Pork Ribs

I didn't have the slightest inkling what I wanted to cook for dinner tonight. Midday, I taught my new help to boil ABC soup in the crockpot (slow cooker). Then I rummaged my freezer and found a block of pork ribs. Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to do with the pork ribs. Decided to check for recipes on the internet - typed in "Pork ribs" and a list of web sites popped up. Selected one and then a second one and

found this - Simple Pork Rib Dry Rub (Picture from recipe web site)

Sometimes, I cook and cook Chinese food in the kitchen like a mad woman and there is hardly a compliment. Here, I took five minutes to put together the ingredients and shoved it into the oven to bake for 45 minutes and everyone is raving about how delicious it is!!! I am dumbfounded!!

Daifukumochi

#2 and I are great fans of this Japanese dessert. Where she prefers the plain Anko daifuku (red bean mochi), I am inclined towards the Ichigo daifuku (strawberry mochi). I've made this many times and I've tried various recipes. I make my own Anko because I don't like the can ones available in Jaya Jusco - it's incredibly sweet.

I still prefer the recipe given to me by my friend Alice.

Recipe:

150g Joshinko (Loh Mai Fun/rice flour)
80g Fine sugar
270ml water
kinako or katakuriko for dusting
5 - 8 strawberries (depending on size)

Method:
1. Put Joshinko, sugar and water into a microwaveable bowl and whisk till all ingredients are combined. (Optional: You can add a few drops of pink coloring if you want).
2. Put into microwave at medium heat for 3 minutes. After that bring out and mix paste well.
3. Put back into microwave for another 3 minutes on medium. Bring it out and mix the paste well again.
4.Put back into microwave for another 1 minute on medium.
(While in the microwave for the second and third time, the mochi paste should expand and deflate like a balloon). When ready, the mochi looks semi-transparent and is pliable.
5. The mochi is very hot and you have to be careful because you need to work with your hands.
6. Dust hands and tools with katakuriko.
7. Dust a stiff plastic spatula with katakuriko, cut up about a 'golf ball' size of mochi and use hands (dusted with katakuriko) to flatten the mochi out and fill with Anko and Strawberry (optional). Wrap up by picking up the opposite corners and pressing them together to seal it.
8. Roll in katakuriko before packing in a box and into fridge.
9. Enjoy!!!