Er Gu Dessert

Best Dessert in Singapore

By Leave a Comment

Health facts: Yummy green beans

Health Facts Yummy Green Beans Mung Bean

Although generally green beans are not recognized as beans in terms of nutrition, but they are more than any others in terms of nutritional content. This wonder of nature is also known as string beans or snap beans. Their level of nutrients is closer to okra, snap peas and other vegetables. Here are some points that will guide you in getting to know more the green beans; the multiple health benefits it can provide in every consumption, as well as its nutritional content.

Green Beans’ Nutritional Breakdown

About 100 grams (or 1 cup of fresh green beans), consists of zero (0) grams fat, seven (7) grams of carbohydrates, thirty one (31) calories, three (3) grams of sugar, three (3) grams of fiber and two (2) grams of protein. These amazing green beans are having a high volume of Vitamins C, A and K. Not just that, these contain iron, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, potassium and magnesium.

Green beans Health Benefits

Just like barley, there are many reliable studies to show that a high consumption of green beans can reduce the danger of obesity and or weight loss, heart diseases, diabetes while developing a healthy complexion and a higher energy.

Inhibits Risks of Cancer

To decrease the cancer risk, make sure you paired your grilled foods with green beans. In meat grilling, the heterocyclic amines might be produced that can cause  carcinogenic effects. And, these will be blocked by the chlorophyll, which is highly found in green beans.

Improves Fertility

According to Harward Health Publications (from Harvard School); green beans are among the plants that can produce high level of iron, that is truly essential in promoting fertility. A woman with the age of child bearing are highly advised to intake enough folic acid. This folic acid will protect the unborn child against neural tube defects. A cup green beans can provide about 6% of iron and 10% of folic acid.

Aids Depression

Meeting the target  daily folate needs may also aid one’s depression. Enough amount  folate consumption can block an excess of homocysteine in your body, which prevents other nutrients, especially the blood from reaching the brain. Excess homocysteine can hinder with the creation of the feel-good hormones dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, which regularize your mood, sleep and even your appetite.

Healthier Bones

Low intakes of vitamin K have been linked with a higher risk for developing bone fracture. Adequate vitamin K consumption improves bone health by acting as a modifier of bone matrix proteins, improving calcium absorption and reducing urinary excretion of calcium.

Bone fracture may develop due to a low intake of vitamin K. Vitamin K serves as the bone matrix proteins’ changer;  that improves the absorption of calcium, and decrease the urinary excretion of calcium. By having a cup of green beans, you can get 14.4 micrograms of Vitamin K and 4% of calcium (almost about 20% of your daily need). Just keep in mind that separating the nutritional content of vegetables like green beans (like in the form of supplements), will not give the same results. Also not forgetting, read up on the wonders of sesame seeds.

Get lucky and head down to the Chinatown dessert in Singapore to beat the hot weather with mixtures of barley, sesame seeds and green beans in the mouth watering desserts now.

By Leave a Comment

5 types of barley in your desserts

5 types of barley in your desserts

Barley is a part of the grass family. It is one of the major cereal grains grown in temperate climates everywhere.  About 13,000 years ago, barley was specifically one of the first harvested grains, particularly in Eurasia. It has also been used as animal food, as a source of fermentable substance for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods. Barley is a health-giving grain that is attaining interest from health-conscious people. It offers necessary soluble fibers and B vitamins, especially when its edible grain is intact.

The following are some of the types of barley commonly sold in stores today:

Flakes (flaked barley)

Flaked barleys are grains that have been compressed just like the rolled oats they look like. Barley flakes may remind you of oatmeal because they’re created in the same way. First, by steaming kernels, rolling them, and drying them afterwards. This kind of barley is faster to cook because they’ve been lightly steamed and because of their bigger surface area. Most of the time, they are cooked and served as a hot cereal, but they can also be mixed into muesli and baked goods.

Pearl (pearled barley)

Most of the barley found in the usual supermarket is pearl barley. It has been lustered or pearled to remove some parts or the entire outer bran layer along with the hull. To generate these uniform, pearl-colored fragments, the barley grains are polished six times in the milling process to completely remove their double outer husk and their bran layer. Unfortunately, this process also removes nutrients. The thorough milling shortens the grain’s cooking time significantly. It has a dainty nut-like taste that readily absorbs the flavors of its companion ingredients in soups, salads, and side dishes. It’s much healthier than other refined grains because some of its bran may still be present and the fiber in the barley is evenly distributed throughout the kernel, and not just in the outer bran layer.

Hulled Barley

Hulled barley is a covered barley that has been slightly processed to omit only the tough inedible outer hull. It’s quite elaborate to clear away the hull carefully to avoid losing some of the bran. This form of barley is not as broadly available as the other types, but its greater nutrient content makes it worth seeking out. Hulled barley is also rich in dietary fiber. It is also higher in iron and trace minerals than pearl barley. The grains are brown in color and they take longer to cook than pearl barley. Hulled barley is without a doubt a healthier choice of dessert, making it a positive effect whilst indulging in it!

