Lo Mai Gai

  We had a little Chinese New Year/Birthday celebration over the weekend with some friends that was super fun, but inevitably had 1/3 of us cancelling due to sickness (more on that later).  I cook chinese food about once a week, but for Chinese New Year I pull out some more time consuming fare that is special in our house because we have it approximately once per year.

  In the past I have made sticky rice that I stuff inside of a deboned chicken and bake it, the dish is called Nor Mai Gai.  After a crazy week, there was no way I was going to have time or energy to debone the chicken so I sent Mike to the Chinese store (that I completely dread going to! major points for him!) to pick up some lotus leaves so we could make Lo Mai Gai.  It is a must try the next time you have dim sum.  This is sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves.  After a little bit of research and some faking it till I make it, I was very happy with the end result!

    I tried to be as traditional as possible, but also stuck to my guns as far as using real ingredients, no preservatives, pesticides, artificial colors....or meat for that matter.  (There are some questionable ingredients in some of that lap cheung, people!)

  For my sister, or possibly one (maybe 2) other of you that may want to try this, here is what I did:

Lo Mai Gai

8 Lotus leaves (found at the Chinese market), cut in half to have about 16 which is more than I used here

For the rice:

4 cups sticky rice

1 cup short grain rice

1 Tbls. oil

3/4 cup raw shrimp, chopped into small pieces

1 cup dried shiitake mushrooms, soaked and rinsed 3 times

3 cloves of garlic chopped

4 green onions, chopped

Soy sauce and oyster sauce to season

For the filling:

1 lb. ground pork

3 cloves of garlic

3-4 Tbls. oyster sauce

1 Tbls. hoisin sauce

Soy sauce to taste

Soak the lotus leaves for 1 hour.

Cook the rice.

While rice is cooking, prepare filling.  Cook pork and garlic until the moisture has cooked off.  Add in the sauces and cook until the pork is well coated.    Let cool and set aside.

Next, cook the shrimp and garlic together in some oil until just done.  Mix the shiitakes and green onions into the shrimp and mix into the rice when it is done.  Add sauces to season.

To prepare, put in 1/3 or so cup of sticky rice into the middle of the lotus leaf.  Put 1/4 cup of the ground pork mixture on top.  Put another 1/3 cup of sticky rice on top of the pork mixture.  Fold the lotus leaves closed.

Steam the lotus leaves until warmed through.  Depending on how many you do, this time will vary!!  We did the whole batch in one big pot and we did it for an hour because there was so much.

The lo mai gai freeze well and can be reheated by steaming them again.

I also made some BBQ pork.

And put some of that BBQ pork into baked hom bows which turned out amazing!!

  Her partner in crime was one of the ones who got sick, so she ended up helping us a ton with the littlest girls.  Feeding them and getting them what they asked for.  Love this helper!!

  Before sitting down to write this blog I read my previous blog about trying to be more consistent on here and warding off sicknesses with the fire cider.  Ha.  If only I knew what was coming for me....

  Our 2 friends cancelling at the last minute was only the middle of a string of sicknesses that plagued the 6 families that were to celebrate with us.  I don't remember the last time I was "call the doctor" sick, but I ended up getting strep throat and I was in a world of hurt earlier in the week before the Chinese New Year party.  The fire cider that I was hoping would be used for preventative measures is now ready to drink, but I have yet to try it.  I am a bit nervous because the thought of anything hurting my throat again makes me scared.  It was SO horrible to have strep, you guys!  It sure made me feel for my poor children who have been getting it.  I have one more antibiotic to take which I am happy to be done with!  I am thankful for antibiotics, but it has punished me with tiredness, itchiness, and any other ailment I can think of.  I am so looking forward to getting back to normal and getting on with life.  First, my husband needs to come home from Asia (thank goodness for my dad!), the rain needs to stop, and fingers crossed and pleading prayers that we are done being sick!

Have a great thursday!