25 Edible Flowers You Need to Know About

There are nearly 50 types of edible flowers that you can eat, but the best part is that you can also grow them in your backyard. Here are some of the edible flowers you might want to try in your recipes.

1. Arugula Blossoms taste lighter than the arugula leaves and can be used for dishes like scrambled eggs and pesto.
2. Basil Blossoms can be used for making tea and usually has a lighter taste than the basil leaves. They can also be made into vinegar and oil.
3. Marigold or Calendula can be dried and used for omelet, bread, and casseroles as a better and cheaper substitute for saffron.
4. Anise Hyssop can be used to make tea or as an ingredient for pie, ice cream, and salad
5. Carnation or Dianthus can be steeped in wine or made into candies and edible cake decorations. Did you also know that carnation is used to make chartreuse?

6. Chamomile flowers are steeped to make tea, but they’re also good for cocktails, scallops, spring salad, and ice cream.
7. Chicory buds or petals are usually pickled and are known for the slight bitter taste.
8. Chrysanthemum is blanched and used in salads, but they can also be used as seasoning and stir-fry ingredient.
9. Clover has medicinal qualities that make it an ideal ingredient to make tea. They also make great addition to salads.
10. Dandelion can be consumed raw as long as you pick those flowers growing closest to the ground. Some can be steamed to make salads or made into wine.

11. Fuchsia are used mainly as garnish for food because of the slight acidic taste.
12. Gladiolus can be substituted for lettuce and will complement savory or sweet mousse and spread. Gladiolus can be cooked, too, or tossed in salads.
13. Hibiscus is dried to make tea or tossed as a garnish in salads.
14. Impatiens are known for their slightly sweet taste which make them ideal for garnishing drinks and salads.
15. Jasmine flowers are used to add aroma to tea.

16. Lavender is sweet and has slightly citrus notes, which make them ideal as garnishing for cakes, ice cream, champagne, stews, custards, and flans.
17. Lemon Verbena is steeped to make tea, but the flowers can also be used to make flavored flan and custard.
18. Lilac has a slightly bitter taste which make then ideal for salads.
19. Nasturtium is one of the most common edible flowers you can buy in the market and may be used for dishes with cheese. They are also popular as salads, sandwiches, and appetizers.
20. Pansy, especially the petals, have a mild taste which make them ideal as toppings for fruit salads, desserts, and soups.

21. Radish flowers have a slightly spicy flavor and are used for salads and sautéed recipes.
22. Rose petals can be used to make a variety of desserts, jellies, syrups, spreads, and flavored butters.
23. Rosemary Flowers are milder than the leaves, that is why they are used as substitute to make subtle flavors for seafood, Mediterranean meat dishes, and dressings.
24. Squash or Pumpkin Flowers taste just like squash or pumpkin. The blossoms can be substitutes for the squash or pumpkin dishes.
25. Violets are known for their sweet scent. They can be used as toppings for desserts and cold drinks or as decorations for cakes.

Where to Eat Singapore’s Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hainanese Chicken Rice is just one of the many amazing dishes you can find in Singapore and, although not that popular around the world, Hainanese Chicken Rice is a dish you should definitely try at least once in your life. Despite its popularity in Singapore, this dish actually originates in Hong Kong and has slowly been accepted into Singaporean culture. Although trying this dish is important, where to try this dish is another factor you should put in your mind as the taste varies from place to place. This dish is usually found in your local hawker but for this article, we will give you a little more than just the ordinary hawker center chicken rice.

Here are some of the best places to have a taste of Singapore’s Hainanese Chicken Rice

1.  Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell

With a very affordable price of 3.50 Singaporean dollars, you can get yourself the perfect bowl of Hainanese Chicken Rice that’s oily and flavourful just the way that Hainanese Chicken Rice ought to be. You may be shocked of how cheap it is and although there are cheaper prices you can find in Hawker Centers all around, the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell is definitely a steal.

2.  Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice at Balestier

Just another mouth-watering addition to this list as their Hainanese Chicken Rice is served. The Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice at Balestier is best known for their convenience as they are open until 4:30 in the morning, which means that if for some reason you are craving for chicken rice at three in the early morning, it is not impossible to get some!

