My Mom always used to say something that I never took to heart, but now? Now, there are so many times when I can see the wisdom of her advice.
“Kristin Mae, If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Nothing much is happening in my life right now. We are wintering lol. Ninja is home most of January/February, getting things done around the house taking advantage our seasonal business being closed. The Kids have settled into their routines and are entering their 2nd week of their last semesters of school. For HBear this is her last semester, ever. GULP. And me? I am watching democracy crumble while coping with MS symptoms, perimenopause and all this GREY weather. It’s a lot lol. And I don’t really have anything nice to say right now, so I’m not going to say anything at all. My Mom would be so proud of me. It only took 46 years!! Bahahahaha
On a lighter note, Lunar New Year is coming up on February 17! This year is the Year of the Horse. The Fire Horse to be exact. The 7th animal in the Chinese Zodiac. It represents energy, vitality and free spirit. Apparently it is a fortunate year for Cancer, Aries and Sagittarius and that is Ninja, me and the Kids, so perhaps things are looking up! Yes, I now I just crossed zodiacs there but give me a break, I gotta find the luck wherever I can, as should you!
As you know, I LOVE quotes. I believe there is always someone out there who has said it better than I ever could. Some of my favourite proverbs come from Chinese philosopher, Confucius. I actually read a book recently that had me looking up Confucianism as I read (see more on that in my review below) and I wanted to share some of them with you. Xin Nian Hao! May this year find you abound with joy and good health.
It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get.
We should feel sorrow, but not sink under its oppression.
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
Study the past, if you would divine the future.
You cannot open a book without learning something.
The superior man understands what is right; the inferior man understands what will sell.
- Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
HBear loves all types of foods. She has never really been picky except for cottage cheese, tropical fruit, mushrooms, onions and meat shaped into balls lol. She loves Mexican food, Indian, Greek, French, and Italian foods because pasta lol. Her favourite food though is Asian, any type of Asian food. She especially loves when she gets to eat all these delicious Chinese dishes to prepare for my Lunar New Year post. Here are a few dishes to help you celebrate The Year of The Horse!
This Chicken Cabbage Stir-Fry tasted exactly like my favourite chicken cabbage takeout dish!! It didn’t take long to make and it made me feel as good as it tasted. As in, I didn’t feel heavy after I ate like I sometimes feel after eating takeout. This was an excellent dish that we all loved especially paired with jasmine rice.
Another favourite dish that is my personal go-to at a local restaurant but made better in the comfort of my own kitchen is this Kung Pao Beef dish that was SO good. I scarfed this down so fast lol. I told Ninja that this had to be a meal we put on regular rotation! We then had a discussion about the price of the steak. It was $20! For a 1lb flank steak! Which kind of made my tummy swirl a bit. But then we figured it out. It fed all 4 of us plus we had leftovers for 2 of us for lunch the next day. So that steak was basically $4.00 a dinner. Waaaaay less than that restaurant dish I like so much. SBean said that it was Girl Math and I agreed because, logic lol.
HBear LOVES dumplings or gyoza or wontons whatever version of dough filled deliciousness you want to call it. I thought she would enjoy this yummy Easy Wonton Soup and she totally did. All the greens and the broth with the wontons, it felt nourishing. Perfect for the New Year.
SBean is a bit harder to impress when it comes to food. She prefers potatoes, steak and poutine, not necessarily in that order but pretty much exclusively lol I’m only joking a bit!! But, she does like pineapple so I tried with this Cantonese Style Sweet & Sour Pork and… aside from the rice, it was a winner! It takes a little bit of extra work to make this dish but the pork was crispy, the sauce was EXACTLY like a my favourite dish in the food court of the mall lol and the veggies/pineapple was crunchy and so good!
I was looking around to see what we could cheers the Year of the Horse with and found this delicious Red Lantern Cocktail that was festive, yummy and we have those alcohols in our cabinet so I felt it was a sign that the Fire Horse was already lucky for me!
Lady Tan’s Circle of Friends by Lisa See Book where someone dies in the first chapter. Wow. I knew of foot binding from tales and from an Asian history class I took years ago but I had no idea what it actually meant. Split up into parts according to the 4 phases of a woman’s life, the first part is about Yunxian’s childhood. After her mother dies, she is sent to her grandparents to live and study with them. This book was eye opening on so many levels, for example the duties of a wife and concubine or how women were addressed or more accurately, not addressed. China in the 15th century did not treat women well. Women were treated as property and as beautiful objects. Learning a bit more about Confucianism was eye opening as well. I found the way they treated childbirth to be fascinating. Part 2 is when she becomes a wife and mother. The hierarchy within families is shown in this part as Yunxian must learn her way, by herself, in her husband’s household which is strictly run by her mother in law. After 14 years living with her husband’s family she has finally settled in. we can see as Part 3 begins. She is a mother, a wife, a best friend and a Dr. During this period of life. She goes on adventures, fulfills her duties, and really comes into her own during this time. The last part is when she becomes a mother in law and she realizes that she has cultivated a strong circle of female relationships that strengthen her and made her the woman that she is, even her MIL all I can say is worm 😳. She, like all the other Chinese women of this time, sacrificed themselves for beauty, duty, and ideological beliefs. She is the perfect example of the balance that is discussed throughout this book. While she has had this very little life, it has actually been very big and led her on a lifelong mission to help other/all women.
