Why I love cooking shows

Other people I know may be addicted to the latest Chinese or Korean TV dramas, getting their fix daily (it's amazing how these dramas can be churned out in hundreds of daily episodes) or buying DVDs and then binge-watching them. I'm sure I would be hooked, too, once I started watching them but my skills at these languages are pretty dismal and I'm usually put off by sub-titles in bad English. I confess, though, that my guilty pleasure, when it comes to watching TV, is cooking shows.

Movies for the mind, soul and spirit

The last few days have passed in a blur for me. Having been laid up with the flu, all I could do, between dosing myself with meds and soup, was lie in bed and watch movies. I couldn't bear anything too serious that required much brain activity, so I was pleased to come across a few light gems.

Life-saving coconut oil

When I was growing up, a favorite sweet treat we used to make was coconut candy, a mixture of grated coconut and condensed milk that, when nibbled on, was as delicious as it was cloyingly sweet. Nowadays, when I take my two tablespoons of coconut oil in the morning as part of my health regimen, I'm always reminded of coconut candy, not a bad thing at all. I know many people aren't crazy about the taste of the oil but I like it, and love what it's done for me health wise even more.

Hainanese chicken chop

I remember going to some old coffeeshops in KL with my parents when I was little and tucking into some Hainanese favorites including roast pork and chicken chop. We also stayed at a holiday bungalow in Fraser’s Hill which had a wonderful Hainanese caretaker who served up fabulous meals and desserts including, of course, chicken chop.