Happy Chinese New Year of the Ox / Bourbon Chicken

 

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year!

Friday is the start of the Year of the Ox.
Think of it as a second chance to make - and KEEP - New Year's resolutions!
The festivities last until the full moon rises, about two weeks from now.
Your behaviour on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the year.
No pressure.

There are many traditions observed over the New Year period:
    •    Decorate your house with apricot and peach blossoms,
                 symbols of new beginnings.
    •    For happiness and wealth eat persimmons.
    •    Do not cut your hair or use sharp knives or scissors on New Year’s Day
                 as you may cut off good fortune.
    •    Wear red to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune.
    •    Give red envelopes to friends and family for good luck and prosperity.


There are also food traditions and meanings:
Traditional dishes are steamed rice pudding, long noodles, and dumplings
Uncut noodles is a symbol of longevity
Fish and chicken are symbols of prosperity
Oranges and tangerines will give you luck, wealth, good health, and a long life

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.

Covid-19 has brought changes to our lives over the past year.
One of the simple pleasures of being a senior is going to a mall for a bit of mall walking, doing some shopping, maybe seeing a movie and enjoying a meal at the food court.
I believe that food courts are so much better than restaurants.
We don’t have to choose a particular type of food, but can enjoy Chinese and Italian food at the same time.
Does it get any better than that!

Our local mall has a Chinese outlet next to a Cajun one, and they seem to be operated by the same family, whose members could often be found cheerfully handing out samples of Bourbon Chicken in pre-Covid times.
It is actually a Cajun dish named after Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Whatever… it’s delicious and easy, so we can enjoy it, even during the pandemic.


Hints:

Don’t have boneless, skinless chicken breasts? This recipe also works with pork.

If you want more of a kick, add more bourbon.

If you want a thicker sauce, double the cornstarch water mixture.

This recipe makes enough for two, but it’s easy to increase if you're feeding the family.
Don’t worry about the kiddies - the alcohol burns off.
If you’re cooking for more than two people fry the chicken in batches and remove the fried pieces to a bowl. If the chicken is crowded it won't brown as nicely.
Return the browned chicken to the pan before adding the sauce.


                        Bourbon Chicken

Cut into 1-inch cubes
two chicken breasts (about 10 ounces)

Place in a small bowl
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon bourbon

Place in a large skillet
1 tablespoon canola oil
Heat and add the chicken.
Sauté until fully cooked and browned.
Add
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes.
Add the bourbon sauce to the chicken and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.

While the chicken is simmering, place in a small bowl
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
Stir together and slowly add the mixture to the sauce.
Stir frequently until it thickens, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Garnish with
sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired

Serve immediately with rice or pasta and vegetables.

                           ~~~
If you’d rather not cut the chicken, here’s an easy variation that feeds four.

                        Bourbon Chicken

Place in a large skillet
3 tablespoons oil
Sauté
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
Remove garlic and onion from skillet with a slotted spoon.
Add
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Brown on both sides.
Add
2 tablespoons chicken stock
2 tablespoons bourbon
salt and pepper to taste
the fried garlic and onion
Stir all together.
Cover and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes, until the chicken juices run clear.

Garnish with
sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired

Serve immediately with rice or pasta and vegetables.

Happy Chinese New Year / New Year Traditions & Fried Rice Recipes

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:

Carmela Soprano's Chicken with Parsley Crumbs 

Carmela Soprano's Chicken Paillards with Tomato-Olive Salad 

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 

Cook and stir 3 minutes. 

Stir in 

4 Cups chicken broth
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.

Anna Sultana’s Fish Chowder, Lent, and the Winter Circle

Wednesday was quite a busy day.

It was both Valentine’s Day and the first day of Lent.

As Valentine’s Day celebrates love, I think that even the Pope would understand the importance of celebrating properly with your nearest and dearest.

Let’s not forget that St. Paul is known to have said that the greatest virtue is love.

Surely he would've said that it would be a sin to ignore SAINT Valentine’s Day.

And then there was Chinese New Year on Friday.

As your behaviour on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the whole year it was important to set the right tone for the next 12 months.

Joy is better than gloom, especially when you’re going to affect how a whole year is going to be.

So, of course, it was your duty to celebrate that day.