Chicken Cabbage Stir-Fry
4
servings10
minutes20
minutesIngredients
2 chicken breasts, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 bag cabbage coleslaw
1/2 jalapeño pepper, finely diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions
In a large skillet or wok, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the sliced chicken breasts, season with salt and pepper, and stir-fry until cooked through and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
In the same skillet, cook sliced onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeño, cook for 1 minute. Add slaw and bell pepper.
Pour in chicken stock, oyster sauce, and soy sauce. Stir well to coat vegetables evenly. Cook 5-7 minutes until cabbage is tender-crisp.
Return chicken to skillet, mix with vegetables and sauce. Cook 2-3 minutes more until heated through. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Kung Pao Beef
4
servings10
minutes15
minutesIngredients
1 lb flank steak thinly sliced into ¼-inch thick strips
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-2 tablespoons red chile flakes
1 onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 green onions, sliced
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
½ cup roasted peanuts
¼ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
Garnish: green onions sliced, fresh cilantro, chopped, roasted peanuts, chopped
Directions
Add the beef strips, salt and pepper, and cornstarch to a mixing bowl. Mix well and set aside.
Whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger in a small mixing bowl.
Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over a high heat. Add the dried chile flakes and cook for 10 to 20 seconds or until fragrant.
Add the onions and bell peppers and cook for 2 to 4 minutes.
Add the beef and stir fry until browned, 4 to 6 minutes.
Add the sauce, green onions, cilantro, and peanuts.
Cook, stirring, for 1 or 2 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Remove from the heat and serve immediately over hot cooked rice, garnish with more peanuts, green onions and/or cilantro.
Easy Wonton Soup
4
servings5
minutes20
minutesIngredients
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons ginger, grated
1 carrot, peeled and grated
1 small bok choy, chopped (white parts & leafy parts separated), divided
2 tablespoons green onion sliced (white and light green part separated from dark green part), divided
salt and pepper, to taste
4 cups chicken broth
1½ tablespoons soy sauce, plus more to taste
½ tablespoon rice vinegar
12 oz frozen mini wontons
3 oz baby spinach
Juice of half a small lime
Directions
Heat a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
Once hot, add the sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add the carrot, white part of the bok choy, white and light green parts of the green onion, sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 1-2 minutes.
Pour in the chicken broth, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Bring the broth to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and let the broth simmer for 15 minutes.
Uncover the soup and then increase the heat and bring to a boil. Add wontons to the broth and bring the soup back up to a boil.
Cook the wontons in the soup until they are tender, according to package directions.
Turn off the heat and stir in the bok choy leafy greens, baby spinach, remaining dark green part of the green onion, and lime juice. Taste and re-season if needed.
Cantonese Style Sweet and Sour Pork
4
servings35
minutes30
minutesIngredients
1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
1 bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
½ white onion, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 lb pork shoulder, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 onion, grated
2 tablespoons ginger
3 cloves garlic
1 cup potato starch, divided
4 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons oil
½ cup white vinegar
½ cup sugar
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon cold water
Directions
Cut 1 lb pork shoulder into 1-inch chunks and place it in a bowl. Add ginger, garlic, and onion to a food processor with soy sauce and blitz it into a smooth paste. Add the blended aromatics into the bowl with the pork and mix well.
Let it marinate for 1 hour.
Add half of the 1 cup potato starch over the meat and gently toss it until each piece has been coated with potato starch.
Let it rest for 5 minutes until the batter looks gummy and moist. Add the rest of the potato starch into a bowl or plate and dip each piece of pork into the potato starch one by one until each piece is well coated.
Add at least 1 inch of oil to a wok, set the heat to medium and add the meat in when the oil is hot, careful not to overcrowd the pan. (you may need to do it in 2 batches). Cook the meat for approximately 5 minutes until it is crispy and browned. Then re-fry all the pieces again for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Remove the crispy pork and let it drain on a rack and set aside.
