Organic Vegetables: Choko tendrils and leaves.

I have a choko vine in my garden. My sister Rose came and harvested the young tendrils and leaves. A quick stir fry in garlic oil, and you have a plate of organic vegetable.

http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.com/2009/12/photo-hunt-curve.html

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2008/11/memories-of-mum-and-gardening.html

For more interesting stories of the choko, click this link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chayote

You will be able to buy them in Thai markets. Choko plants grow by them self, there is no need for fertilizer or pesticides. You can harvest the fruit. This is indeed the dream plant for people who are conscious about the sprays that farmers use.

Water guava: Jambu Madu: Thai Rose apple

In Borneo, we called this kind of guava, water guava or Jambu Madu. It is very sweet and juicy. My parents had a couple of trees and we used to have buckets of the fruits. Some times we dipped it in salt or the sour plum powder.

These two photos were taken in my Uncle Albert's garden in Miri. If you see carefully at the green guava photo, you can see the red ants. I was stung badly while I was photographing the fruits. Apparently the ants had a function, they pollinate the flowers. Without them, there will be no fruits.

About ten years ago, Singapore started to import the Thai rose apple (chompoo). There are several varieties of rose apples, with the most common in Thailand having a light green green skin. They were very expensive and grace the fruit baskets in hotels.

I lamented the times when I didn't appreciate the buckets and buckets of fruits we had from our trees. To be honest, I had so much of them as a kid that I don't really fancy them. I bought some Thai ones for nostalgic reasons. Just as well my kids and the water engineer didn't like them.

A boy's birthday cake

My friend Janet made this cake for her son's birthday. She is very clever and makes beautiful cakes and cooks delicious food.

Chinese wonton

I love food, and I love flowers. I have decided to devote this site to these two loves of my life.

This is a bowl of simple wonton soup. It is healthy and a light soup.

The wrapper or skin can be bought from any Asian food store. Buy the round shape ones for dumplings.

Fillings: Mince pork or chicken, onions, a little chopped chinese greens or cabbage, garlic, one egg, salt and oyster sauce, sesame oil. Mix thoroughly.

put a dollop of filling on to the middle of the wrapper.

brush edge with water, and seal the edge by crimping.

Drop into a pot of boiling water with some cooking oil. When the wrapper turns white, take it out.

Serve with clear soup or chicken soup.

Garnish with chopped spring onion, and/or bean sprout, Green vege,

Enjoy, this is no gourmet. Just a simple home cook food to warm your heart especially on a cold winter's evening.

(You may deep fry the wonton, use less filling is you are deep frying)