Category: Food

I made herbal soup today. The last time I made any was two months ago. Each time I thought of making soups, the memories came rushing back. That was why I had not made an effort. I cooked my first ever bowl of soup, which was double boiled bird nest soup, for Mum when she was in hospital. I cooked my last bowl of soup for Mum too, which was pork ribs herbal soup when Mum was in hospital, too.

The task of cooking it reminds me too much of Mum. The task of drinking it reminds me of Mum, too. She used to cook them according to my health. If I were feeling heaty, she would make something cooling and vice versa. When I became paralysed initially, she would make Chinese herbal tonics for me everyday using charcoal fire. She had specific soups for every kind of common ailment. It is unfortunate that she had none for curing leukaemia. I miss Mum and her soups.

Mum used to cook my favourite dishes all the time. I am rather picky when it comes to food but she knows just the right amount of seasoning to add. Now that I am eating alone, it is more convenient to cater food. Now, I have to eat whatever the caterer delivers. The food is quite tasty, though.

Mum cooked some very delicious Hakka cuisine. One of them was Deep Fried Fermented Bean Curd Pork which when dipped in her homemade chilli and garlic sauce was simply heavenly. I wonder if ever I can savour food like those that Mum used to cook. There is no written recipe. Mum had it all in her head – a little bit of this, a dash of that, and it all turned out just right.