grocer's Blog

by Vanniya sriangura
photos by Apichart jinakul
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Just like the English enjoying tea for breakfast and Americans celebrating the new day with a cup of coffee, every morning Thais wake up to the soothing aroma of soy bean milk. The drink, usually consumed at dawn, is locally called naam tao hu, literally meaning juice of beancurd Whether at the mouth of the soi, in front of a local fresh market or near a bus stop, a naam tao hu vendor can always be spotted by the piping hot fumes and comfortihg scent it generates.

The ivory-coloured soy bean beverage presents a subtle taste and mild flavour. A fabujous source of protein and a great supplement for those allergic to cow’s milk, the drink is made from the juice of beans that have been soaked overnight then pressed. Authentic, good-quality soybean milk should never be mixed with other kinds of milk.

Naam tao hu also comes with a choice of edible additives such as sago, barley, sliced candied gourd, seeds of hairy basil and tofu skin. Apart from giving a pleasing chew’to the drink, they also act as healthy stomach fillers.

To enjoy naam tao hu without pa tong ko is like having milk without cookies. The soy milk and its partner bread are usually appreciated together. Most     of the time-they are sold together by one vendor,     otherwise you can also find a street cart selling pa tong ko near a naam tao hu specialist.

 Pa tong ko is two pieces of bread dough stuck  together just like Siamese twins before being deepfried in a huge wok until golden brown. Because of i its Chinese origin and its shape, the treat is widely I known to Westerners as Emperor’s Bones.

Good pa tong ko should be crispy on the outside I and chewily soft on the inside with a pleasing hint  of ammonia extract. A sweet version of pa tong ko  is either called kaew ta bo, salapao tord or pa tong kee (a female counterpart of pa tong ko). It comes in a round shape and presents a touch of sweetness.

Bangkok definitely has a lot of soy bean milk on offer. Still, distinguishing  excellent from merely  good naam tao hu might not be an easy task. But the number of customers  in front of a shop and their hungry eyes mayindicate whether it’s one worth writing home about.

PQ :  Balance of Happiness and Intelligence

   The study has shown that children would have a better development through means of playing. Through playing, children would feel relaxed, their stress is relieved and their brain is stimulated and thus performs better. The linkage between the brain cells can detemine the intelligence level. In order to realize the importance of play, Play Quotient (PQ) is proposed. PQ reflects the child's ablity to get the most enjoyment and enrichment out of play time.

How do parents support their chil's play?

1. Encourage the child to play with a variety of toys according to their age.
2. Let the child lead his or her game. Parents can assist when needed.
3. Pay attention to the child or sometimes participate in the play, even briefly.
4. Show that you enjoy the play.
5. Appreciate the child's thinking and his or her ability to solve the problem.

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