Mama's Recipe - 猪脚醋

I was learning this wonderful dish from Mama the whole of yesterday, starting with our trip to the dry market.

Ingredients:
- Old Ginger, one big piece (lighter, thinner skin)
- Vinegar, 1 bottle (dog brand, pink top label)
- 猪手， 一只 [Pig's front trotters, 1 piece]
- 猪脚劲，二十条 [Pig's trotters tendons, 20 pieces]
- Gula Melaka sugar, 2 round pieces
- 麻油 [Sesame oil]
- 酱清 [Soy sauce]

Cooking Steps:
- Boil pig trotters in pot, remove dirt while in pot
- Drain pig trotters with cold water
- Wash pig trotters and cut away hardened white skin, if any

- Wash, clean and skin chunks of old ginger, cutting away sprouts if any
- Hammer till loose
- Fry in wok with 麻油 till dry

- Fill claypot with a little water, ginger and about 1/3 bottle of vinegar over big fire to boil
- Put in trotters, bigger pieces first
- Top up the vinegar, to near the brim
- Cover claypot and bring to boil before simmering

- Stir the pot when necessary to avoid meat from sticking to the pot
- About an hour later, add the tendons. Timing depends on how soft you want it to be.
- Boil then simmer
- Nearing 2 hours after boiling, add soy sauce and Gula Melaka.
- Turn off gas and it's ready to serve.

Yummy 猪脚醋！！
黄妈妈绝佳秘方!

Random pictures

Pasir Ris Park with WW last Saturday

Studying in NTU Jan - Apr 09

Doing chim stochastic calculus stuff made me distracted

See the kingfisher on the branch of the tree behind our FTR classroom

NTU roads are beautiful, with green leaves shading your road. It's always a pleasure to drive around school, though school campus is not that big.Sis-in-law's doggies

Shasha headSuch an adorable Ally.
More pictures of Summer the Dog to be up soon!

Me with short hair! Looked just like Tian

Weekend updates (post exams!)

Exams over last Thu! And I'm free for two weeks, before flying to US!

Been out enjoying my freedom so far. Went shopping for swimsuit at Parkway Parade, then straight on to swimming at Tanjong Katong Swimming Complex under the beautiful setting sun. 26 laps and I ended up with slightly aching back and legs and that night. But swimming is good; it's both relaxing and strenuous as an exercise. Only that some swimmers (guys somemore) just couldn't give way and kept on banging head-on onto you in the same lane. So rude.

Saturday I went for hi-tea at Aquamarine with MFE folks. The food was so-so; the company was not bad. I suppose it's the last time we're meeting the profs and administrators in NTU, not until we're back from CMU for the convocation in late July. I'm not gonna say how time flies again, coz we're all pretty immuned with how fast good things pass us by.

WW and I went for a walk at Pasir Ris park before dinner at 娘家. Pasir Ris park was one of the places that could provide a beautiful sunset view that spans across a vast spectrum. You could see the dark clouds with lightning on the left, the dawning sunset yellows on the right, and the blue skies with green islands as background in the middle. WW pretty much enjoyed the view too, for it gave him the space to ponder and relax.

Today we were back to swimming at Pristine Heights, which we did last Sunday too. The sun was scorching hot, thus it helped to be in the waters but the waters were so cold that I was having a running nose in the pool. Just today the rental agreement for this apartment was confirmed. Wonder where we could go swimming privately the next time. I still wish to stay in a condo, but again, I wonder if that's possible. One of the perks of living in a condo - to have your own swimming space without having to squeeze with the rowdy guys and learning kids at the public pool, especially during the weekends. And it's always more breezy at high-floors, a thing I've grown used to having since my room at 娘家 has perpetual winds.

I'm hooked onto Restaurant City game on Facebook now, though it's pretty mindless and non-stimulating. But it's still interesting to see how my wealth is building up from my restaurant business (though I spend the earnings once they come in), and how I can beautify my little den.

Next two weeks is going to be catching up time with friends, quality time with hubby and family. May these two weeks go by slow.