Marshmallow yams

The Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha today agreed for Thailand’s national dish - Tom Yam Kung - as the candidate for this year's UNESCO Cultural Heritage 2021 list. Tom Yam Kung is a spicy soup, made by mixing various fresh ingredients including lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, chilli peppers, fish sauce, and shrimps. The word ‘Tom Yam’ refers to the cooking process where ‘Tom’ means boiling and ‘Yam’ means mixing, while ‘Kung’ refers to prawns or shrimps. Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome said Tom Yam Kung reflects the simple lifestyle of agricultural communities living along central Thailand’s richly fertile rivers and canals. "Proposing Tom Yam Kung as global heritage will be a proud moment for Thais while also boosting awareness among foreigners of the abundant variety of Thai food. "Its inclusion in UNESCO’s list will create opportunities for Thai food business, jobs opportunities and income for food producers including the shrimp ... » Learn More about Thailand wants its famous local dish ‘Tom Yam Kung’ for Unesco listing in 2021

BANGKOK (The Nation/ANN): Tom Yam Kung will compete for a place on the Unesco world cultural heritage menu after the Cabinet decided to serve up the spicy soup as Thailand’s candidate this year. The shrimp soup – flavoured with galangal, lemongrass, chilli, lime leaves, fish sauce and sugar – was proposed for recognition by the Culture Ministry at Tuesday’s (March 23) Cabinet meeting. Tom Yam Kung will now compete to join Khon and traditional Thai massage as Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Khon dance form based on the Ramakien epic was included as world heritage in 2018 while Thai massage made the list in 2019. Unesco is currently considering Nora, the traditional southern dance form, and the Songkran water festival for inclusion as intangible heritage of humanity. Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome explained Tom Yam Kung was a national dish famous around the globe, but it also reflected the simple lifestyle of agricultural communities living along central ... » Learn More about Thailand serves Tom Yam for Unesco Cultural Heritage 2021 list

FLUFFY, fragrant, flavourful — these are all essential indicators of a good bowl of yam rice. Yam, which is also known as keladi or taro, is the main ingredient for this dish. The starchy root vegetable is also commonly found in dishes such as bubur cha cha and steamed yam cake. The fragrance comes from the dried prawns and mushrooms. Yam rice is often served alongside salted vegetable pork soup or various braised pork dishes. At Zheng Ji Restoran Famous Yam Rice, the dishes stay true to its Penang-style recipes, with minor tweaks. Located in Pandan Perdana, Ampang, the restaurant serves a pretty decent interpretation of yam rice as well as its must-have side dishes. Proprietor Jacky Yong said the restaurant started as a partnership with a friend using the latter’s family recipes more than three years ago. “Since then, we have parted ways and there have been some changes to the recipes, ” he said. He said while simple ingredients are used in cooking yam rice, the ... » Learn More about Chock-full of flavours in yam rice

Bridesmaids' dresses and shoes from Singapore brands, pandan cake at the dessert bar, and a bouquet of orchids — these were some elements of home in local singer Kelly Poon's wedding held in Taiwan last Friday (Nov 20). Unable to hold a banquet here due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first runner-up of the 2005 Project SuperStar singing competition wanted to include various features of Singapore in the ceremony. Her Taiwanese guests were even taught how to yam seng during the dinner, a loud and hearty celebratory toast often practiced in Singaporean wedding dinners but uncommon in Taiwan. While Kelly's local friends and family were unable to travel to attend her big day, she invited several Taiwan-based Singaporean celebrities such as actress Yvonne Lim and singer-host Huang Jinglun, as well as Star Search 1997 winner Jeff Wang. The event took place at the Regent Taipei with 45 tables. According to 8 Days , the 37-year-old also saved around NT$300,000 (S$14,000), opting ... » Learn More about Project SuperStar singer Kelly Poon teaches Taiwanese guests how to yam seng in her wedding dinner

SINGAPORE - The Community Development Council (CDC) for Singapore's north-west region is raising at least $2 million to help laid-off residents amid the coronavirus pandemic. MP of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC and Mayor of the North West CDC, Mr Alex Yam, announced this on Saturday (Jan 23). He said schemes emerging from the CDC's fund-raising efforts will make sure people do not have to wait for approval under existing government programmes, which could take too long. He said: "Government schemes will remain the bread-and-butter, but we want to be able to plug the gap in terms of timeliness and urgency. "As we look ahead, we are hopeful that the economy will stabilise a little bit more, but (this is) in case there are still more people who may face retrenchments or termination due to the economic downturn." Mr Yam was speaking during the WeCare @ North West-Service Weeks campaign, into its eighth year, this year. From Jan 6 to Feb 7, festive packs containing foods worth ... » Learn More about North West CDC raising $2 million to help retrenched residents

