What is Lemongrass, where do I find it and what do I use if I can't?

R asked "How much lemongrass goes into the Thit Lon Rim?" 
Clara - This is a very good question - 2 teaspoons.



What is lemongrass and where do I find it and what do I use if I can't?

LEMONGRASS

(cymbopogon citratus)

Can be grown in a temperate environment or bought at fruit and vege marts.  The straggly appearance of this almost woody tropical grass belies its subtle lemon perfume and balm-like flavour.  Discard the leaves, which are very sharp, and trim the stems to 8-10 cm (3-4 in) in length.  Bruise the stems with the back of a large knife and add to stocks and broths to infuse a delicate citrus flavour, or peel back the outer leaves around the base to reveal the tender white core which can be sliced or pounded to a paste.  Lemongrass loses flavour when dried, but will store in the fridge for about a week and can be frozen.  Two or three strips of lemon peel can be used as a substitute.

Can I substitute pork tenderloin for the pork leg?  I'm not a good meat chopper?

I'm sure it would be lovely, probably wouldn't need as much cooking however, or you could stir fry the recipe, leaving out the water.

Fresh red chilli? I'm assuming a hot chilli.

Yes - the little hot fellas - I am very wary of fresh chilli and often use a bottled variety which is already chopped.  We grow super potent chilli where the sting and heat was still in my finger tips for days.  I use dried chill as well and it is easier to handle but still very potent!

And finally, what in the world is a punnet and a lychee?
A punnet is a plastic container with a lid which holds approx 200 grams of produce (a little less than 1/2 a pound.)  Now when are you guys going to catch up and go metric? Sooooooo much more logical. When I become Prime Minister or Madam President, I am going to standardise the world in these matters.

Lychees


Lychee Description - What is a lychee?R - I'm having hamburgers on the grill with baked beans tonight!

By Bill Mee & Krystal Folino

A lychee is a rare sub tropical fruit originating in South China where the lychee is very important in their culture and is famed as "the King of Fruits".
The lychee fruit is about 1½ to 2 inches in size, oval to rounded heart shaped and the bumpy skin is red in color. Once you peel the skin off, the crisp juicy flesh of a lychee fruit is white or pinkish, translucent and glossy like the consistency of a grape, but the taste is sweeter. Lychees have a sub acid sweet taste and have a wonderful freshness to them that is hard to describe. Lychee fruit is high in the antioxidant Vitamin C and the essential mineral Potassium. We can buy them in season here but they are excellent in the canned form.

Canned Lychee Fruit -  Each can contains lychee fruit that has been peeled, seeded and canned in sugar syrup.

Lychee vely vely goood!  Like baked beans! - Clara