Barley Flour

Flour barley has a mild flavor made from barley grain. It contains a balanced amount of gluten, though it might not be enough to provide structure for most baked foods. It is commonly used in baked goods and serves as a thickener for soups, stews and gravies. The type of gluten in barley flour does not promote enough rising on its own, so it is usually incorporated with wheat flour. The barley flour is commonly used in Chinese desserts.

Barley Grits

Barley grits are barley grains that have been crisp and then cracked. They can be cooked as a substitute for rice or breakfast cereal. Nevertheless, other grains that are cracked to various degrees of fineness can also be sold as grits. When barley kernels are cut into several pieces, they become like  grits.

Try it yourself in any of the best dessert place in Singapore to enjoy the different type of barley in its savory desserts!

By Leave a Comment

9 best chinese desserts

9 best chinese desserts

The Chinese desserts differ from Western treats; these desserts will turn up as soon as they are ready, even in the middle of the meal. Here are the best desserts Singapore you should never skip.

Red Bean Bun

The red bean bun has the red bean as main ingredient, as filled with red bean paste. This bun is very famous all throughout China, especially in the Northern part of China. This dessert comes in different sizes and shapes, and can be purchased in many supermarkets. This bun is a famous version of “baozi”, and may vary into other fillings like taro paste, kernel paste as well as black bean paste.

Dragon Beard Candy

Known as a traditional art during the Han Dynasty, this candy floss is very sticky and is made from spun of sugar. As it is exposed to high temperature, it becomes stickier. This dessert is common on a street stall or any areas with many tourist visitors.

Egg Tarts

The Portugese colonizers are the proponents of Egg Tarts as they were introduced to Mainland China. These tarts are commonly displayed in Cantonese restaurants, as well as convenient stores. This bit custard tart has a sweet yet hard crust.

 Tanghulu

Chinese toffee apple – is made of crabapples and skewer plunged in liquidized sugar and dried. This ancient Beijing-style is very popular to foods markets not just in China, with some varieties such as grapes and kiwi coated with sugar.

Pumpkin Cake

This dessert is very common, especially during winter, known as one of the sweetest stuffs all over China. With its simple ingredients likes sugar, flour and pumpkin. In some cases, this dessert is mixed and coated with sesame seeds to elevate texture as flavor.

Sweet Egg Bun

A mixture of egg yolk, sugar and a warm bun, that is another favorite of Southern Chinese. It may be sound strange, yet buns are so famous that you should definitely try.

Deep Fried Durian

Durian is a fruit with its distinctive bad smell, yet having a great taste. This fruit, maybe not so popular in other Asian countries, but is a common dessert in China. If you wanted to go out of your comfort zone, you can go and try this dessert. This is very common during the summer (or the season of Durian fruit). Just make sure you never touch it with your hands, or you might have great trouble how to get rid its strong odor.

Almond Jelly

This dessert is highly available in most Chinese restaurants, although the name is misleading. The popularity of this dessert is very wide as it crosses among South of China and Hongkong. This jelly has a cream color and is consistently soft. Normally you can create this dessert by using apricot kernel, which was grounded in water and soaked.

Grass Jelly

This kind of jelly is very common not just in China, but in Taiwan and Southeast Asia. With the main ingredients “fairy grass” which is heated, mixed with some salt and starch. Grass jelly can be eaten in many ways, as drinks, jelly or blend with condensed milk.

By Leave a Comment

Ginkgo Barley: A Healthy Dessert

dessert-singapore-ginkgo-barley

Are you a health conscious, but can’t refuse the craving for a bite of a delicious dessert? Are you avoiding high-calorie foods? Well, not all desserts are bad for your health. Some can be delicious. Some can be nutritious. And some can be both delicious and nutritious (a great example is sesame seeds). Just take everything in moderation. Lifestyle habits can be the key to managing one’s health. In Asia, the secret for their long life expectancies may lie in their diets.

Ever heard of ‘Ginkgo biloba’? This plant is native to China and has various uses in traditional medicine and as a source of food. Ginkgo nuts are known to improve blood circulation, enhance memory and prevent damage from free-radicals. Free radicals are toxic molecules in our body. It can be found in the food that we eat, the drugs or medicines we take, the air we breathe and the water we drink as well. These substances include fried foods, alcohol, tobacco smoke, pesticides, air pollutants, and many more.

On the other hand, barley is one of the world’s healthiest foods. It is a wonderfully functional cereal grain with a rich nutlike flavor and an appealing chewy, pasta-like consistency. It is an excellent source of fiber which keeps the body toxin-free. Some of its health benefits are the following; (1)It keeps colon and intestines healthy, (2) defends against gallstones, (3) prevents osteoporosis, (4) supports immune system, (5) preserves skin elasticity, (6) controls blood cholesterol levels, (7) manages diabetes, (8) prevents heart disease and cancer, (8) protects against atherosclerosis, and (8) prevents asthma.

