Year of The Tiger

This is the start of the Chinese New Year. It is a festive time full of fun and family. Of course food figure prominently in it as it does in other New years around th world. It’s not the usual Chinese that Americans are used to be it is the Chinese food of tradition that stretches across generations and centuries.
We may be used to egg rolls and General Tso’s Chicken along with fortune cookies. However traditional Chinese food especially holiday food is entirely different. It’s like the difference between Italian American and real Italian foods. Almost every new year’s dish is made with the ingredients that sound like the words, fortune, happiness, longevity and prosperity. The dish hoe see fat choy which is hair seaweed sounds close to the phrase ‘wealth and good business.” Lotus roots are eaten because their Chinese name lin ngao sound s like abundance year after year. Oranges and tangerines are given put to symbolize hope for gold or wealth in the upcoming year.
Another interesting facet of the holiday is that New Year’s Day is always started off with an vegetarian meal such as bamboo shoots , bean sprouts and mushrooms. This is to basically “shake off the excesses of the partying and heavy eating of New Year’s Eve.. On the second day which is also important, called Commencement Day meat and fish ball are served to symbolize the together of the family, an important feature in Chinese life. There are also several other day for the holiday goes on for two weeks. All are full of meaningful foods as well as preparations. Food cannot be cut , diced or minced because it symbolizes separatism and fighting. Also knives are not used during this period as well .
This Year of the Tiger is an important one for all the Chinese living here an d in China. It should be celebrated with the appropriate and traditional foods. It’s also a continuation of traditions that went on long before any other new year’s,

Good Deeds For Valentine;s Day

Yesterday I devoted the entry to spoiling yourself for valentine;s Day. This is nice , especially if you want to indulge yourself. However a better gift would be indulging others and not just ,sweet hearts. It's a day to be good to anyone and to show love for them.

If yo have nothing to do all day tomorrow, then volunteer at your local homeless shelter. There are people who would appreciate a friendly face and the kitchen could use th e help as well. If you want buy some cupcakes or cake at your local bakery for them. Another spot is a senior or rehab center. See if you can volunteer there and bring some treats (if they can have them ) with you. Also volunteer at any dance too because they always need help serving or with clean up afterwards.

You can also show love and appreciation for family and friends. Invite your parents over for a brunch/ Add some nice touches such as red rose son the table and mimosas and bloody Mary's for everyone. Whip up some yummy brunch foods such as frittatas or French toast croissants. For galpals have a nice dinner set with some snacks and sweets afterwards. Crack open a bottle of champagne and celebrate the good times and the broken hearts you've suffered through.

Tomorrow is the day for love but you can spread yours around. help others nurture friends and family with kind words and good food. It may be your best Valentine's Day ever!

Love Thyself With Food

If you have no one to treat this St Valentine's Day then treat yourself. Go out and buy yourself that box of chocolates or bottle of champagne. It's an indulgence that's meant just for you and only you. Splurge one something you haven't had or would like to try. Go made for your favorite whether from the gourmet store or the grocery store.

Even if you;re on a diet you can treat yourself to a little something. There's nothing wrong with gobbling strawberries if you love them . If you're a citrus nut buy some grapefruit and oranges for yourself to feat on. A little more decadence? Then dip bananas or cherries in chocolate syrup or apples in caramel . If you really want to indulge pick up a box of your favorite chocolates. I love Butlers and wouldn't mind either either a box of their creamy chocolates or buttery toffees for Valentine's Day. Stop by your local bakery and get either a big heart cookie or a couple of the themed cupcakes. Nothing beats these along with a hot cup of tea and a good book or magazine to read.

If you really want to treat yourself go for a dinner out. Most restaurants may be booked and you may have to make last minute reservations. If not treat yourself to a past love such as burgers and fries or an ice cream soda at your favorite diner or drive in. You could also cook for yourself, splurging on lamb chops or steaks or a rich pasta dish with shrimp or lobster. After all you're gifting yourself. make it special and fun. Add a bottle of champagne or fine wine and really turn it into a luxurious meal.

This Valentine's Day give yourself a favorite food or snack. Don't think of it as a guilty pleasure . Just think of it as an "I love me. I want to do something special for myself day". You'll enjoy it even more.

Mood Food

Yesterday's New York Times Dining section featured an article about aphrodisiacs. There are certain foods and aromas that we associate with love and romance . There are some obvious answers and some surprises as well in the article written by Sarah Kershaw,



Aphrodisiacs as the article explains, have been around since ancient times. The early Greeks and Romans as well as those living during the Medieval period relied on certain dishes to rev up the libido. They believed that honey, saffron olives grapes basil and pine nuts were the key to a successful night of lust and love. Nowadays we tend to gravitate towards aparagus, avocados along with figs and cucumbers.Garlic is surprisingly considered an aphrodisiac/ Keep that in mind when your'e ordering either Italian or Chinese this Sunday night. Chocolate is also powerful aphrodisiac Both it's taste and its' smell can drive people wild.



