Selfish Pot

Winter is coming.

Which can only mean one thing! Hot pot! Nabe! Shabu shabu! When my parents were still away, I had my own hotpot dinner for two nights in a row. It really only required one tray of pork, one tray of beef, plus a packet of mixed balls (like lobster balls, fish balls, and others), and 3 bunches of bak choi.

From 117___05

And you get this! We don't actually have the gas stoves for hot pot, but we have a big electric one... which I wouldn't dig out for an individual serving, so I just took a small metal pot, dragged a tall chair to the stove, sat there and dug in.

From 117___05

The secret to it is really this dou ban jang... it's not nearly as spicy as the tongue numbing stuff you get outside, but I actually want to enjoy my food, so this was good. The wonderful thing about hot pot this way is that you can adjust everything just for yourself- spiciness, ingredients, sauces, even the heat is easily controlled because you're right there at the stove. Usually had it on a low simmer, but when putting in meat, turn the fire up and it boils quicker! I really do like the fact that we have a gas (fire) stove and not one of those modernised flat surfaced stoves... it just somehow seems more authentic and fun to cook when you can see the flames.

From 117___05

I can't remember now, maybe this lasted me three nights? Anyhow, it was great! :D This was my first hot pot of the year! Love it, many more to come I hope! Or else I'll just have my own again, which I really don't mind.