Borlotti beans (花豆) Soup & Activity for Tot

Every time when I go to the market, I cannot resist the temptation to take a few close-up looks at these beautiful borlotti/ cranberry beans. But I didn’t buy any because I had no clue on how to cook it.

Only recently, 2-3 months ago, my mum started to cook them for us when we are there for dinner every Sunday and I really find the soup very tasty.

Her recipe is really simple.

Ingredients:
100g to 150g of  borlotti/ cranberry beans
Can either use Pork rib or chicken bone. It taste as nice.
2 Large Carrot, 2 Large Potato, 10-15 red dates.
1500ml water

Seasonings:
Salt to taste

Methods:

1. Blanch Pork rib or chicken bone in boiling water for a short while. Dish and set aside.
2. Steam the bean till soft. (I never steam them. I throw everything inside. Lazy.)
3. Bring water to boil. Put all ingredients inside. Bring the water to boiling again and switch to low fire.
4. Boil for 2 hours. Turn off the heat. Salt to taste and serve.

P/S: I cook them today but forgotten to take picture.

Besides the soup, I find Borlotti Bean could keep Yvette real busy too. I will normally buy those beans with skin so that I can get Yvette practice her peeling skill. So (yes, I love it so much now and I cook every week.) after the market trip, I will get Yvette to help me in the kitchen. And this can keep her very occupied for half an hour without me supervising her!

She peels.

She scoops.

She counts. (She will count number of beans she could scoop up each time.)

Do try and let me know your experience and whether the soup suit your taste!

Pumpkin & Apple Soup

Ingredients:

3 Apples

½ Butternut Pumpkin

10 red dates

Half Chicken

Methods:

1. Boil the chicken for about half an hour and remove the excess oil.
2. Throw in all the rest of ingredients. Boil for another 1 ½ hour.
3. Serve. (You might want to add some salt.)

I learnt this soup from a variety show. This is a very famous soup in Taiwan. I think this is one of the best soups for baby below 1 to try. (If you mind adding scallop into the soup. This might be a good option for you.) It is sweet and clear.

Winter Melon & Pearl Barley Soup

The weather is hot recently. I decide to cook something cooling today to boost up our immunity system.

Ingredients:

Winter Melon (Half) (Remove the skin and seed)

50g Pearl Barley (is cooling. Promotes dieresis, strengthen the Spleen, clears heat. Blend barley and water, boil and drink the liquid. Or cook soupy barley and eat as porridge.)

Carrot (peel the skin)

6 Scallops (soak)

10 red dates (soak)

Big bone and pork rib

Method:

1. Boil the big bone for half an hour and remove the impurities.
2. Scald the pork rib and wash them thoroughly.
3. Add the pork rib and the pearl barley to cook for 15mins
4. Add all other ingredients and boil for another 1 hour.

Ginseng Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1. 4 Ginsengs

2. 2 chicken drumsticks

3. 6 Red dates

4. 8 Dried Long gan

5. Handful of Wolfberries

Methods:

1. Scald the drumsticks

2. Add Ginseng and red dates and boil with the chicken for an hour.

3. Add Dried Longgan and wolfberries into the soup and cook for another hour.