Pig's Trotter With Vinegar Recipe

To be honest with you, i'm not very much of a meat eater. But during my confinement period, i have not much say in what i eat since my MIL does all the cooking. And it's only for a month, so, what the heck. Everything she cooks is to nourish my spent body. I really shouldnt be complaining at all as to what confinement foods she cooks for me since not many women has the luxury of a MIL taking care of her during her confinement period.

Once in a while, she will cook this Pig's Trotter With Vinegar Recipe. It has black beans in it which is supposed to increase milk supply as i'm a breastfeeding mom. I shudder each time i'm made to eat this Pig's Trotter With Vinegar. Half the time, i'll remove the fatty parts of the Pig's Trotter, drink the vinegared soup and wallop all the black beans, lol. As for the fat and skin, sorry.... all goes down the drain. Go ahead and hate me :p

Yesterday, someone brought some Pig's Trotter With Vinegar over. I took the opportunity to ask her for her famous Pig's Trotter With Vinegar Recipe that most of my SILs and neighbors rave about. And i was so glad that she was in such a good mood to share this Chinese confinement food recipe with me.

Ingredients:

1 pig’s trotter (2kg)
1500ml sweetened black vinegar
3 tbsp sesame oil
3 tbsp rock sugar
salt (as desired)
1 cup black beans
600gm old ginger
750ml water

Method:

1) Rinse the pig’s trotter and cut into convenient pieces. Peel and cut the old ginger into pieces, flatten lightly and set aside. Blanch with hot water to remove the "raw meat" taste and smell.

2) Heat the sesame oil in a pre-heated wok and saute the old ginger pieces and black beans till fragrant. Remove and transfer a large claypot.

3) Pour in the vinegar and water, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to low heat and cook for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let the mixture soak overnight.

4) Blanch the pig's trotter pieces in hot water. Remove and drain. Stir-fry in a pre-heated wok for a while. Add rock sugar to it and continue to stir until sugar is fully dissolved and aromatic.

5) Lastly, bring the soup back to a boil. Add the pre-fried pig's trotter pieces into the claypot, cover and simmer over medium heat for 35 minutes or so.

6) Remove from heat, leaving the pig's trotter pieces in the vinegar soup. Let it soak until the all the pig's trotter pieces are tender and the flavor has been absorbed and aromatic.

This Pig's Trotter With Vinegar is best served with a bowl of hot rice, or on its own. I cant stop drinking the sweet vinegared soup though. Half the time, the vinegared soup and black beans are all gone before the pig's trotter, lol. Do give this Pig's Trotter With Vinegar Recipe a try.

Chicken Essence Recipe

Dont ask me how much Chicken Essence i have consumed during my confinement period. My mother-in-law prepares for me Chicken Essence almost every other day. She used to prepare it with brandy but i prefer it with DOM. It's just a preference. But honestly speaking, DOM has more nutrients and tastes better too.

I just love the sweetness of DOM. Together with the chicken, it makes a perfect nourishing confinement drink. Do bookmark this important Chicken Essence recipe and share amongst your friends. This very nourishing confinement drink drink will complement all your confinement foods well.

Ingredients:

500g chicken
1 cup/250ml DOM or Brandy

Method:

1. Wash chicken thoroughly. Remember to remove the skin and scald in hot water. Rinse, pat dry and set aside. Place chicken and cognac into a double boiler. Cover with lid and double boil for 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

2. Remove chicken and pour the Chicken Essence into a cup or bowl. It's best served warm.

Chinese Fried Rice with Egg and Ginger

This is one of my favorite confinement foods. I can eat this every day and not get tired of it. Fried Rice with Egg and Ginger is not only a nourishing confinement food, it can be eaten even after the confinement period. I love ginger with everything. Ginger warms the body and helps expel wind too. That's why one of the most important ingredients to stock up on is ginger when you shop for all your confinement food recipes.

To make this Chinese Fried Rice with Egg and Ginger, you only a few basic ingredients:

200g cooked rice
80g old shredded ginger
2 eggs beaten lightly
2 tbsp sesame oil

A pinch of salt and some soy sauce will make the dish more delicious

Method:

1) Heat up sesame oil and fry the shredded ginger over a low fire until fragrant. You can tell when it turns a light golden color.

2) Add in the beaten egg slowly and stir-fry till cooked.

