking soybeans, grinding them with water, The fluid which results after straining and cooked is called soy milk. Soybeans contain rich protein, vitamins A, B1, B2, and other mineral elements. Research has shown potential health benefits of soy in preventing breast cancer and the growth of prostate tumors, and fighting coronary heart disease, osteoporosis,diabetes, promoting growth, healing and vitality. It is also thought to alleviate symptoms of menopause and to promote eye health.

Soya Milk Prepared With Soya-milk Maker / 机制鲜豆浆

Homemade Soymilk With Standard Kitchen Blender/ 家庭自制豆浆（用普通厨房搅拌器）

Homemade Tofu Without Nigari Gypsum / 不添加盐卤和石膏的家庭制豆腐

Preparing Tofu With Gypsum / 制作石膏南豆腐

After making tofu or soya milk, the solid residue which remain in the filter sack called okara (pronounced oh-KAR-uh) or soy pulp. Okara, low in fat, high in dietary fiber, along with protein, calcium, iron, and riboflavin, were recognized to be helpful in controlling diabetes, reducing blood sugar and cholesterol, adding in digestion and circulation, protecting the bones, and reducing cancer risk. If you make soyamilk by machine, the okara will be cooked during the process. Otherwise, I would suggest to steam or toast the raw okara for 20 minutes before using.

01. Honey Okara Pancakes / 蜂蜜豆渣薄饼	02. Okara Pancakes / 香煎豆渣饼（咸）
03. Steamed Okara Buns / 豆渣馒头	04. Steamed Two-Toned Okara Nutella Buns / 豆渣巧克力双味蒸包
05. OKara Congee / 豆渣粥	06. Okara Croquettes / 豆渣丸子
07. Matcha Okara Cranberry Loaf / 抹茶豆渣越橘吐司	08. Okara Honey Bread / 豆渣蜂蜜面包
09. Okara Raisin Rolls / 豆渣提子餐包	10. Okara Rolls With Old Dough / 老面豆渣硬包
11. Birthday Cookies / 庆生曲奇饼	12. Okara Cookies / 豆渣饼干