Steamed Chicken with D.O.M Liquor

I'm glad to receive advise from colleagues and friends about pregnancy, child care and even recovery after labor. I realize that different cultures have different types of confinement. My Chinese friends would tell me that during the first month, I would have to really take good care of my body. Chinese confinement involves chicken, ginger, chicken, ginger and more chicken and ginger... Which I don't really mind, since I love chicken and ginger.

I was also advised to refrain from touching water, in the sense that I can only bathe once a day and maybe 3 times a week or alternate days, not everyday. Also, If I do bathe, the water must be warm... and if possible boil the water with ginger, and use that to bathe.

When it comes to food, they have herbs... and of course chicken essence to take, to help in recovery of the body after giving birth. I was told that I should also take at least a small cup of Benedictine D.O.M. I didn't know about this until my friend told me and my colleague gave me a bottle today.

She also told me about this recipe which would really be good for me during the time of my recovery. I quickly looked it up in the internet and found the recipe.

It's Steamed Chicken with D.O.M Liquor.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients
(Serves 2)
- 2 large chicken thighs (I leave the skin on, but trim the excess fats around it)
- 3 tbsp DOM (D.O.M) Benedictine liquor (法国廊酒)
- 1 tbsp ginger juice (grate the ginger, take the ginger pulp and squeeze out the juice)
- 5 tbsp water/stock (I use clear chinese soup which I cooked that day)
- 1 tbsp wolfberries
- 10 red dates
- 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
- 10 shitake mushrooms, stems removed and then sliced thinly
- spring onions, sliced thinly to wispy strips (to garnish, optional)

Directions
1. Place the chicken thighs into a wide and deep plate. Line the bottom of the vessel with sliced mushrooms, reserving some to top the chicken.
2. Add in ginger juice, D.O.M, water/stock, sesame oil, wolfberries, red dates and the rest of the sliced mushrooms.
3. Cover the vessel with a lid or seal tightly with aluminium foil and cook the chicken on high heat until the water at the steamer is boiling.
4. Lower down the heat and continue to cook for about 40-50 minutes.
5. Season the soup with some salt if you like. I didn’t do that since I am using Chinese soup for the stock. Use a spoon to drizzle some soup onto the chicken. Garnish with spring onions. Serve with warm rice.

Notes:
- The original recipe calls for the chicken to be double boiled. If you prefer this method, place the chicken and ingredients in the double boiler pot and filled the outer pot with water (not covering more than half of the inner pot)). After cooking, arrange the contents into a bowl/plate.
- Whether you steam or double boil, the important thing is to seal the vessel you are using so as not to lose the aroma and soup due to evaporation.
- To test if the chicken is cooked, insert a fork in the thigh area. If clear liquid (no blood) runs out, it is cooked.

Actually, even before I was pregnant, I love Herbal Chicken soups. There's something about the herbs that I love, especially the dates and the wolfberries.

This is something that I would love during my confinement... and of course spending time with my new baby boy. Just seeing him, would really help me in my recovery.

Preparing for our new bundle of joy!

I noticed that since the beginning of March, and even during the end of February, I didn't even have at least one post here in my blog.

Since I started reaching my 8th month of pregnancy, I've been so lazy. My baby's getting bigger and still very active like before. Here's a photo of the 3D scan taken last month (he's trying to cover his face with his hand... the sonographer actually tried to make him move his hand away by jiggling my tummy, but that only made him try to lift his feet up... haha...)

I wasn't really in bed the whole day, or throughout the week (even though sometimes that's what I want to do... just sleep, eat and sleep) I rather be at the office, finishing as much work before I take my maternity leave. Sometimes I also feel like having the office at home instead.

As my pregnancy passed the middle stage, I fear that I am blatantly unaware of how to take care of my baby. I spoke to my friends about this and asked them to help me and my hubby find some childcare classes that we could attend to teach us about all the important things to take care of our newborn.

Luckily, one of my friend is a nurse and has offered to help teach me when my newborn has arrived.

Basically, I'm treading on new water and having to rely on my friend, books, doctor, internet and instinct. But doing all the necessary things beforehand parents, especially the mommy, to rest instead of rushing around everywhere when the baby is born.

I mean, let's face it, we would rather spend all our time with our newfound happiness, instead of trying to frantically get everything prepared for him.

So, my hubby and I browsed through the internet to get a list of what to prepare before the actual day of delivery.

Just to share with other Moms-to-be out there, We found this list from a website. This list has been accumulated from pregnancy sites, so it should be somewhat accurate:

Hospital Stay

Tip: pack your hospital stay bag 1 month before your due date. Nightgown/t-shirt to give birth in Nightgown/slippers to wear after delivery Nursing bras and pads (pads even if you're not breast feeding for leakage) Bathrobe Birth plan Tissues Wet wipes and/or a sponge Books/magazines/personal stereo & music Hand mirror to see your baby being born Warm socks Underwear Drinks & snacks Money/phonecard and telephone numbers Camera/Video camera, film, batteries, and tapes Hairbrush Soap Deodorant Shampoo & Conditioner Towels

Makeup (if you feel like it) Toothpaste and toothbrush/Mouthwash Stop Watch with second hand (to time contractions) A picture or stuffed animal to use as a focal point when in labor Journal or Diary Going Home Clothes Diaper bag with diapers, wipes, changing pad, burp cloths, and a change of clothes for baby Car seat Bottles and formula (if not breast feeding) A knitted baby cap Recieving blankets

Baby's First Months
CLOTHING 6 cotton shirts 6 stretchsuits 6 vests/bodysuits 2 cardigans 4 pairs socks/booties 4 Bibs Hats & mittens Snowsuit/jacket 4 socks or booties 2 hooded bath towels BREAST FEEDING 2+ bottles (for water) 1 bottle and nipple brush 6-8 nipples and caps Breast Feeding Breast pads Breast pump Milk storage kit/bottle BOTTLE FEEDING 6 bottles, teats & tops Sterilizing equipment Bottle warmer Bottle brush	BATHING & CHANGING Bath tub (optional) 4 washcloths Nail scissors/clippers Brush & comb Toiletries: baby bath, shampoo, lotion, powder, wipes, cotton wool, ear buds, Diaper cream Changing mat Diaper disposal unit Diaper sacks Diaper pail Disposable Diapers (10-12 diapers a day for first month or so) or Cloth Diapers (can use for burping too) Diaper liners Rubber pants or diaper covers Diaper pins ON THE MOVE Car seat Pram/pushchair Baby Carrier Changing bag Sun canopy/parasol	BEDTIME Cot or cotbed Crib & Mattress Crib bumper pads Mattress Nursery thermometer Baby monitor For Cradle, Pram or Carrycot 3-4 fitted sheets 2-3 flat sheets 3 blankets LATER ADDITIONS & OPTIONAL ITEMS Bouncer/rocker Toys Activity centre Play mat Crib Mobile Musical night light High chair Baby swing Play pen Changing table Bassinet

We're both really excited to see our baby boy. Our friends have also helped us during the preparation.

We can't wait to welcome our new baby to our home.