Beancurd Porridge

I missed this porridge terribly, used to have it when I stayed with my mother. Havent tasted it for a long time since I got married. Its only until recently when I was cracking brain for lunches for my girl that I remembered this dish. Trenyce loves it too as her favourite beancurd, mushroom and carrot are included. Seems like my girl is easy to please as she gets contented quite easily hehehe...When it comes to food, yes she takes after her father...anything also can except for fruits *sigh* Luckily she takes vegetables :)

**Food picture unavailable** 
[Unfortunately Slide.com had ceased operation on 6 March 2012 and I didnt manage to transfer the pics in time of which some are lost permanently as I didnt have a spare copy.] 

Ingredients (4 pax share):

- 2 handfuls of Rice, perferably use "Xing mi", washed.
(aka "new rice", a type of rice used typically for cooking porridge. If not, normal rice also can but will take slightly longer time to cook.)
- 2 pieces of beancurd, sliced
- 1 carrot (of average size), sliced
- 1 small cabbage (about 70-80cts if buy from supermkt), chopped
- 4 pieces of mushroom (of average size), sliced
- 100grams minced meat, marinated with soya sauce/sesame oil/starch powder.
- some ikan bilis (aka dried shrimps), washed
- some garlic
- 1 tablespoon soya sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon starch powder
- Salt
- Cooking oil
- Water

How to cook:

- Heat the pot (average sized pot) with cooking oil.
- Add in the ikan bilis once the oil is heated.
- When you can smell the "fragnant" of the ikan bilis, add water to the pot (about 80% of the pot) and leave it to boil.
- When the water starts boiling, sieve out the ikan bilis and add in the rice, and leave it to boil.*
- When it starts to boil, add in the beancurd** and vege*** prepared earlier.
- When it boils again, add in the minced meat and some salt.
- Once minced meat is cooked, turn off the fire and its ready to be served.

Preparation of beancurd**
- Heat the wok with cooking oil, amount of cooking oil enough to cover 3/4 of the beancurd.
- Add in the beancurd once the oil is heated.
- Remove the beancurd from the wok once it turns slightly brownish and set aside.

Preparation of vege***
- Heat the wok again with cooking oil.
- Add in the garlic once the oil is heated.
- When the garlic turns slightly brownish, add in the carrot/cabbage/mushroom.
- Add water, ensure that the vege are well covered. Covered with the lid and let it simmer for 3-5mins.
- Remove the lid, dish out the vege when its about 75% cooked and set aside.

*Note: I started cooking the porridge before the preparation of the beancurd and vege as the boiling of the ikan bilis and rice takes a while. Hence,if you are unable to complete the cooking of the beancurd and vege before the porridge boils, pls prepare the 2 dishes first before you start cooking the porridge.