But now we’re looking at Lent.

Oh, well, that can include delicious food, too.

This post has recipes for Traditional Maltese food for Lent and Easter.

Lent is about penance, not self abuse.

Hints:

As soup is always best the second day, why not double the recipe?

You can have a second meal set for another day.

This soup works best with fish that has a bit of heft, such as cod, salmon or haddock.

If you’re using a fish that has bones and you're worried about the bones, you can remove the fish after it’s been cooked and pass through a sieve or whirr in a blender.

The bones in canned fish are safe to eat and don't have to be removed.

Perfect for when you're in a rush.

And who isn't?

To vary the flavour, you can chop 2 or 3 slices of bacon, and fry them instead of melting the butter.

Or you can fry the bacon pieces in the butter.

If you want the soup to have a even more richness, you can use 2 Cups cream instead of milk, or 1 Cup each of the milk and cream.

If you’d like a few other fish soup recipes, you could try

Anna Sultana's Aljotta - Fish Soup, Maltese Style

Anna Sultana's Aljotta - Fish Soup #2, Maltese Style

                        Fish Chowder 

Serves 6

Finely chop

1 onion

3 potatoes 

1 carrot

1 stalk celery

In a dutch oven melt

2 Tablespoons butter

Add

the finely chopped vegetables

Cook over a low heat, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

Add

2 Cups water

Cover and simmer until the vegetables are almost done, about 15 minutes.

Clean and cut into pieces

1 pound fish

Stir in

2 Cups milk

the prepared fish

1 Cup corn

Simmer until the fish is done. 

This could take 5 to 10 minutes, depending upon the texture of the fish.

The fish should flake and be opaque.

Add, according to your taste, about

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Serve hot with crackers or toast.

Bruschetta would also go nicely with this soup.

It toasts just as well if you use the broiler.

About the sky, thanks to the folks at The Farmers' Almanac…

February 22  - The waxing gibbous Moon will be in the constellation Taurus the Bull. The “eye” of the Bull, the star Aldebaran, will be to the right of the Moon. Orion will be right below them.

February 23 - First Quarter Moon, 3:09 a.m. In this phase, the Moon looks like a half-Moon in the sky. One-half of the Moon is illuminated by direct sunlight while the illuminated part is increasing, on its way to full.

February 24 - Look for the large waxing gibbous Moon inside the “Winter Circle,” a very large asterism that we sometimes call the Winter Hexagon.  

February 26 - the waxing gibbous moon will be located in front of Gemini, the Twins, Pollux and Castor.

February 27 - the Moon is at perigee, 9:47 a.m., its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

There’s no full Moon listed in this month’s post - normally, you’d see February’s full Snow Moon. To make up for it, we’ll have another double-Moon month in March!

Anna Sultana’s Chicken Noodle Soup and Broth / Happy Valentine’s Day and Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Well, we in Manitoba are still soldiering through a very cold February and facing at least another month or two of winter.

Happy Valentine’s Day and Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Valentine’s Day is on Wednesday.

That should bring a bit of warmth to everyone’s life.

This post has links for Romantic Dinners for Two, as well as the recipe for Anna Sultana's Lava Cakes.

About the Kung Hei Fat Choy…

Friday is the start of Chinese New Year - the Year of the Dog.

It has a few weeks' worth of traditions to ensure you’ll have a great year. 

Remember… your behaviour on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the year.

No pressure.

It’s nice to celebrate, but that’s going to take a bit of change, and everyone wants to eat today, tomorrow and the day after.

Time to make a big pot of soup.

Chicken soup is comfort food… economical comfort food.

I mean, who hasn’t felt loved and comforted while enjoying a bowl of this old favourite.

And if someone has the sniffles, it’s a miracle cure for what ails you.

Hints:

Use whatever smallish pasta you have on hand.

Stars are nice, if you have them.

Broken spaghetti will remind the kiddies of the boxed mix.

Sometimes kids get into a mood and just want something they’ve had before.

You can also use 3/4 Cup rice.

Stir in, cover, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is soft.

Want to make Ma’s chicken broth? 

It’s easy, just takes a bit of time, and won’t work if you’re in a rush to serve a pot of soup today.

