Taro Tapioca Dessert 香芋西米露

Ingredients:

Taro- 1 medium size

Tapioca-1 cup

Brown Sugar-1 cup

Coconut milk-1 cup

Method:

1. Peel the skin of the taro and wash it. Dry it with a paper towel.
2. Prepare a big pot and add 8 cups of water. Chop taro into small 2cm chunks and add them into the pot. Boil them with high heat. When they start to bubble, turn them to low heat. Cook until they are soft. Approximately, it will take about 30 mins to cook.
3.  While you cook taro, prepare another pot of boiled water. Soak tapioca in cold water for 30seconds and cook them in the boiled water for 20 mins. Or until they become clear with no white dots inside. When they are done, use a net to drain the tapioca.
4. Add sugar and mix evenly.
5. Add coconut milk.
6. Mix them and then turn off the stove so it won't overcook the milk.
7. Serve. You can serve them cold or hot.

Reminder:

1. Make sure you chop the taros into the same size, so they will all be cooked at the same time. Use a chopstick to poke the taro. When you can poke through, it means it's done.
2. Remember to constantly stir tapioca as you cook. Suggest stirring every 5 mins.
3. When you want to reheat them and serve, remember to warm up with low heat and stir them constantly. Otherwise the bottom will get burned.
4. How to choose a good taro? The heavier the taro the better. A good way to test is to choose two that are the same size and choose the heavier one. The lighter it is, it means it has been sitting there for a while. Second thing to look out is to choose one that has less holes on the surface.
5. If you bought a taro that is too big and can’t finish them in one time, you can chop them into chunks and store them with a Ziploc bag in the freezer. The next time when you want to cook, you can just take them out and cook.
6. The texture of the taro will make our skin itchy if you touch your face or arm. So I’d suggest washing your hands immediately after chopping them.

Red Bean Soup-Chinese dessert

Ingredients:

Water:8 cups  (If it's not enough for you, you can always add more water.)

Red bean-2 cups

Barley-1 cup (It has various benefits, such as helping to get rid off edema and also lighten your skin color. These are the two main reasons I added this ingredient)

Brown sugar-4 bars (You can start with less sugar and adjust to the sweetness you want.)

Red dates: 1 cup

(Benefits: Calms the central nervous system, protects the liver, improves strength, inhibits cancer cells, treats skin cancer, prevents reaction in blood transfusion-women's menstration , treats diarrhea.)

Method:

1. Wash red bean, barley and red dates.

2.Soak red bean and barley with water in a big pot for 2 hrs.

3. Add red dates into the pot.  Cook it with high heat. When it starts to bubble, turn to low heat. Cook for 2 hrs

4. If you want to drink it thicker, you can continue to cook with the low heat untill you get the required thickness.5. When it's done, turn off the stove. Add brown sugar.

6. Serve. You can drink this dessert cold or warm.

However, you can also choose to cook red bean soup without barely and red dates. The benefit of red bean soup. 1) Promotes diuresis and reduces swelling for conditions characterized by the accumulation of water (such as edema or ascites); 2) Clears heat, damp-heat, eliminates toxins & drains pus especially in dermatological disorders (acne, sores, carbuncles - stronger therapeutic effect when applied topically).

You can use the same method to cook green bean. However, it has different benefits and usually eaten in the summer.It's Chinese energetic properties are sweet and cold. The Chinese therapeutic actions include: 1) Clears heat & toxins from the exterior of the body, such as carbuncles, sores, and ulcers; 2) Dispels Summer-heat and relieves thirst - it is a effective to prevent heat stroke during the summer season and is often eaten as a food/dessert in the summertime to relieve thirst, clear heat, alleviate restlessness, and lower body temperature. [Use this with caution for individuals who may have internal cold.]

You can eat the red dates. It's sweet. (When you buy them, some are seeded)

Brown Sugar