Ginkgo Barley dessert can be served hot or chilled. This dessert tastes light and nourishing. It is also really easy to make. If you are curious about some of its ingredients, then here they are pearl barley, water, pandan leaves, dried bean curd sheets, bicarbonate soda, fresh ginkgo nuts, eggs, quail eggs, rock sugar, and some other secret ingredients. Aren’t these ingredients, healthy? These are some basic procedures on how to cook it. First, crack open the gingko nut shells with a mortar & pestle and soak in water. Remove the skin with a toothpick and split the nuts into half. Remove the tiny stem inside the nuts. This is bitter and some say it’s poisonous though it’s not verified yet. To keep the nuts whole, insert a toothpick to tap out the dirt in the center of the “fat” part of the nut. You can prepare this step a day earlier. Second, soak half the portion bean curd sheets in a large bowl of water with 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda till soft, for about 30 minutes. Throw away water and rinse well in a colander under running water. If not using bicarbonate soda, just immerse it in water till soft, about 5-10 minutes and rinse well and drain. Third, put the prepared soy bean curd sheets, the fresh gingko nuts and the water in a pot, then boil for 30 minutes over medium heat. Fourth, add barley and pandan leaves, bring to a boil, then warm for about 30 minutes or until the barley becomes soft. The soup should be similar to soybean milk. If you did not use bicarbonate soda, the soybean sheets would just look broken and the soup would look clear. Stir a few times while cooking. Fifth, once the barley is bloated and gingko nuts have softened, add rock sugar to taste. Discard pandan leaves. Sixth, when the sugar is fully dissolved, stir in the beaten eggs to make egg ribbons over medium heat. Finally, add in the shelled hard boiled quail eggs. Serve hot or chilled.

Happy Eating, Healthy Living!

By Leave a Comment

The Wonders of Sesame Seeds

The Wonders of Sesame Seeds

The Sesame seeds can be described as “small but terrible”. Being literally tiny, which is about 2 mm wide by 3-4 mm long with the thickness of 1 mm, with the weight about 20-40 mg. This undeniably small seeds should never be despised for they have massive and terrific health welfares. Here is a list of health gains of sesame seeds.

Filled with Great Protein – Twenty percent of sesame seeds is made up of protein; per ounce of these seeds have almost 5 grams of protein.

Stop the Risks of Diabetes – Sesame oil is proven to help stop diabetes; while for those suffering hypertensive diabetics, it will increase plasma glucose. This wondrous sesame seeds comprised many nutrients like magnesium.

Moderates Blood Pressure – As mentioned above; these sesame seeds are rich in magnesium, which can decrease one’s blood pressure (the same study on how sesame oil aids diabetes).

Gets the Cholesterol Level Low – Phytosterols is a nutrient that can hinder the production of cholesterol in one’s body. This is present in sesame seeds (especially the black sesame seeds), so it helps decrease the level of cholesterol.

Digestion-Friendly – A sesame seed has a very great content of fiber that will naturally assist the intestines to function well.

Smoothens the Skin – According to research, a constant use of sesame oil can help prevent in developing skin cancer. Sesame seeds have a high degree content of zinc that helps in collagen production. Also, good for baby’s delicate skin and can treat skin rashes.

Makes Heart Healthier – Sesame oil has sesamol; an anti – inflammatory element with antioxidant that can block the atherosclerotic lesions, that may lead to a worse heart problem.

Inhibits Cancer – Magnesium, phytic acid as well as phytosterols (found much higher in sesame than other nuts and seeds), are all anti-cancer compounds that are highly contained in sesame seeds.

Reliefs Anxiety – Calcium and magnesium are stress-relieving components found in sesame seeds. Besides these minerals, sesame seeds also have thiamin and tryptophan that create serotonin (for good sleep, nice mood and being calm).

Lessens Anemia – Weakness is the main side effects of anemia; sesame seeds, particularly the black one are very rich in Iron, a mineral that fights against anemia.

Shields from DNA’s Radiation Damage – Sesame seeds have sesamol, that will protect the destruction of DNA due to radiation.

Let go Arthritis – The body needs the supply of copper for a stronger bones and joints; it is all the way found in the amazing seeds of Sesame.

Guards Your Liver – The Kernels of sesame are a great support for a healthier liver as it shields the liver from the effect of alcohol.

Prohibits Wrinkle Development – The skin is damaged due to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, it will be prevented by the use of sesame oil, and you will certainly get a wrinkle free and healthy skin-color.

Boosts Healthy Bones – Having a handful of sesame kernels has a higher calcium content than a glass of water. The zinc present in these seeds can also increase bone mineral mass.

Great Dental Health – The practice of oil pulling (of course with the use of sesame oil), has been practiced for a very long time. This method is believed to whiten your teeth and decrease dental plaque.

With so many benefits, this is why we use sesame seeds as our signature dessert!