Rinse

1 stewing hen

Set aside the liver and the heart.

Chop into roughly the same spoon-sized chunks

1 large carrot

1 onion

1 celery stalk

2 potatoes

In a large pot place

the cleaned hen

the chopped vegetables

Add

8 Cups water

1 bouillon cube

the hen's liver and heart

Simmer until the hen is cooked, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.

Remove the hen from the broth.

Remove the skin, bone the chicken and cut the meat into pieces.

Strain out the vegetables and discard.

Oh, the liver and the heart are optional.

Also sometimes they just aren’t packed with the hen. 

Don’t confront the store clerk and ask what he did with them.

Take my word for it. Please.

                        Chicken Soup 

Serves 8

Cut up

4 boneless raw chicken breasts

Set aside.

Place in a large pot

1 Cup carrots, chopped

1 Cup celery, chopped

the cut up chicken breasts

Add

4 Cups chicken broth

2 Cups water

Over medium high heat bring the liquid to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in

1 Cup pasta

Simmer, stirring often, until the pasta is cooked, about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of the pasta.

Serve hot.

Happy Year of the Rooster, 2017 / Chinese New Year Traditions

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year - the Year of the Rooster, the Fire Rooster, to be exact.

The Rooster brings surprises in both adventures and romance.

The festivities will end with  the Lantern Festival, which happens two weeks from now on the 15th day of the first month.

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.

Homes are cleaned before the beginning of the new year.

So 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.

Firecrackers are set off on New Year's Eve to welcome in the New Year.

Flowers are an important part of New Year decorations. 

Red is a key colour, as it symbolizes a bright and happy future.

Homes are usually decorated with special red and gold banners, to represent happiness and prosperity.

There are many different traditions observed over the New Year period:

 • Decorate your house with apricot and peach blossoms, 

                 symbols of new beginnings

 • Share a New Year’s feast: enjoy uncut noodles, symbol of longevity, 

                 and fish and chicken, symbols of prosperity

 • Traditional dishes are steamed rice pudding, long noodles, and dumplings

 • For luck, wealth, good health, and a long life eat oranges and tangerines

 • For happiness and wealth eat persimmons

 • Do not cut your hair or use sharp knives or scissors on New Year’s Day 

                 as you may cut off good fortune

 • Wear red to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune

 • Give red envelopes to friends and family for good luck and prosperity

About food...

 • Many people avoid meat on the first day to bring good luck in the New Year. 

 • Day seven is the birthday of human beings, and long noodles (for longevity) 

                 and raw fish (for success) are eaten. 

 • 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 on the 15th night
                 and eating some leftovers. 

Your behaviour on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the year.

No pressure.

Just so you know… the Year of the Rooster is

 • the Best Year for: Dragons
 • an Amazing Year for: Rooster, Ox, Snake
 • a Good Year for: Tigers, Rats
 • a Mixed Year for: Pigs, Goats, Monkeys
 • a Difficult Year for: Dogs, Rabbits, Horses

Sometimes the year of the Rooster is called the year of the Phoenix or the year of the Chicken. Two recipes that might suit the chicken theme, Italian style:

Carmela Soprano's Chicken with Parsley Crumbs 

Carmela Soprano's Chicken Paillards with Tomato-Olive Salad 

About the ‘do not use sharp knives on New Year’s Day’ rule…

Maybe you should pick up some chicken parts.

Better to be safe.

Traditional Maltese food for Lent and Easter - Links for Anna Sultana's recipes

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Yesterday was the start of Chinese New Year.

It has a few weeks' worth of traditions to ensure you’ll have a great year. 

Remember… your behaviour on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the year.

No pressure.

Speaking of traditions for starting a new year…

Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.

Forty days during which we’re supposed to basically make a few new year’s resolutions and actually do them - at least for forty days. 

The Catholic Church has a few ‘suggestions’ to get the ball rolling.

As with most religions, the hints affect what Catholics eat.

Basically it’s cutting back in general, and no meat on Friday.

  

In Malta fish such as lampuki, whitebait and salted cod were eaten during Lent.

Also stewed snails (bebbux), stuffed artichokes (qaqoċċ mimli) and fritters (zeppoli).

