Tag Archives: Serosi

Not So Good!

Munchkin.Wailing

Oooooh!!  Arrrghhhh!  I don’t do very well when I’m sick.  I just get awfully whiny so today, Gnome had to deal with me as a patient.  I really hate to be a patient!!

Gnome: “Why are you whining more than normal, Munchkin?”

Munchkin: “Waaaaahhhh!!!  Waaahh!!”

Gnome: “Can you communicate in a more coherent way so that I could assist you in some way?”

Munchkin: “Waaahhhh!!  I have mouth ulcers and they really hurt…it really hurts even to drink a cup of tea!”

Gnome “Oh dear….”

So, I’m not that sick but sick enough to feel that my energy levels are lower than normal.  Doctor Gnome has prescribed serosi (bitter gourd) leaf tea as my treatment, three times a day for the next week.  No Munchkin fried yummies and no meat.  In Chinese medicine, mouth ulcers are considered an indication of “heatiness”…this is a condition not recognised in western medicine.  The remedy is the intake of “cooling” foods and teas.  Serosi is considered a cooling plant.

Fresh Serosi.
Fresh Serosi.

I’m also eating some of these…ear mushrooms foraged from our farm:

Ear Mushroom.
Ear Mushroom.

Oh, and if I can find enough slugs, I’ll have them too.  That’s not a joke, by the way, we are talking about raising slugs/snails for meat but no profit!

Snails.
Snails.

Serosi Chinese Style!

Together.Eating.Fire.Pot

Of course, another food post from The Munchkin.  Well, when you live on a farm and you grow your own food, it seems like the next logical step is the cook the wonderful harvests.  This is bitter gourd or bitter melon and is known as serosi in Belize.  It is renowned for its distinctive bitter taste.

Fresh Serosi.
Fresh Serosi.

The variety that is found here in Belize resembles the “Indian” variety.  The Chinese type tends to be larger and smoother looking.  Serosi is used also in traditional  medicine in many cultures to lower blood sugar and to treat infections (particularly parasitic infections eg. worms).  A tea from the leaves can also be consumed for its therapeutic value.

This recipe is Serosi Chinese Style and it is a family recipe.  My Mum cooks this on special occasions…Bitter Gourd Stuffed with Minced Pork.

Stuffed Serosi Pork.
Stuffed Serosi Pork.

Thank-you Mum for teaching me to cook.  I really appreciate the fact that we can eat healthy home-cooked meals everyday.  It’s all about the love and passion that you put into it!!