Gingko Nuts with Longan

Preparation Time: 2 hours (approx.)
Cooking Time: 4 hours (approx.)
Serving for 4 - 6

Ingredients
300g Dried Longans
500g Gingko Nuts with shell
A cup of rock sugar
2 Tbsp of sugar
100g fungus
100g lotus seed

Preparation of Gingko Nuts
1. De-shell Gingko nuts.
2. Boil Gingko nuts and remove the skin.
3. Use a toothpick to remove the green root inside the nut.
4. Add sugar and mix the Gingko nuts. Marinate it for like 10 minutes.
5. Add water and half a cup of rock sugar till boil.
6. Lower the fire and let the Gingko nuts to simmer for about 2
to 3 hours.
7. Cook the Gingko nuts till they are 'caramelised'.

Preparation of Fungus
1. Wash the fungus and cut into small portion.
2. Soak fungus with water till soft.

Preparation of Lotus Seeds
1. Clean the lotus seeds and remove the green root inside.
2. Soak the lotus seeds with water till soft.

Preparation of Longans 'syrup'
1. Add 6 cups of water, half a cup of rock sugar and boil the Longans for about 2 hours.

Method
1. Add Gingko Nuts and Lotus Seeds to the Longans 'syrup' and cook at low fire for 1 hour.
2. Add fungus and cook for another half an hour.

This is usually done during Chinese New Year to serve guests.

Orange Peel & Red Beans Soup

An hour preparation and cooking but worth doing...
2 - 3 servings


Ingredients

2 cups of red beans
5 cups of boiling water
2 pieces of dried orange peel
5 Tbsp of sugar (sweetness to personal taste)
1 cup of lotus seed

Method

1. Boil red beans and lotus seed for about 40 minutes till cooked.
2. Add sugar and orange peel and continue to cook for another 20 minutes.

This is a simple dessert to cook but the yummy part of it is the orange peel adds a special flavour to it.