In a clean pan, add in 2-3 tablespoons of oil, and set the stove to medium heat. Add in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes until the oil has turned dark reddish-orange colour.
Add in the white vinegar, water, sugar and soy sauce and mix well and let it cook for 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, dissolve the corn starch in cold water. Slowly pour it into the sauce but make sure you are constantly stirring until the sauce has thickened.
Once the sauce has thickened, add in the peppers, pineapples, and onions and cook it for 1-2 minutes.
Add in the crispy pork and coat each piece with the sweet and sour sauce, for no more than 30 seconds to 1 minute, once the meat has all been coated, turn off the heat. Serve over Cantonese noodles cooked according to package directions.
Red Lantern Cocktail
2
servings5
minutesIngredients
4 oz vodka
2 oz pomegranate juice
2 oz cranberry juice
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
Garnish: pomegranate seeds and a lime wheel
Directions
Fill shaker with ice.
Pour ingredients into shaker and shake well.
Fill highball glass half way with ice. Empty shaker into glass Garnish with pomegranate seeds and lime wheel/wedge.
Check out How Was Your Week, Honey? Episode #450 Legal Observations This week, we get together post-Grammy Awards, discuss an email from Dan Evans, first spring detail, Hallmark movies, Canadian “truths” about Mark Carney, and snow plow names! Plus Songs of the week and of course, the Grammy’s!
Thank you to Mostly Blogging and A Pinch of Joy for featuring my Top 5 & Winter Chicken Dishes at their Inspire Me Monday Link Party and Busy Monday Link Party last week.
Thank you to Marsha in the Middle for making me her featured blogger last week!
This was a grey week. Or ANOTHER grey week. We didn’t do much. The Kids started their 2nd semesters and HBear is living her best last semester of Grade 12 life lol doing all the grad things that 17 year olds do. I started my spring reading, I did the last of my yoga challenge month, red light therapy and got Ninja to try it too! The Kids also enjoyed date night with Grandma and Grandpa and saw Into the Woods.
14 thoughts on “Lunar New Year: The Year of The Horse”
The chicken cabbage stir fry looks delicious. I think I am going to try that one.
We are going to have to try so many of these; it’s only recently since my middle son came home from college over the summer and pushed us to try more Asian dishes like pot stickers, wonton soup, and Koren beef bowls that I’ve found the whole family tends to like them! So we’ve been trying to branch out more. These all sound really yummy.
Yay! My little Sis lived in South Korea and I went to visit her when I was 3 months pregnant with HBear, finding food I could keep down was tough lol. Thankfully my tastes have changed and we eat a lot of Asian food now. I hope you enjoy these dishes, we sure did!
A wonderful selection of recipes! I like making Asian style stir fries and I find that they are a delicious way to eat a lot of vegetables. One of our friends is hosting a Chinese New Year Party at her house this month that we are looking forward to.
That sounds like a great time! Asian food is always better when you have multiple dishes to choose from. Enjoy the party!
These recipes look so good! 😀
Lisa See is one of my favorite authors! <3 I really enjoyed Lady Tan's Circle of Women — I have a book club that's mostly comprised of women physicians so it was really fun to read this one together with them. She's coming out with a new book later on this year too! :]
That’s fantastic, I LOVED this book and will be looking for more Lisa See books in the future for sure. If you haven’t read it already, may I suggest The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese? It is long but I believe a book group of female doctors would LOVE it! Thanks for stopping by!
Lots of great recipes there. Hope you are feeling okay. Hubby still has a terrible cold which i think is actually bronchitis – off to the doctor today. Getting older is so much fun!
cheers
sherry
Haha SO much fun!! I hope your husband is on the road to recovery! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I love your recipes I’m a big fan of Chinese New Year. I’m looking forward to the New Year as I truly believe the last one has been unlucky for me. I just feel that this is going to be a good one. I also love your proverbs, we enjoy our fortune cookies from the Chinese restaurant. This year I will be in our Cities Chinatown for their New Year Celebrations. I’ll have to be careful because I bought a little too much last year. The book looks interesting too.
Thank you! I hope you had a fantastic Lunar New Year and enjoyed all the tastes of the holiday!
Hey Kristen I love cabbage and cook with it a lot. I always enjoy seeing what you’re up to.
Thanks bunches for sharing with Bookish Bliss Musings & More Quarterly Link Up.
We love cabbage too! I use a mixed bag in so many recipes but I remember my Mom and my Poppy before her slicing cabbage soooo thin and precise. Our local market has the most beautiful savoy cabbage that I like to take pictures of lol. Thanks for having me at your party, see you again soon!
Hi there, I log on to your new stuff daily.
Your story-telling style is witty, keep up the good work!