Kung Hei Fat Choy!
On Friday the new moon with usher in the Year of the Rat, the Yang Metal Rat, to be exact.
The festivities start with the new moon and last until the full moon rises.
That’s plenty of time to party hearty!!
A New Year always means a new beginning.
To celebrate properly one should have paid off all debts, purchased new clothes, painted the front door, and gotten a new haircut.
Maybe trying a new recipe counts, too.
There are many different food traditions observed over the New Year period:
Traditional dishes are steamed rice pudding, long noodles, and dumplings
Uncut noodles is a symbol of longevity
Fish and chicken are symbols of prosperity
Eat oranges and tangerines for luck, wealth, good health, and a long life
For happiness and wealth, eat persimmons
Two other posts that have more Chinese New Year customs:
Homes are cleaned before the beginning of the new year, so do try to give the place a quick once over.
And put away all cleaning equipment before New Year's Eve because good fortune may be swept away if you are tempted to clean on New Year's Day.
Don't use sharp knives or scissors on New Year’s Day as you may cut off good fortune.
Your behaviour on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the year.
No pressure.
Many people avoid meat on the first day to bring good luck in the New Year.
Day seven is the birthday of human beings. Long noodles (for longevity) and raw fish (for success) are traditionally eaten on that day.
On the 13th day, people eat rice congee and mustard greens to settle their stomachs.
The 14th day is spent getting ready for the Lantern Festival and eating leftovers.
The first Fried Rice recipe would be perfect for Day 14, or any day when you have leftover bits of a roast, or have cooked too much rice.
Waste not, want not.
Hints:
You could also add sliced mushrooms and/or celery with the peas and carrots.
Both recipes can also be prepared with half chicken and half shrimp or all shrimp.
About recipe #1… Have some leftover turkey, beef or pork? That would be good, too.
About recipe #2… You can prepare it with more or less garlic powder or ground ginger.
You can also use 1 cup frozen carrots, or 2 cups peas and carrots.
Fried Rice, using leftovers
Finely chop
1 small onion
Have on hand
8 to 12 ounces cooked peas and carrots, or thawed
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 Cups cooked white rice
about a pound of cooked chicken, cut in bite-sized pieces (see hints)
In a small bowl beat
3 eggs
Place in a large skillet
2 Tablespoons oil
Heat the oil over medium high heat.
Add
The beaten eggs and stir fry until cooked.
Remove the eggs from the skillet and set them aside.
Place in the same skillet
2 Tablespoons oil
Add
the chopped onion
the peas and carrots
the minced garlic
Stir fry until the onion is tender.
Lower the heat to and add
the 3 Cups cooked rice
1/8 - 1/4 Cup soy sauce
The cooked chicken
Blend all together well and stir fry until thoroughly heated, about 5 minutes.
Add the eggs back to the skillet and stir to combine.
Remove from heat.
Top with chopped green onion (optional) and serve.
Easy Fried Rice, without leftovers
Cut into bite-sized pieces
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about a pound
Finely chop
1 onion
You want to have 1 Cup of chopped onion.
Thinly slice
carrots
You want to have 1 Cup of sliced carrots.
Place in a large skillet
1 Tablespoon oil
Heat on high heat.
Add
the cut up chicken
Stirring constantly, cook 8 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
Add
1 Cup frozen peas
1 Cup finely chopped onion
1 Cup sliced carrots
1 Cup finely chopped onion
1 Cup sliced carrots
Cook and stir 3 minutes.
Stir in
4 Cups chicken broth
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 Cups white rice, uncooked
Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 20 to 30 minutes, until the rice is tender.
Remove from heat, stir and serve.
Good use of leftovers Cheers
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol!
DeleteAnd a recipe to have on hand for Chinese New Year.
Kung Hei Fat Choy!