Tasty Asparagus Tart

And not to mention SUPER EASY to make too!!

Ok, this has been sitting in my draft box for a while. I've made this twice and was really popular both times!!

Not to mention its pretty healthy too - well, in terms of it being vegetable dish.

I used ready made puff pastry. Thaw it slightly. Using the back of a butter knife, draw a smaller box (but do not cut through the pastry, just mark the lines sufficiently) and with a fork, 'stab' the pastry all over. This is to keep the puff pastry from puffing too much - gee that sounded funny but I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

In pre-heated oven, bake pastry for 15-20 min until slightly golden brown.

Be generous and spread some marscapone cheese on top, then arrange your asparagus on top.

Sprinkle some cheese of your choice. You can top with some herbs or spices like paprika or just some freshly cracked black pepper. For a spicy 'kick', I like it with a hearty dash of Ichimi Togarashi (japanese red pepper flakes).

Bake until the cheese melts and is golden brown.

Slice and serve warm.

Do give this a try.
Its one of those simple dishes that is almost effortless to prepare and yet comes out totally elegant and everyone will enjoy, what's hard not to like - layers of crispy puff pastry and cheese...YUM (oh, and of course healthy veggies too)!! By the way, an alternative to asparagus is to use zucchini - think arranging a row of green and then yellow to contrast would definitely come out very pretty too.

anti-something & random thots

WHO reports that cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Topping the list are lung, stomach, liver, colon and breast cancer.

cancer, death & dying - taboo words? I suppose there are so many things in the world to talk about, more interesting, funnier and happier things, so why bother with such serious topic? Master Prince is afraid of dying. So much that he really watches and ensure that he eats properly - unlike his not very good role model mummy!! hah. There was this one time he was catching up on school homework. (I would like to qualify that he brought it upon himself as he didn't want to do them in a timely manner in the first place and it all accumulated to A LOT.) Anyway, it was late and basically a stressful time and week trying to play catch-up. Out of the sudden, on one of the nights, he burst out crying that he didn't want to die. I'm not sure what is the inter-relationship between completing homework and death. But I suppose if that was my last hour, I wouldn't want to be spend it finishing my school homework either!! I'd guess he was just tired but it got me thinking why he suddenly thought of death. Perhaps doing school homework can be like dying to a young boy? Ok I'm feeling very bad and pity for him now!!


A thoughtful read about coping with death & dying here.

More hearsay on what may 'help' if you are going through cancer.
Just sharing.

1. Cactus juice

You can read more here and here


2. Vitamin B17 - found in raw apricot seeds

You can read more here, here, here

Sabah Snake Grass

This plant may not look much but it symbolises a glimmer of hope.

...a possible alternate relieve to those who are sick, especially those diagnosed with cancer.

This 'miracle plant' is growing in popularity through word-of-mouth. Its also been featured in the local Chinese newspaper. You can also read more in the links below which is in no particular order and just what I was able to find over the Internet:

here1; here2; here3; here4; here5

There are two types - the left is the Sabah Snake Grass and the right, Indian Snake Grass.
I can't tell you much about Sabah Snake Grass except what I've read and heard through word of mouth and they all seem to be consistent.

How to consume?
Recommended 'dosage' - number of leaves used for treatment for Cancer:
Stage 1 : 30 leaves everyday
Stage 2 : 50 leaves everyday
Stage 3 : 100 leaves everyday
Stage 4 : 150 – 200 leaves everyday
When the patients get better, reduce the number of leaves.

Direction for juicing:
a) Pour half cup of clean water in a blender.
b) Add 1 or 2 ice cubes to prevent heating during blending.
c) Add 1 quarter of lemon or half a lime juice (provide Vitamin C and prevent oxidization).
d) Wash the required fresh leaves and put them into the blender.
e) Peel a green apple and remove the core/seeds and cut into smaller pieces.
f) Blend and drink immediately or within 5 minutes. (consume daily)
g ) If your body is "cooling" add a few slices of ginger or drink warming herbs.

I can share some personal experience about the Indian Snake Grass (ISG) because that is what my entire family turn to as a herbal remedy especially to ward off an impending full blown severe sore throat or cough. As soon as we feel itchy at the throat, we would consume the ISG - about 3 or 4 capsules twice a day, until the throat is better. The leaves and steam are dried in the sun and then blended until fine (or in smaller pieces) before they are put into capsules for ease of consumption. The leaves must be green, do not use the one on the far right which is brownish in colour.

Even Master Prince (think he started taking ISG about age of 6 years old, as soon as he is able to swallow the capsule) takes this to avoid having to suffer through a bad cough; which usually leads to a set of three, ie. cough, fever and flu.

Bottom (lighter green) is the Sabah Snake Grass.
Top (darker green - more chlorophyll?) is the Indian Snake Grass.

After taking the above shot, I actually tasted them raw because I read that the former 'taste sweeter'. The Sabah Snake Grass is definitely 'lighter' in taste. OK truthfully, it is SO MUCH BETTER x10000000 than the Indian Snake Grass which is SO ABSOLUTELY BITTER - bleh and triple bleh *shudders, glups down two whole glass of water* ....ewwwww!!! I've always know that the ISG is bitter, the capsule helps a lot but taking it raw - wow....think I'm not going try that for a long LONG time again ever *wipes sweat*.

This is the Indian Snake Grass plant grown at the back of the house. We just started growing the Sabah Snake Grass and hence the small cutting from a friend in the first photo at the top of the post.

We hope to have a bigger patch of both types of plants soon as you never know when you, a friend, family or stranger may want it!!

Having written this post and sharing my own personal experience with ISG, note to always consult your own physician.

On my mind

Apologize again for the slow responses and posts.

Its one of those things that is weighing at the back of my mind daily but suppressing the hard cold facts and truth.

Very recently, a close friend has been diagnosed with cancer. More specifically colon cancer in the advance state.

One day we are having our usual gossip lunches, out of the blue severe stomach cramps and then suddenly ending up in the hospital.

Even though it has been more than 3 weeks, I'm still in the state of shock with the news. Perhaps still in denial.

Its so SAD that my friend was looking forward to retirement - less than 2 years away - to do some 'fun' things that my friend's been putting off all this time as my friend has always been busy looking after the family and having to deal with other household responsibilities and commitments.

What's SURPRISING is that my friend is one of those who is always conscious of the right food to eat, exercises regularly, take vitamins & supplements diligently and on top of that, goes for regular check up. You could say that my friend could be a model health conscious person so for the longest time, I wondered......W-H-Y??

I still do not have an answer - just a lot of guess work! Daily stress could be the main contributing factor.

My friend will be undergoing chemo therapy soon. Ironically the chemo starts on my friend's birthday. We are all counting down to the day when well enough so that we can have a big celebratory bash before the treatment starts. When I suggested shopping for wigs and head wraps, was pleasantly surprised and happy to learnt that not all chemo will lead to hair loss.

So far, while I'm in a puddle of goo and at most times loss at what to say or comfort or encourage and feeling totally helpless as to how to behave, its good to know that my friend is very positive and strong. You can guess who's comforting who huh!!?

All I can do is pray.

I haven't been of much help....other than boiling some barley weekly (as per my friend's request). Apparently it will help to cool down the body as chemo can be very 'heaty' and its normal to get mouth ulcers.

Hope to share more in next post of a supposedly 'miracle' plant, so stay tuned.