3.  Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice

The good thing about Hainanese Chicken Rice is although it is but one recipe, the taste may vary a great deal depending on where you are eating. Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice prides itself to have the most colorful and the tastiest dipping sauce around. Oh and by the way, did you know that the chicken can be either served steamed or roasted? Well, now you know. Wee Nam Kee also does an amazing job if you are planning to order your Hainanese Chicken Rice with roasted chicken.

The taste may differ depending on where you plan on eating but one thing is for sure, you can never go wrong with Hainanese Chicken Rice!

What are the Condiments Made Of?

We often take them for granted because they are not the most important ingredients in the food, but condiments make meals tastier. So, do you know what’s in your favorite condiments?

Ketchup
Ingredients: Tomatoes, salt, vinegar, sweeteners, onion and garlic, other spices, and flavorings
Trivia: The original ketchup was made from pickled fish or shellfish. Some ketchups today are made not from tomatoes, but other main ingredients like banana and mushroom.

Mustard
Ingredients: powdered mustard seeds, water, and vinegar; others contain wine/beer, oil, sugar, and spices
Trivia: There are different types of mustard based on the three colors of mustard seeds (white, black, and brown). The yellow mustard is white mustard seed plus turmeric, while Asian and most European mustard are made from brown seeds.

Sour Cream
Ingredients: fermented regular cream (mostly butterfat)
Trivia: Sour cream is a dairy product that undergoes bacterial culture which can vary according to the thickening agents used.

Mayonnaise
Ingredients: egg yolk, oil, and vinegar or lemon juice; others add spices and herbs, while some make egg-free mayonnaise
Trivia: There are many speculations to the origin of the word “mayonnaise,” and it was not used as a condiment until the early 19th century.

Worcestershire Sauce
Ingredients: anchovies, brine, garlic in vinegar, tamarinds in molasses, cloves, sugar, shallots, and chilies
Trivia: The mixture is sat for two years and stirred occasionally, then the solids are sifted before it’s bottled.

Tabasco
Ingredients: tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt
Trivia: The name Tabasco is taken from a Mexican state, but it was first made in the Louisiana, USA in 1868.

Soy Sauce
Ingredients: fermented soy beans, water, salt, and roasted grains
Trivia: Creating soy sauce can sometimes take months. There are also more than a hundred types of soy sauce because of the variety of the recipes.

Balsamic Vinegar
Ingredients: different varieties of grapes
Trivia: Creating a true balsamic vinegar in the traditional way is as tedious as creating the best wines. The grapes are crushed, simmered, then transferred to wooden barrels for evaporation and oxidation. Then, red wine vinegar is added and aged for 12 to 150 years.

Wasabi
Ingredients: grated wasabi rhizome; most manufacturers outside Japan use horseradish, starch, mustard, and spinach powder or green food coloring
Trivia: Most of the wasabi paste served with your sushi outside Japan are fake due to the high cost of the wasabi plant.

Fish Sauce
Ingredients: fermented fish with sea salt, herbs and spices
Trivia: Fish sauce is usually made from one species of fish or shellfish. One variety, called kechiap, might have been the inspiration for ketchup.

Salsa
Ingredients: tomatoes, chilies, onion, corn, beans, and other spices
Trivia: The word “salsa” means “sauce” in various languages.

Vinegar
Ingredients: acetic acid (made from fermented ethanol), water, and trace chemicals
Trivia: There are more than a dozen varieties of vinegar all over the world, but they are made through process called fermentation. The most popular types are apple cider, cane vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and coconut/date vinegar.

Surprising Health and Beauty Benefits of Eating Kimchi

For years, Koreans clung to the belief that kimchi – a spicy, fermented cabbage – has mystical properties that aid in warding off diseases. But what was once considered as an old wives’ tale now became a subject of serious research for scientists not only in Singapore but all over the world. To help you get an idea about the “mystical properties” they’re talking about, we listed down some of the surprising beauty and health benefits that eating kimchi can bring.

1. Promotes Good Digestion

Since it’s fermented, kimchi is loaded with healthy bacteria known as lactobacilli, which helps in promoting good digestion. Another amazing result of the cabbage’s fermentation process is the development of probiotics, also helps in fighting off infections in your body.