With its first trailer gaining more than seven million views less than two days after its release online, “Init Sa Magdamag” is the surefire teleserye hit for the “second season” of the enhanced community quarantine this summer. It stars Yam Concepcion, Gerald Anderson and JM de Guzman who will be caught in a not-so typical love triangle. The story centers on the theme of what one person is willing to go through for love. Star Creatives director Henry King Quitain said that it’s their first time to make a show that knows exactly what message it wants to cut through the audience. “More than a year in the making and alam na natin gusto sabihin sa show. We did the pilot pre-pandemic and ang dami na streamline for safety of production but it did not affect the narrative,” Quitain recalled. The team was also cautious to make sure the steamy scenes were executed safe enough for primetime TV but would surely be as hot as the summer weather. “Paiinitin ang viewing nights. It’s ... » Learn More about No pandemic feels in ‘Init sa Magdamag’

SINGAPORE - Hand sanitiser vending machines said to be the first of their kind in the world went into action across Singapore on Monday (April 12). Every household in the Republic is allowed to collect 500ml of zero-alcohol cleanser for free. Retiree Liong Lai Fong, 79, visited Block 565, Choa Chu Kang Street 52 to pick hers up. She said in Mandarin: "I came to collect the hand sanitiser today because it was written on the utilities bill." The Temasek Foundation initiative - the second of its kind - uses machines that mix sanitiser concentrate with clean water and dispense the ready-to-use product into reusuable bottles. The vending machines were designed by the foundation, which said that they were the first in the world to automate the entire process. A spokesman told ST that the zero-alcohol sanitiser being distributed had a new formulation with a higher concentration of benzalkonium chloride, which is recognised by the National Environment Agency as being effective ... » Learn More about Singapore-designed hand sanitiser vending machines in operation across the island

Eating a diet that includes probiotic foods such as yoghurt could help ease depression, according to new research. Image: Istock.com/Dzevoniia via AFP Relaxnews New United Kingdom research has found eating a diet that includes probiotic foods, or a combination of both probiotic and prebiotic foods, may help ease depression and anxiety. To look at how pre- and probiotics could potentially be used as a therapeutic treatment for depression and/or anxiety disorders, U.K. researchers reviewed seven existing studies that had investigated the effect of eating a diet that includes pre- and probiotic foods on these mental health conditions. Probiotics are live microorganisms which are thought to improve or restore the natural balance of bacteria in the gut, while prebiotics are indigestible compounds in foods that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract. All of the studies had investigated at least one strain of pre- and probiotics, while four had looked at ... » Learn More about Eating more probiotic foods could help improve depression, says study

SINGAPORE - Community development councils (CDCs) play unique roles in Singapore's ecosystem of mobilising volunteers and resources for various causes, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Friday (March 19). The councils allow initiatives to be customised at the regional level while still achieving economies of scale, Mr Chan, who is deputy chairman of the People's Association, said at an appreciation event for North West District volunteers. His remarks come in the wake of Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh's questioning the role of CDCs in government schemes during the Budget debate last month. Mr Chan said: "Why do we run a system with national, regional and local schemes? Is it not overlapping and confusing?" Broad-based national schemes are efficient and achieve economies of scale, but may not easily cater to the unique needs of individuals and families, he said, noting: "Local schemes allow us to narrow-cast and they can be customised to be more ... » Learn More about CDCs play unique roles in mobilising volunteers, resources to help community: Chan Chun Sing

SINGAPORE - The five Community Development Councils (CDC) rolled out over 70 initiatives between February and June to help Singaporeans cope with Covid-19, including a student meal plan and a $20 million voucher scheme for 400,000 families. The CDC Vouchers Scheme eased the cost of living for middle-income families and the vouchers are meant to be spent at heartland businesses, thus giving a boost to hawkers and small businesses, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He said: "CDCs often take a low profile, working quietly but steadily to fulfil their mission. But in times of crisis, their contributions are vital and become more apparent." PM Lee was speaking on Wednesday (Sept 23) at the swearing-in ceremony of five mayors at the People's Association (PA) headquarters in Jalan Besar. Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing, who is also People's Association deputy chairman, attended the ceremony as well. The CDC Student Meals scheme helps children from needy homes continue ... » Learn More about CDCs often keep low profile but do vital work, especially in times of crisis, says PM Lee