Blessed, Happy Lunch!

I was feeling a little vexed over some things today, but was reminded of the delicious lunch I had today, which made me really happy in the afternoon...

Fried beehoon, crispy fried chicken crunchy cabbage and savoury, spicy brinjal. Yum!

Sinful, yet so...Yummy. Need I say more? (There go my diet plans for the day....haha..but so worth it!)

Count your blessings, and all the little irritations in life may seem minute in comparison. You'll be a lot happier. A happy person is a beautiful person!

What has made you happy today? Do share!

**yes, post on my trip coming soon. Stay tuned!

See you soon, my beauties!

Recipe: Snow Fungus with Rock Sugar

As you know, the Belle has been ill lately, and the bout of sickness has left me looking a little haggard. I was looking for something simple and nourishing to bring back the glow, and suddenly thought of this recipe. I thought it would be good to share this simple, traditional recipe (which I found on another blog some time ago, but I forgot about.) with my beauties. Tastes good, and is good for your health, and your skin! Enjoy!
 
Snow Fungus with Rock Sugar

1 palm sized snow fungus (soaked for about 10- 15 mins, rinsed, stub cut off, and cut to pieces)
1/2 cup of cooked lotus seeds,washed (I use vacuum packed)
1/2 cup of small sago, soaked
Roughly 6 red dates, washed (You can use more or less according to your preference)
1/2 cup candied winter melon strips
rock sugar to taste
About 2 Litres water

-Bring water to boil in a pot.
-Add in all ingredients except the sago and rock sugar. Bring to boil again.
-Simmer on low heat about 30 minutes.  Add in sago. Stir.
-Simmer for another 30 minutes or till desired consistency. Add rock sugar to taste.
-Enjoy hot, or serve iced, if your prefer.

Snow fungus has been often called the 'poor man's bird's nest' due to its economy, yet similar health and beauty benefits. Rich in collagen, frequent consumption may hep your skin to stay line free. In the view of traditional chinese medicine (TCM),  It helps with 'dry' coughs, and is useful in building up the respiratory and immune system. It is also believed to help with high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels.


*Despite the benefits, care needs to be taken if you are suffering from diarrhea as snow fungus is rich in fibre, and has a mild laxative effect. Also, if your body is 'cold' it may not be suitable for you. When in doubt, consult your nearest TCM practitioner.

** I am not sure where it was from, but if you are the owner of this recipe or know where it is from, please do let me know so that I can do the proper crediting.

Hope you like this recipe! Take care, and see you soon, my beauties!

Age of Beauty:Hall of Virtues:Eat Up!

You know what's good for you! I will not give you a list of hard to find foods, or  expensive supplements that promise to make you 50 years younger. That's not my style,you know. Here, a list of readily available foods from your local supermarket, for you to eat yourself young.

1)Leafy vegetables-Mummy dearest was right (and so was Popeye). Spinach (Along with turnip greens,collard greens, and romaine lettuce) contain lutein and zeaxanthin. These antioxidants prevent Age- related Macular Degeneration. And get this, Spinach contains plenty of folate, which helps to prevent heart disease. Of course, not forgetting the Vitamin C. So, you look younger with this power packed package. Now go eat your greens.

2)Berries-All sorts. They are rich in anti oxidants that fight aging--more than most other foods. As an added bonus, they also lower the risk of disease, and memory loss.

3)Salmon-Rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, it not only fights heart disease, it also keeps your skin supple. The vitamin B12 in it is also fantastic for heart health.

4)Nuts-Filled with good proteins that replenish your collagen levels and heart friendly fats.Also magnesium, as well as vitamins B and E aid in the war against heart disease and cancer. Five small fistfuls a week help keep the dermatologist away!

5)Yellow and orange vegetables-Protects skin from sun damage, lowers cancer risk, fights colds and other infections. The potassium in them also keeps blood pressure down.

6)Yoghurt- Excellent source of B Vitamins, protein and calcium. And if probiotics are present, disease causing germs also exit. Need I say more?

7)Vitamins A,C, and E. Potent antioxidants that you should supplement your diet with, especially for the busy working parent who simply has no time to eat right. They fight free radicals and keep you looking and feeling good.

Just little tweaks to your diet could make a great difference in the way you look and feel. This list is by no means conclusive, but it contains foods readily available which you can pop into your cart at your next trip to the supermarket.

Eat up, and stay beautiful, ladies and gentlemen!

Age of Beauty: You Are What You Eat! (1)Hall of Evils

You are what you eat. It seems so simple, isn't it? But yet, it is so often neglected by us.

Presenting to you, the list of common evils that obstruct you from our path towards ageless skin.

a) It is probably no secret that sugary, processed foods can be detrimental to you waistline. But, when you tell a woman (especially during one of those mad cravings) that, she may just ignore you. But if you tell her that the sugar will cause her to have sagging skin before her time, she will probably stop in her tracks. Sugar causes glycation, the result of sugar breaking down and bonding with protein, and thereby reducing the elasticity of collagen in the skin.

b) Ever seen how fast alcohol evaporates? That is what it is doing to the moisture in your body. The body suffers, and it shows on the skin. This is, however, a tough one as some alcohol may actually be good for you. A simple rule of thumb would be to limit it to one drink a day for women and two a day for men. 

c) Simple carbohydrates=Sugar=glycation. Enough said. Reach for the wholemeal and unrefined grains instead. These complex carbohydrates do not turn to sugar immediately, and instead, stay around in the system longer to provide sustained energy.

d)Saturated fats cause inflammation which in turn, causes aging. (They're not very heart friendly either.) Processed meats are high in saturated fats and nitrates, another cause of inflammation. These include your hot dogs, bacon, ham, etc. (Sad face for me.I like all of them.)

e) Any deep fried in oil-- because they are likely to be laden with trans fat--both heart unfriendly and inflammatory.

The above list is not conclusive, of course. But they are the most common evils that we consume on a daily basis, and it will do us good to avoid them. Easier said than done, I know. But you know what's good for you, my lovely ladies and gentlemen.

Coming up next, foods that restore your youth and glow. Watch this space!

Random Photo

This candy was given to my boy by his beloved aunt, and I managed to take a photo of it before he takes it apart (Which will be soon, haha...). It looks so pretty, I thought I would share.

Sorry for the slowdown in updates. Chinese New Year is drawing to a close, so updates will (hopefully) be faster.

The Belle is working to bring you more reviews, so see you soon!

Recipe: Brown Beauty (Salty Coconut Caramel)

Simple, and yummy! A random recipe to whet the appetite before I post up my reviews.

Salty coconut caramel

Salty Coconut Caramel

10 tablespoons sugar
5 tablespoons coconut cream
50 grams butter
Salt to taste (May be omitted if using salted butter)

1.Melt sugar in pan, adding a tablespoon or two of hot water to help it melt evenly. Do not stir excessively.
2. Cook gently over low fire until it turns amber.
3.Quickly whisk in butter. Careful! Mixture will bubble violently! Take off heat.
4.Whisk in coconut cream. Mixture will bubble violently again, so be careful!
5.Add in salt at this stage, if you are using unsalted butter.
6.Let cool to room temperature, and keep in the fridge. (Max 2 weeks. But it probably won't last that long. Eat by the spoonful, drizzle it over vanilla ice cream, or use it as a dip. Do what you like with it.

Gorgeous, isn't it? And yes, it is delicious. And no, I am not sharing. Make your own!