Mandarin soup - Chinese classic.

You are going to need:

1/2 pound chicken
6 cups chicken broth
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 chopped spinach (optional)
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional)
1 tablespoon peanut oil

1/4 water 

Slice chicken into thin strips. Saute in heated oil for apprx. 5 min. Add mushrooms, celery and carrots and saute for another 5 min. Stir in broth and spinach and bring to a boil. Add the egg while stirring constantly. If you are using cornstarch, dissolve it in water and stir into the broth, until soup is slightly thicker. Add seasoning to taste.
Serves 4-6

Almond chicken with water chestnuts

This simple and rewarding recipe that features the best traits of Chinese home cooking: satisfying complexity of flavors and some healthy vegetable goodness as well. It is easy to prepare and doesn't take much time at all - I will not be surprised if it becomes your go-to recipe for quick and delicious 'quickie' dinner.


You are going to need:

1 medium size chicken
1 cup sliced water chestnuts
6 dried (or quarter of pound of  fresh) Chinese mushrooms 
1/2 cup ground almonds
3 tablespoons peanut or soybean oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Presoak dried mushrooms for about half an hour, or just drain and slice if using fresh. 
Rid chicken of bones and slice it thinly. Mix salt, pepper and almonds. Roll chicken slices in the mix. Heat the cooking oil and fry chicken in it until brown. Add the mushrooms, water chestnuts and soy sauce. Cook over low heat for 3-5 minutes. 

I hope you enjoy it!

Sweet potato (yam) fish balls - Pacific Islands

This one sounds interesting, doesn't it? If you have ever been anywhere in the Pacific Islands, you know about local people's love for any kind of seafood. It is cooked right "out of the sea", so to speak- over charred coals, with special herb marinades, on tiny skewers: the preparation is always simple and the result is delicious.

I hope I picked your interest in how special Pacific Islander-style fish dishes can taste- try this recipe to find out ;)

You are going to need:

2 medium size fish fillets
3 cups boiled yams or sweet potatoes
3/4 cup light cream
1 medium egg, beaten
3/4 cups flour
1 cup water
1 medium size onion
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
about 1/3 teaspoon black pepper (use to taste)

and a good amount of oil for deep frying


Cook fish in water, seasoned with salt and pepper for about 20 minutes or until fish flakes readily. Drain, cool and flake, but not too much so as to have some appealing texture. Beat the yams, cream, egg and a teaspoon of salt until light and fluffy, then gently stir in the fish. Check for seasoning and roll the mass into balls. Heat the oil to about 375 degrees (be careful!) and fry the balls until browned. Drain and serve hot.
Makes 4-6 servings.