Cultivated Banana

Cultivated Banana

What do you think about banana?

Banana is the most energy. Unripe and ripe banana with iron in high volume.  Helps build red blood cell to prevent Anemia.  The banana has calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C; helps to maintain bones, teeth and gums healthy.  Helps skin beta-carotene, niacin and fiber liquidity to help the digestive system.

Nutrition and medication :

Eating a ripe banana would help drain the stomach and can cure scurvy in young children. Reduce sore throat Chest pain with dry cough with a break by eating 4-6 bananas eaten many times before brushing every day will make no bad breath, skin and see results in 1 week.

The raw and ripe banana has Tannin, Pectin showed mild astringent to treat diarrhea. By eating a half or 1 diarrhea will abate. In addition, the study also found. Effective in the treatment of gastritis as well.

 

Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6, soluble fiber, and contain moderate amounts of vitamin C, manganese and potassium.  Along with other fruits and vegetables, the consumption of bananas may be associated with a reduce of colorectal cancer, breast cancer and renal cell carcinoma.

 

Banana ingestion may affect dopamine production in people, deficient in the amino acid tyrosine, and a precursor present in bananas.  Individuals with a latex allergy may experience a reaction to bananas, but I never see anyone to allergy and has a reaction to bananas, it might be very rare.

If anyone has had this experience or saw someone's allergy or reaction to banana, please feel free to share yours to me.

 

Furthermore, peel of cultivated banana relieves itching due to insect bites from itching and redness.  In additional banana fruit and peel have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial that causes an abscess.

 

I trully doubt that the cultivated banana in Thailand should be equivalent to lady finger banana of Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Songkran, water festival in Thailand

 

Today I would like to introduce a Thai tradition, it is the most famous festival.  That is, the water festival, and an important event on the Buddhist calendar, which we call SONGKRAN.  Songkran Festival was established on 13 April (Western Calendar) as the Thai New Year dates from the distant past.  Songran derives from the language of ancient Buddhist Scriptures or Pali. 

The word “Songkhara” in Pali, refers to Zodiacal movement of the sun.  In Thai, the word became modified to   Songkan which eventually change to Songkran.  The timing of the Thai New Yea (officially set on 13th April) reflects the ancient use of the lunar calendar and customary farming cycles off when the harvesting of an Old Year end and the planting of a New Year.  

The Lunar New Year in Thailand marks a time when the country literally goes to water. Part a time of respect and part riot, Songkran is an occasion when images of the Buddha are bathed, and young Thais seek the blessing of their elders by pouring scented water over their hands (a ceremony known as rod nahm dum hua). After that, the water will be throwing free for all.  Traditionally, the custom was to pour water gently over other people, but it has evolved into little more than a good excuse for some water.

 



            

Water is an important element of Songkran, especially in the current times when the throwing of water has become a huge part of the annual celebrations and if you're visiting Thailand during this period don't be surprised if you get splashed. Crowds of people roam around throwing bucketful of water, using water pistols and just generally soaking anyone in their neighborhood or anyone on the street. Appreciation of the family is another important aspect of the festival, with many Thai people making their way to their hometowns to spend time with older relatives. Buddhists also visit temples throughout Songkran where water is poured on Buddha images and on the hands of Buddhist monks as a mark of respect.

 

 

Songkran Festival would be taking place around 3-5 days of each year and in Year 2014 is 13-16 April.  Almost every province in Thailand would prepare the celebration, especially the northern part of Thailand, Chiangmai Provinces.  I had enjoyed Songran in Chiangmai once, long time ago.  It might be more than 30 years.  I have a couple school mates, they lived in Northern, but each one lived d different provinces which are Chiangmai, Chiangrai and Prayao.  We went as a group for 10 people, and all were girls.  I really enjoyed very much at that time as I was still very young and fresh, and just were out there and enjoyed life.

Wat Phra Dhat Phasornkaew, Petchaboon Province, Thailand

 

I had an opportunity to visit Wat Phra Dhat Phasornkaew on April 2013 and remained there for a week, it was so calm and peaceful.  This place has been a beautiful and a serene temple in Thailand with an outstanding mountainous view at Khao Khor, Petchaboon Province, which located in the lower northern part of Thailand.  The weather is average between 21-35 C degree all year around, but it would be a bit cooler in November to February. 

Wat Phra Dhat Phasornkaew is a peaceful retreat surrounded by beautiful nature. The joyful of nature inspired to concentrate of wisdom.  Buddhism are all processes of the factors, so this place has been built to fit the aggravating factors.  At one with nature that could lead to their own inner nature.  The Four Noble Truths is a heart of Buddhism core which is the core objective teaching.

