SOYA SAUCE CHICKEN

Solstice is regarded by Chinese as the most important festive than Chinese New Year.  It signifies bountiful harvest and a good year ahead and thus it is celebrated lavishly. 

Soya sauce chicken is the main dish for the festive besides other side dishes and soup.  The chicken is soaked in diluted dark soya sauce mixed with cloves, star aniseed, cinnamon sticks, sesame oil and seasoning for half a day.  Boil the sauce and put in the chicken to continue cooking till tender.

GRILLED CHICKEN WINGS

One of the favourite dishes - chicken wings marinated with soya sauce, ginger juice, oyster sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, sweet-plum sauce and honey.  Grill over high heat at 200 degree.  Glaze with honey when cooked and grill till wings are golden brown, pay careful attention so that it would not get burnt.

DRUNKEN CHICKEN

During my younger days in 1960s life was not a luxury and most families were poor and produced many offsprings.  Married women were not working and stayed at home to look after kids thus the burden fall on the shoulder of the men.  The food we ate was simple and meat was only eaten during festive seasons.  The common food we had for meal were beansprouts, beancurd, and preserved food such as preserved eggs, salted fish, ikan bilis and vegetables.  Thus to have chicken or pork for meal was a luxury.

Marinate chicken (I prefer to buy wings and drum sticks than whole chicken as we do not like breast meat) with salt, soya sauce, sugar and ginger juice for 1 hour.  To steam, add 1.5 rice bowls of sh'ao xing wine into the chicken (do not add water) and add in mashed garlics and wolberry seeds.  Steam chicken over high fire till juice runs clear when pok with a skewer.

To consume cold put chicken in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.

CURRY CHICKEN

Curry chicken for dinner.  Curry leaves and lemon grass enhance the flavor and aroma of the dish.

The curry paste is best prepared by using the mortar & pestle than using the blender.  It brings out the taste and the texture is finer when using the mortar.

SESAME OIL CHICKEN

This is a very fragrant and delicious dish. During my confinement my mother cooked this dish for me. The chicken fry with sesame oil and ginger helps to promote circulation, provide nourishment and stimulate energy, especially for women who have just given birth.

As sesame oil is "heaty" you can reduce the proportion of the oil when serving this dish on normal days.

Ingredients :
Half the chicken (if you do not like breast meat, you can cook with chicken wings which I do)
2-3 medium slices of mashed ginger (squeeze out 2 tspn juice)
2 cloves of mashed garlic
1 tbsp chinese wine (glutinous rice wine)
1 tbsp dark soya sauce
salt and sugar for seasoning

Wash chicken and cut into serving pieces (if whole chicken)
Marinate chicken pieces with seasoning, dark soya sauce and ginger juice
Heat cooking and sesame oil in a wok
When oil is hot fry ginger slices and garlic till fragrant
Put in chicken and stir fry for 5 mins
Add seasoning and cover wok to cook till chicken pieces are cooked
Pour in wine and stir fry for another 10 mins
Serve with rice