2. Lowers Cholesterol Levels

If you’re suffering from high cholesterol or high blood pressure, then the more reason to eat this touted Korean side dish. The garlic found in kimchi contains selenium and allicin – both of which helps in reducing the cholesterol reverses of the body. These substances also help in preventing plaque build-up in the artery walls, thus lowering your chances of experiencing cardiovascular diseases.

3. Prevents Peptic Ulcer Recurrence

Peptic ulcer is often caused by Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria commonly found in the stomach – and there’s no better way to keep this illness from recurring than eating a good amount of kimchi. The fermented cabbage contains leuconostoc mensenteroides that produces dextrin, a substance that halts the growth of H. pylori in your body.

4. Improves Overall Appearance

Not only does it improve your health, eating kimchi also helps in enhancing your overall appearance. The selenium found in the fermented cabbage is what keeps your hair and skin healthy, and prevents wrinkles from showing early on. Aside from that, selenium is also considered as a relevant part of glutathione – a booster that reconstitutes and preserves vitamin C, a crucial element for boosting the body’s immune system.

5. Slows Down the Aging Process

Ever wondered why most Koreans look younger than their age? Well, the secret to that is eating kimchi. After being fermented for two weeks, kimchi becomes loaded with antioxidants that help decrease the rate of skin aging. It also prevents cell oxidation, making you appear more relaxed even if you’re going through a lot of stress.

Aside from being an excellent side dish to your favourite Korean barbecue, these benefits are another reason for you to try and enjoy this famous Korean household dish. So head out to your favourite Korean restaurants and specialty stores now, and get yourself some good kimchi.

Great Recipe Ideas to Make your Momma Proud

Treating mom in a restaurant this Mother’s day? How about breaking the same old plan and cook for your mom instead? Sure, she will love a chef’s specialty but not as much as the effort and thought behind a homemade styled recipe of her son/daughter. Treat her like it’s mother’s day every day and show her that you have grown up as one fine lady/man who can muster the courage in the kitchen with these tricky sounding yet handy recipe ideas.

1. Chicken Breast Stuffed with Cheese and Wrapped in Bacon Strips

This recipe is a collaboration of two of the most loved ingredients:  Cheese and Bacon! Other ingredients include boneless chicken breasts, mince parsley and shallot, garlic, pepper and salt to taste. What is more surprising is, it only takes four easy steps to serve this delicious treat!

• Spray cooking oil in a baking dish and preheat your oven to 190 degrees C.
• Slice the chicken breast at least 2-inches long and an inch deep (where you will stuff all other ingredients).
• In a bowl, combine shallot, parsley, cheese, pepper and salt. Fill the chicken breast with these mixed ingredients. To seal, prepare at least 2 strips of bacon and wrap it around the stuffed chicken. You can also use a toothpick to hold it while it is being cooked.
• Place the stuffed chicken in the baking pan and place it inside the pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.

2. Veggie Waffles

Contrary to the popular perception, waffles isn’t just for breakfast, it can be great for brunch or dinner, too! Is your mom a vegan? She will surely appreciate this recipe as it is stuffed with good stuff. The ingredients are easy to find as it is normally used in the kitchen. Aside from the basic ingredients of making a waffle, add in your special ingredients such as finely chopped basil and scallions, chopped baby spinach and cheese (any).

• In a bowl, mixed all the dry ingredients and when everything is well-mixed, add in the dry ones until all is nicely incorporated.
• Using a waffle maker, pour in the thick batter but be careful not to pour too much as it may fill the external edge—make sure it’s just the right amount.
• Cook your waffles for few minutes depending on your desired crispness and color. Let it cool and serve with your preferred syrup.

3. Coffee Cake Muffin

Is mom a fan of coffee and muffins? She can have the best of both worlds and can never turn down a bite of this whole wheat recipe! Moreover, you will be using whole-wheat flour which is known as less heavily processed as ordinary flour therefore, you’ll score more fiber and vitamins.

• In a bowl, mix all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cinnamon) and preheat your oven to at least 300-350 degrees F.
• In another bowl, mix baking powder and baking soda while whisking eggs, yogurt and sugar until smooth. Mix all ingredients.
• Place your mixed batter in the pan and make sure you slightly press down in order for top and bottom parts to meet. Bake for at least 15-20 minutes or until preferred color.