The Four Noble Truth concept is the suffering of life, such as from pain, illness, taking old, death, expectation, even the happiness, and the fourth truth is the Noble 8-fold Path is the path leads to the end of suffering, and focus on awareness of our thought and actions to developing wisdom by understanding the Four Noble Truths, and developing the compassion to others. 

Wat Phra Dhat Phasornkaew is a place for meditation practice because they have had a lot of trees and a lot of birds, such as peacocks, ducks and etc. As I mentioned as above the temple have been surrounded with natural trees it was created for the mediation purpose.

 

In additional, Wat Pat Dhat Phasornkaew have had many things for my interested.  For example the pictures as above, these is Pagoda stacking mugs Creative fairly glory crowned, on top Pagoda contains Buddha relics.

The White Jade Buddha sits cross-legged posture diamonds. Created by Gandhara art, the lap width 39 inch.  On top of the head of the Lord contains  Buddha relics, that has been a benevolent gift of Patriarch. The ceremony has been enshrined at Wat Phra Dhat Phasornkaew on 25 June 2005.

 

      

 

 

 

As the pictures showed just some parts of this temple which could take more than an hour to describe how the peace and happiness would be or how beautiful of the scenery they are.  Please find a chance to visit then you would not disappoint it!

Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup)

I would like to introduce Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup), my husband loves this soup very much.  I guarantee, no spicy (if you don't want), but can be if you love too.  Tom Kha Gai isn't just any dish, it's one of my ten most favourite dishes in the world.

• Tom Kha Gai is a soup made of chicken cooked in coconut milk, which has been infused with galangal, lemongrass and kaffir leaves.  Let me explain a bit further about the name of this soup, then you will be more understanding the name of this dish.  Cooked = Tom (it doesn't always mean Tom), galangal = Kha, and the last one which is chicken = Gai, so that's why we call Tom Kha Gai.

• Tom Kha Gai is seasoned primarily with lime juice and fish sauce. Don't use vinegar, you will destroy the taste of the dish.  Palm or coconut sugar is not necessary because you get the natural sweetness from the coconut milk, that's enough, however I don't stop you if you prefer.

Some restaurants have been added roasted chili oil or Nam Prik Pao (Thai chili jam) to Tom Kha Gai, that's quite strange to my eye and tongue.  The authentic Tom Kha Gai isn't added those things.  Shall we go to the recipe?

 

Ingredients: Serves 2 as the main entree, or 6 as an appetizer)

3 cups good-quality chicken stock

2 skinless chicken breasts, sliced

4 lemongrass stalk

8 kaffir lime leaves (fresh or frozen)

2 thumb-size piece galangal or ginger, grated

Deseed 1-3 fresh bird's eye chilies (more or less depend on

your preference)

1 can good-quality coconut milk, I normally use TCC Premium     

      Coconut milk product from Thailand, and I tried many brands.  This is
      the best, please see a picture of the product.

2 Tbsp. of lime juice (more or less depend on your preference)

2 Tbsp. of fish sauce

1 tsp. brown sugar (optional, according to taste)

handful fresh coriander leaves

mushroom and/or cherry tomatoes

     

Instructions:

1. Prepare your fresh herbs by slicing the galangal into paper-thin rounds, cutting the lemongrass into 2-3 inch lengths and bruising with a mortar and pestle or back of a chef's knife, and tearing the kaffir lime leaves in half or quarter pieces, deseed your chili and thinly slice; set aside
2. Chicken, slice finely
3. Mushroom cut into bite-sized pieces, cherry tomatoes slice on top and make across cut
4. Preheat your saucepan or pot, then add half of coconut milk until boiling
5. Add chicken sliced, follow by chicken stock, lemongrass pieces, kaffir lime leaves, and galangal slices
6.  Add another half of coconut, mushroom and cherry tomatoes
7. Simmer for 10 to 20 minutes, until a the aroma of the herbs is fairly strong, but be careful not to overcook it
8. Stir gently to ensure that the chicken is evenly cooked ( if you want more liquid add pain water)
9. Remove the herbs with a strainer, allowing the thinly sliced chili to remain in the pot. 
10. Add lime juice, fish sauces and thinly chili sliced, and palm sugar (if like).  The predominant favours should be hot and sour with more subtle saltiness and creaminess(sweet of coconut milk)

Hey! We go, it's all done, serve with hot jasmine rice. Enjoy!!