MULTI GRAINS HEALING CONGEE

5/7/2015
SUNDAY

This porridge is so good.... taste good (to  me anyway), good for health and good for beauty. What more could you ask for... According to TCM (traditional Chinese Medicine), the list of ingredients used and their benefits are:-

1.  dried longan: tranquilising and revitalising the mind and good for those suffering from anaemia
2.  lotus  seed: improve digestion, removes heatiness and calms the spirit
3. gingko nut: helps with memory and improve concentration
4. peanuts:  improve appetite and regulate blood flow and also help to alleviate insomia
5. barley: cooling in nature; dissolve phlegm and relieve cough and recommended for painful joints (that's me)
6. red dates: replenish the qi, restores energy of the spleen, nourish the blood and calms the mind
7. Glutinous rice: neutral in nature, warms the spleen and stomach (two of the most important organs in TCM)

8. 10 grains rice (this is mine additional to replace the brown rice)
9. rock sugar (which I have omitted).

The nuts and rice has been soaked overnight and mix all (except the dried longan) together and bring to a boil.  Lower to a simmer for around 2-3 hours till soft.   Lastly add the dried longan and seasoning (if desire).
Maybe the next time I boil this healing congee, I will add some wolfberries (goji) benefit for the eyes!

I packed it into small boxes for breakfast for the week.  Its not too filling and you won't go sleepy after eating it and its good for you. 

I was looking at least 4 different versions of cooking the pulled pork or slow cooker braised  pork and in the end, I just take a bit from here and a bit from there and this is my version..

Pork shoulder,  lemon zest, dried chillies, 1 cinnamon stick, 5 cloves and star anise, 2-3 bay leaves, some mustard seeds, some dried thyme and oregano   

sear the meat till brown on all sides, remove and set aside.

add all the herbs and saute till fragrant. 

secret ingredient: can of beer ! 

deglaze the pan with the beer.  Pour everything to a slow cooker and let it braise for 4 hours till meat is tender.

remove the meat and pull apart into strands.

You can thicken the remaining sauce with some dark soya sauce, cornstarch solution and season to taste.  But for the time being, I will leave it as it is because none of my daughters fancy this much of meat!

I will think of a way to use them somehow.......