SIOMAI

Why do I have to go to Chinatown to have dimsum. I can make my own. All I need would be the wonton wrappers which I can easy get from my Oriental store. I can even freeze any leftovers which means I can have siomai anytime.

Here's my recipe:
1lb ground pork
6-8 pieces shitake mushrooms, soaked in water and then diced into small pieces (even stems can be used)
1/2 cup water chestnut, diced into small pieces
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced
4-6 green onion, white parts only, minced
salt and pepper
wonton wrappers

Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Spoon a tsp of the mixture into a wonton wrapper. Wrap by pulling the wonton wrapper around the sides of the mixture and leaving the top open. You can freeze the wrapped siomai, if you decide not to serve the same day. Line a bamboo steamer with pechay leaves or wilted cabbage leaves to avoid the bottom sticking to the bamboo steamer. Steam siomai for 5 min (longer if the siomai were frozen, maybe 8 min). Serve hot with dipping sauce.

Dipping sauce:
lemon juice or calamansi with toyo

My cookbooks

I am not sure how many cookbooks I have collected so far. Have I read them all? Not really, I just like to know that I have it. When I am looking for a particular recipe, I still do my research at the internet. I may have seen the particular recipe I need at the moment but I could not remember where I've seen it.

It is really an obsession for me to buy more and more cookbooks. I joined a bookclub wherein each month, a cookbook you've preselected will be delivered to your doorstep. I've had cookbooks as a gift, a few from my daughter. She believes that a cookbook will always bring lasting pleasure to me. She also know, more or less which ones I want to keep. My criteria for cookbook selection has changed. I no longer buy the bargain cookbooks (the cheap ones). I like cookbooks with lots of good food pictures, not the author's nor their family and friends. I did not buy one from one of my favorite cooks on PBS, because of this(although, I watch her show and used her recipes). Most of the time, I check the index and peruse to see if the recipes are something that I would try in the future. If it looks fancy or something I would cook when entertaining, then I just put it back on the shelf, because I do not entertain a lot. My preference are family style dishes, not too many ingredients and would be a pleaser not only to my family but to some friends, just in case I am invited to a potluck dinner.

I also acquired cookbooks from my travels. They are good mementos and are not really available in NY or in the internet cookbook websites. Sometimes when I enjoy a good meal in a particular country, I wish I could find a cookbook with the recipe so I can create the dish when I get home. Checking the internet for internet could be an alternative. I have tried this before.

I've also started to give cookbooks as a gift too. It is like sharing your favorite things with someone. It gives me pleasure if my gift is accepted with the same gusto that I experience when I bring home a new cookbook home.