Foil Baked Prosperity Prawns

For many Chinese, the Lunar New Year is celebrated with food that carries an auspicious meaning. For instance, uncut noodles represents 'longevity'. Hence the tradition of eating Mee Sua, in my family at least, on the first day of the New Year. It is to wish all of us a long life.

Foil Baked Prosperity Prawns

You must be wondering why I call these Prosperity Prawns. It's because I'm serving 8 in a plate. Here, eight is pronounced 'fatt ' in Chinese which means prosperity. I believe one of the best things about Chinese New Year is the fanciful names you'll hear for the dishes which is always about wishing friends and family well.

Other than that, I also find prawns to be a great dish to have for reunion dinners because it is red, a mark of happiness and good fortune. In Chinese, prawns are called ' Ha ' . Double it - haha is laughter. Hence, joy.

This is one of the many dishes I love preparing because it is easy to do and doesn't take up wok space. I need to use the stove for many other dishes so it is good to utilise all the available cooking appliances for better time management and to ensure food is served hot.

I don't believe we should tire ourselves out or stress over important occasions. Therefore, my menu often revolves around simple delicious dishes, with most recipes passed down by friends and family or having run through Mom's old recipes books.

Here's what I did but really, there is no need to follow the recipe to the dot. We have always gone the 'agak-agak' (more or less, a rough calculation) way, with several variations from garnishing with spring onions to using Bornean rice wine and more.

Foil Baked Prosperity Prawns
Ingredients:
- 300g prawns or 8 large pieces (deveined, leave whole)
- 6 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 thumb ginger (grated, about 1 ½ tbsp)
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine mixed with 1 tbsp water
- Pinch of salt
- Fresh coriander and slices of red chilli for garnishing

Method:
1) Pre-heat oven to 180C.
2) Line baking tray with foil. Place prawns on top. Spoon ginger and garlic over.
Drizzle with Shaoxing wine and sprinkle some salt over.
3) Cover with foil and bake until just done - about 12minutes for me.
4) Plate. Garnish with fresh coriander and slices of red chilli.

Top, left to right : The Ingredients, Place Ingredients Onto Foil Lined Baking Tray
Bottom : Prawns Fresh Out Of The Oven

There you go, short work.

With that, the team at Sweet Home-Chefs wishes you Gong Xi Fa Cai for the Year of the Rooster!

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Calamansi Lime Juice With Asam Boi

A toast to 2017! Wishing all of us a fabulous year blessed with magical moments that will stay as fond memories for us to reminisce about in time to come.

Seeing that it's the season for clinking glasses, I thought it would be appropriate to share this delicious drink that we regularly make to enjoy on special occasions and humid days. It's easy to whip up and requires only two ingredients, not counting the water. Some people add sugar syrup for a bit of sweetness. For me, I think it all comes down to the variety of asam boi (dried/preserved plums) that we use. Some are more strongly flavoured than others.

Asam boi is an acquired taste of sweet, salty and tangy. Also known as Li Hing Mui , this is the stuff that jolts you awake with one small bite. Hence, I always bring a packet along for road trips. It keeps the person on the wheel awake for the long drive and gives everyone else in the car a burst of energy.

Calamansi Lime Juice With Asam Boi

I often choose the white variety for my asam boi lime drink. It is sweet enough for me not to add any sugar and tastes wonderful.

Calamansi Lime Juice With Asam Boi
Makes two glasses
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cold drinking water
- ½ cup hot water
- 3 white asam boi
- 4 calamansi limes (slice into half)
- Some ice cubes

Method:
1) Add asam boi into hot water. Steep for five minutes. This brings the flavour out.
2) Squeeze calamansi lime juice in, over a small strainer to catch the seeds. Add cold water. Give it a good stir and add ice.

Serve immediately.

Note: The amount of lime juice and quantity of asam boi you wish to add is really up to you - a personal preference thing.

All The Ingredients You Need - Asam Boi (From Tesco Malaysia) and Calamansi Limes

Calamansi Lime Juice With Asam Boi

That done, I'm off to the balcony - nothing like sitting outside with a delicious chilled drink in hand, the plants for company and the sky as my TV to make my day.

Calamansi Lime Juice With Asam Boi

Cheers!

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