Food aromas are also big as Ms. Kershaw explains . There is a restaurant, the Fat Duck, in Bray England where the chef fills the air with steamed hay. Yes, hay, because its' aroma is reminiscent of romantic autumn hay rides.according tot he chef, Heston Blumenthal It gets his diners in the mood for some of the restaurants more romantic offerings. However men andwomen also love the smell of licorice. The aroma of the popular licorice candy Good N Plenty drives both sexes wild as doe s the aroma of doughnuts for men and cucumbers for women (I'll let the Freudians dissect that one)



If you want to make Valentine's Day exciting go the aphrodisiac route. There's all sorts of foods and scents out there that'll take the romance a step further. All you need is love and a few Good and Plentys

Sweets For Your Sweet

This is the week for chocolate buying. The conundrum is what to buy for your sweetie? You can go the splurge way and buy the most decadent gourmet candy around or be a cheapskate and head over to your local chain drugstore. The thing is even the less expensive brands are pretty good these days so there is a big variety to choose from.

If you’re going to go high end there are a few good chocolatiers to choose from. If you’re in or near the Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, drop into Butler’s This is my favorite hoplite shop and they offer a rich array of chocolates You can have the sweet salty sea salt caramel s or their luscious Irish creams fill candies. I just love anything they offer , even their buttery toffees. Another top quality one s Godiva’s found in almost every mall. Here you can buy a ballotin of truffles for your love. Their caramels and cremes are quite good too.

For those of you watching your wallet there’s Russell Stover and Walt Whitman sampler boxes. don’t turn your nose up at these Both brands have just as good an assortment as the high end brands. In fact I think they have more variety and stick to more traditional bonbons such as the coconut cups and nut clusters. M&Ms is also having a special valentines; Day box as is Reeses; The last is featuring a heart filled with peanut butter cups This is perfect for any candy aficionado and fun too.

This Valentine‘s Day you can either splurge or scrimp on your beloved. it’s up to you. Either way you’ll still wind up with a wonderful box of candy that hopefully will be shared.

Loving From The Oven And Stove And Fridge

A fun and sweet thing to do this Valentine's Day is to whip up something yummy for your beloved. It could be cooked, roasted baked or even frozen. Nothing says "I love you" than having a favorite dish made just for him or her.Forget the fancy bonbons and roses , sometimes a slab of meat loaf or cupcakes from your oven are the best gifts of all.

A neat idea would be creating a sweetheart's favorite childhood food. You can ask directly but a better way is asking mothers grannies , siblings or best friends. That way the meal is a complete surprise. Meat loaf is usually the number one favorite food and it;s easy to whip up . Even though it's not a fancy lobster tail it's a comfort food and a link to a happy time. Other childhood faves are spaghetti and meatballs pulled pork sandwiches and a simple hamburger with homemade fries. There may even be some ethnic dishes like dolmades or fufu thrown in. Don't be afraid to try some of the more exotic recipes. Ask for help from his or her family. A mother or grandmother will always be amenable to help and also grateful you;re taking an interest in the family's culture.

Of course anything sweet is also appreciated. Nothing says a simple "Je t'aime " than homemade chocolate chip cookies. Again these s are easy to make and if you haven't the time, then go for the slice and bake logs. If your beloved likes cake then bake one using his or her favorite flavor and add homemade butter cream icing . Sprinkle some red hot cinnamon hearts on it for a fiery kick. Another popular dessert are cupcakes Again , you can just take a cake mix and make them up quick, A real comfort treat is ice cream. You can even make a banana split or hot fudge sundae for two. If you're sticking with the whole childhood faves then think about making a bowl of pudding that can be topped with Cool Whip and sprinkles.

This valentines' Day give your beloved something yummy. There's nothing as satisfying as creating a well loved dinner or dessert . There's also the reward of seeing the happy look on their faces as well when they bite into the best gift ever.

Chocolate Dipped Love

If you want to impress your love dip something in chocolate.(even yourself but that‘s another entry on a whole other blog) You can have fun presenting an entire array fo goodies dipped in different chocolates. Besides it’s more fun that just baking a cake or cupcakes. Homemade sweets are also cheaper than going to a candy store and plunking down thirty bucks for a few bonbons.

The big question is what to dip. If your love is into the whole sweet savory you can try chips pretzels and yes, even bacon. I’d stick with the first two for a more traditional gift. Bacon could work if its’ crisp enough and it’s given that day. Another choice are cookies. Yes, you can buy chocolate dipped ones at your local bakery and there are even chocolate dipped Oreos however if his (or her) favorite isn’t chocolate then do it. Lorna Doones are wonderful for dipping as are Pepperidge Farms’ Chessmen. You can also try fruit. Strawberries are the best bet and easy to handle but you can also use bananas cherries , and pineapple.

The next question is what chocolate. Do you want a dark bitter to compliment the taste or a creamy milk or white? Bitter chocolate works well with fruit and cookies. It heightens the others taste. For the savories such as pretzels and chips then go with the milk chocolate. If you’re intent on dipping bacon then go with a very dark, bitter chocolate like Valrhona.

This Valentine’s Day give your love hand dipped goodness. Take his or her favorite treats and wrap them in a layer of chocolate and affection. They’ll appreciate it and so will you!