During the Holy Week bakers also bake apostles' bagel, a large round loaf with almonds on top (qagħqa tal-appostli). 

There are also seasonal variations to certain dishes, for example, adding fresh broad beans to kusksu (a vegetable and pasta dish).

The recipes are delicious, any time of the year.

Maltese are into self improvement, not self abuse.

Here are a few more of Ma’s Lenten dishes:

Lampuki and Qara' baghli biz-zalza pikkanti - Fish and Marrows with Piquant Sauce

Torta tal-Lampuki - Fish and Vegetable Pie

Baked Stuffed Lampuki - Baked Fish

Fried Lampuki - Fried Fish

Easy Fish Cakes

Baccala alla Marinara - Baked Salt Cod

Bebbux bl-Arjoli  - Snails with Arjoli Sauce

Bebbux bl-Arjoli - Land Snails or Seafood with Hot Arjoli Sauce

Froga tat-Tarja - Spaghetti Omelette

Spaghetti Pie and Pasta with Butter and Ricotta

Soups

Qaqocc Mimli - Stuffed Artichokes

Qaqocc Mimli - Stuffed Artichokes  II

Zeppoli ta' san Guzepp - Fried choux pastry with sweet ricotta filling and honey coating

Kwareżimal - Almond Biscotti

Torta tal-Ħaxu / Torta ta' l-Irkotta - Easy Maltese Ricotta Pie

Qassatat ta I-Irkotta - Small Ricotta Pies

Qassatat tal-Pizelli - Small Pies with Peas

Lemon Ricotta Cake

Figolli - Traditional Maltese Easter Sweet with Royal Icing and Almond Filling (with and without eggs)

Karamelli (Julep sweets)
Pastizzi tal-Inċova (Anchovy cakes)
Qassatat tal-ħelu (sweet biscuits) 

Carmela Soprano's Chicken with Parsley Crumbs / Chinese New Year Traditions

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

Happy Chinese New Year - the Year of the Snake!

The festivities last until the full moon rises, about 2 weeks from now.

Plenty of time to party hearty!!

There are many different traditions observed over the New Year period:

• Decorate your house with apricot and peach blossoms, 

                 symbols of new beginnings.

• Share a New Year’s feast: enjoy uncut noodles, symbol of longevity, 

                 and fish and chicken, symbols of prosperity.

• For good health and a long life eat oranges and tangerines

• For happiness and wealth eat persimmons.

• Do not cut your hair or use sharp knives or scissors on New Year’s Day 

                 as you may cut off good fortune.

• Wear red to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune.

• Give red envelopes to friends and family for good luck and prosperity.

Your behaviour on New Year’s Day sets the tone for the year.

No pressure.

Time to visit our favorite shrink, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, M.D., M.A., M.F.T.

Jennifer's chapter Rage, Guilt, Loneliness, and Food in Artie's The Sopranos Family Cookbook has an intro from her research paper.  

It covers Guilty Eaters, Angry Eaters and Single Eaters.

For the most part, not a cheery read for holidays.

Well, there was this:

Food is hope, a reminder of what might still come in life if you stay close to your roots.

Well, every little bit helps.

About the do not use sharp knives on New Year’s Day…

Maybe you should pick up some chicken parts.

Better to be safe.

                        Chicken with Parsley Crumbs

Serves 4

         

preheat oven to 450º 

In a large baking pan place skin side up

3 pounds cut up chicken  

Sprinkle with

salt and pepper to taste

Bake for 30 minutes.

WHILE THE CHICKEN IS BAKING

Combine in a small bowl

1/3 Cup plain bread crumbs

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (1 Tablespoon dried)

1 large garlic clove, very finely chopped

1 Tablespoon olive oil 

salt and pepper to taste

Remove the chicken from the oven.

Brush with

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

Sprinkle with the crumb mixture.

Pat the crumbs down so they'll stick to the mustard.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear.

Serve hot or cold.

Would I make Chicken with Parsley Crumbs again?

Sure.

For Chinese New Year's I'd serve it hot with spaghetti.

Uncut noodles, symbol of longevity… √

Chicken, symbol of prosperity… √

Oranges for good health and a long life...

Carmela Soprano's Orange and Fennel Salad… perfect!

One recipe down.  Forty-three more to go.