3) Add the bowl of rice and a little salt to the ginger and egg. Stir-fry over high heat till fragrant. Just before serving, add the soy sauce in and stir till all ingredients are well combined.

4) This Chinese Fried Rice with Egg and Ginger is best served immediately.

Black Beans and Nan Dates Tea

Nourishing daily confinement drinks

Black Beans and Nan Dates Tea

Ingredients:

200g nan dates
50g dried longan
10 sliced fresh ginger
100g black beans
2000ml water

Method:

1) Half the dates. Soak black beans in water for about an hour until slightly soft. Pour away water and set aside.

2) Cook all the ingredients together in a pot with the water till boiling. Reduce to low heat and simmer for at least 3 hours.

3) Remove from heat. Strain well and serve.

Pepper and Dang Shen Ginger Tea

Nourishing daily confinement drinks

Pepper and Dang Shen Ginger Tea

Ingredients:

200g dang shen (sectioned)
50g old ginger (sliced)
1 tbsp peppercorn (crushed)
3 bowls/750ml water

Method:

Place all the ingredients and water into a pot and cook over a low heat. Simmer until the tea remains about a bowl. Strain well and serve immediately.

Dang Shen Tea

Nourishing daily confinement drinks

Dang Shen Tea

Ingredients:

150g dang shen
100g red dates
50g dried longan
2000ml water

Method:

1) Cut the dang shen into slices or sectionals. Flatten the red dates and core them. Set aside.

2) Bring water to a boil. Add in dang shen, red dates and dried longan. Cover and boil for approximately 3 hours over low heat.

3) Remove from heat. Strain well and serve hot.

Fried Ginger Rice Tea

Nourishing daily confinement drinks

Fried Ginger Rice Tea

Ingredients:

300g white grain rice
150g fresh ginger (shredded finely)

Method:

1) Stir-fry the rice and shredded ginger in a pre-heated dry wok until dry and golden brown.

2) Remove and keep in a bottle

3) Soak 1tbsp in a cup of boiling water. Cover for 30 minutes. Serve hot. Can be taken everyday.

Dates tea

Nourishing daily confinement tea

Dates tea

Ingredients:

50g black dates
50g nan dates/ nan zhao
150g red dates
50g dried longan
1500ml water

Method:

1) Rinse dates and flatten. Remove the core.

2) Cook dates with water until boiling. Simmer over low heat for approximately 2 hours.

3) Remove from heat, strain well and serve hot.

4) Place the remainder into a thermos flask and drink throughout the day

Nourishing daily confinement drinks

It's important to ensure that we get adequate amount of water intake during the confinement period. And no, i dont mean plain water. My old folks say it's not good to take plain water, especially cold water. Has lots of "wind" in it. Bad for old age. Though the young may argue and go against it, the old folks' advice is that you'll know when you are old. Up to you whether you want to continue with drinking cold water or try some of these "warm" nourishing daily confinement drinks.

I'm grateful that my Mother-in-law was there to help with the cooking and daily confinement food preparations. As i'm all for exclusive breastfeeding, these nourishing daily confinement drinks will ensure that i have sufficient nutrient and liquid in me to produce lots of breastmilk for baby. Here are just some of my favorite nourishing daily confinement drinks:

Dates Tea

Fried Ginger Rice Tea

Dang Shen Tea

Pepper and Dang Shen Ginger Tea

Black Beans and Nan Dates Tea

About

As of time of writing, my youngest kid is already about to turn two years old. My eldest is nearly five. Both boys. You wont find any pics here on this blog. I know nuts about blogging when my kid was born and never thought that i'll make a blog for Chinese Confinement Foods one day. The Chinese Confinement Food recipes here are what my mother-in-law cooked for me after the birth of my two kids. All tried and tested recipes.

It's important for women to rest well right after childbirth. Confinement Foods will provide all the nourishment needed to replenish a spent body, making it strong again. I believe i deserve to rest and eat well during the confinement period. I've seen many of my friends who dont believe in confinement foods and end up white and pale even three months after the birth of their baby. Dont be like them. Take care of your body well after childbirth. Important for old-age and also if you intend to have more children.

Do give some of these Chinese Confinement Food recipes a try. They are not only meant for confinement period. Most of these Chinese Confinement Foods are very good and nourishing.