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A Chinese Theme Dinner
By Brenda Hyde
Chinese New Year is traditionally celebrated with fireworks, music
and dancing dragons made out of paper mache and other materials.
It's a time for celebrations and for family in Chinese households. We
may not understand all the Chinese traditions and the rich history but
we can make an attempt to learn more about this culture by having
a theme night! Assign each person in the family an area of Chinese
culture to learn about and research at the library. Before dinner
exchange what everyone learned. The following recipes are very easy
and can be served with purchased egg rolls.
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
Ingredients:
3/4 pound boneless pork, cut into 1/2 inch strips
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 tablespoons oil
6 cups chicken stock
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms
1 can bamboo shoots (8 ounces)
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tsp. white pepper, or to taste
3 tablespoon vinegar
16 ounces tofu
2 eggs beaten
1 tsp. sesame oil
4 green onions, sliced
Mix pork with salt and cornstarch. Heat oil in wok to
375 degrees and stir fry pork until color changes. Bring
stock to a boil in a stockpot. Add mushrooms, pork
and bamboo shoots.Stir constantly.Add soy sauce,
pepper, vinegar and tofu. Return to a boil. Turn off
heat and add beaten eggs. Stir quickly for 30
seconds. Add sesame oil. Remove and garnish with
green onions. Serves 6.
Sweet and Sour Shrimp
Ingredients:
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 20 ounce can chunk pineapple, drained, reserve juice
3/4 cup cold water
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/8 tsp. ground ginger
8 ounce can water chestnuts, drained
1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks
In a large skillet or wok, combine reserved pineapple
juice, water, lemon juice, sugar, cornstarch, soy
sauce and ginger. Over medium heat, cook and stir
until thick and clear. Add shrimp and cook 3 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients; heat through. Serve with
cooked rice or chinese noodles. 4 servings.
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer living on ten acres in rural Michigan with her husband and three kids. Stop by and visit her garden blog, Garden of Grace & Whimsy, and her photography blog, A Dance of Words & Photos.
SeptemberLady "Born and have lived in Southern MD most of my life. My husband and I just finished building a new home on the family farm, where I hope to retire in the near future.
My interests: Doll collecting, cookbook collector (especially old ones), antiques, family/friend get-togethers, cooking/baking, flower and vegetable gardening, bird-watching."
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling Memorial Day signals the start of barbecue season. Everyone wants to light that fire and charcoal that first meal. A few tips might pre- vent your entree from becoming a "Burnt Offering."
Read these tips for plenty of grilling ideas, make this year's barbecue perfect!
Growing and Using Garlic Chives Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum, is a hardy perennial (Zones 3-9) that will grow to about 12 inches high. The stems are skinnier and flat, instead of hollow as are regular chives, with greenish white blooms that are about an inch wide and not as rounded. They bloom in the summer rather than spring. The bloom stalks grow much taller than the leaves, sometimes up to 30 inches.
The stems and blooms are both edible and have a mild garlic onion taste. I've noticed many writers will list this as primarily as an Asian herb, as they are also known as Chinese chives, Chinese leeks, ku chai (China) or Nira (Japan), but it has many other uses as well!
The Perfect Porch Swing Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.
Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet.
Memorial Day: Backyard Grilling
Growing and Using Garlic Chives
The Perfect Porch Swing