Recipe : Bird's Nest soup (燕窝)

Hulla... Now I'm taking 2 spoons of bird's nest soup every midnight until I deliver this lil one :).

Bird's nests (燕窝)

What is bird's nest soup?

- It is a traditional (like hundred of years) pricey Chinese delicacy although they are only swallow's saliva nests. They are expensive due to the difficulty in harvesting. Bird's nest is very rich in nutrients as it contains the digested food of swallows and they are formed using their saliva.

What is the benefit?

- help to stimulate appetite and aids in digestion

- contains of several proteins and minerals that help develop the generation and growth of human cells

- rejuvenates the human skin, smooth the skin and maintain eternal beauty

- increases the immune system

- contains of the epidermal growth factor

- can alleviate tiredness, relieve spiritual pressure and recover body strength

- good for asthma and who are always catching the cold or flu

- good for smoker as well as it can help to cleanse and rid the lungs of pollutants and toxins

Benefit for pregnant lady (only drink it after 5 months until deliver)

- help to develop baby's smooth skin 

[proved by my mom, cause my mom drank a lot of bird's nest soup while she was pregnant me. Now, I have a really good and smooth skin , pinky cheeks, and fair skin (thanks to my mom hehe) - FYI, I never use any blush on and I rarely have pimples :) ]

- boost the immune system for both mom and baby

This is me without make-up :P

When and what is the right portion to eat bird nest soup?

- Bird's nest soup best consume everyday in small portion ( 2 spoons), rather than eat it in big portion once. By doing so, the body can fully utilised (absorb) the bird nest.

- Eat it in the middle of the night or early morning with empty stomach

Our small portion of bird's nest every night :)

Where to get it?

- Indonesia is the largest supplier of Bird's nests in the world. I got mine from my hubby hahaha...cause he also sell it so lucky me :)

How to cook?

• Dry yen-wo ( Soak the bird's nest in cold water about half an hour until softened. Usually I will still try to find is there any impurities such as debris and feathers inside, pluck them out using kitchen tweezers)
• Water ( you can put more water if you like to drink it)
• red dates ( pluck out the inside little seeds)
• goji
• rock sugar

1. Clean all the ingredients, drain the bird's nets
2. Mix all the ingredients and the bird nest inside a big bowl
3. Double boil it for about half an hour ( I use electric double boilers, so I only need not more than half an hour to cook it)
4. After cooked, let it cool down and keep it inside the fridge

Also read here to get the details benefit of above Chinese herbs

Recipe : Homemade Pure Chicken Essence (鸡精)

Pregnant mother are suggested to take food with warming effects during their postnatal period. They only can take food with cooling effects 3 mths before delivery.

Most Chinese mama in my hometown, used to make us homemade chicken essence. Especially for pregnant woman, it is essential to take chicken essence while your are 3 mths - 5 mths pregnant.
Personally I don't really like the one that they sell off the rack, I hate the smell lol and I think they put preservative on it as well.

What is Chicken Essence???
Chicken essence is a juice from the bones of a chicken ( I don't use any flesh on mine). Using double-boiling method in high to medium temperature about 2 hours to extract the essence. Usually the fats and skin are generally removed in order to produce a nutritional supplement that contains little or no cholesterol.

Why Chicken???
Best use black chicken (pinyin: wu ji qi) or commonly known as silky (silkie) chicken which have black skin, flesh and bones. According to the book Medicine Medicated Diet, this chicken is very sweet in taste, tender and neutral in nature ( for not being to warm or cool) and it benefits the kidney and liver.

The unique of this chicken is that they only have four toes as compared with other types of chicken.

What is the health benefit???

• can relieve fatigue, more active when you took chicken essence regularly. Said that it could enhance cortisol metabolism in blood and promote mental fatigue recovery.

• a traditional remedy for anemia

• increase metabolism

• promote healing

• support health and boost of energy

Chinese Traditional Remedy

Yes, I've got this recipe from my mama. Being told that this recipe has been passed down from one generation to another. 

Usually I will add some chinese herbs such as:

• goji/wolfberry (枸杞) - protect the liver, help eyesight, improve fertility, strengthen the legs, boost immune function, improve circulation and promote longevity

• dang shen (黨參) - known as poor's man ginseng (lol) cause it's like a weaker ginseng. help to improve body function, anti fatigue, stimulates nervous system, increases red blood cells, raises blood sugar and enhance blood coagulation
• red dates (紅棗) - preventing reaction in blood transfusion, improves strength of muscles, inhibits cell mutation and cancer cells, protects liver and calms the central nervous system 

How to prepare

• chicken's bones (no skin, no flesh, no fat) - crush smash whatever you called it lol (pls ask someone else to do it for you if you are pregnant)
• optional : chinese herbs (goji, red dates, dang shen)

1. Wash the Chinese herbs and put them inside the centre of big bowl
2. Put smaller bowl, upside down into the bigger bowl
3. Place the crushed smashed chicken over the smaller bowl
4. Cover the big bowl with a plate
5. Pour water into the pot ( at least it can cover half of the bowl, no worries you can always add water whenever it is needed)
6. Place the combined bowls into the pot
7. Cover the pot with the lid and double boil it for 2 hours
8. Let it cold a lil bit before you take the bowl out from the pot (be careful)
9. Remove the upper plate and gently remove all the chicken pieces
10. Remove the smaller bowl and viola your chicken essence is inside the big bowl with the Chinese herbs
11. Scoop everything to the serving bowl and your nutritious pure homemade chicken essence is ready to be serve (serve them hot :)