A Must Have Drink and Dish During Your Confinement Period

A must have drink during confinement period is RED DATES LONGAN DRINK. Different confinement nannies do it differently but the main ingredients : red dates, wolfberries and dried logan are a must!

There are 2 different ways to do it. Version 1: Red dates, longan, wolfberries and  ginger . More pungent due to the ginger. (it is normally given in hospital too, if you opt for confinement meals)  Version 2: Red dates, black dates, dried longan, wolfberries and dong sam which is  sweeter, easier on the throat.

Method:

1. Rinse all ingredients and put  ingredients in a pot of water (around 1 litre) and simmer for at least 45 mins.
2. Serve warm.

** it is better to remove the seed in the dates, then it will not be considered a "heaty" drink.  And you can get all the ingredients from any Chinese medical hall.

A must have dish is PIG'S TROTTER WITH GINGER AND VINEGAR

Benefit:

Black vinegar purifies the blood and cleanses the arteries while the  ginger drives out the "wind". The brown sugar is to check on the "dampness" in the body. As a precaution against the vinegar being too acidic and might weaken the stomach, the glutinous ligaments and collagen of the pig's trotters are in the dish to serve as a lubricant. Sesame oil is to promote blood circulation and the eggs to nourish the body.

Ingredients:

-Pig's trotters 2 kg
-Old ginger (skinned & slightly smashed) 1 kg
-Sesame oil 4 tablespoons
-Black vinegar 800ml (4 cups)
-Water 1.5l (9 cups)
-Brown sugar 600g
-Hard boiled eggs (shelled) 4 nos

Method:

1. Thoroughly clean  pig's trotters. Cut into big serving pieces.
2. When sesame oil is hot, fry old ginger till golden brown and fragrant.
3. Put in fried ginger into big claypot. Add vinegar, water and brown sugar. Bring to boil and leave to simmer for (approx 30 mins) or till ginger is soft.
4. Add pig's trotters and simmer till soft and tender (approx. 2 hours)
5. Add hard boiled eggs before serving.

When my confinement nanny cooked this dish, the whole house smell of ginger! The first spoon of the gravy stimulates salivation and increases your appetite. Try it! Hope you like these recipes ... and enjoy your confinement period.