Comments on: Spring Festival – Our Celebration

By: klem

klem — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:06:06 +0000

RQ: I think a lot of families have pork, fish and duck (or chicken)–which is a lot of meat. This year we are responsible for bringing the duck to someone’s house for CNY.

By: to be mama to 3

to be mama to 3 — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:21:50 +0000

Sounds like an amazing celebration at your house! I don’t suppose you’d part with your recipes? I’m a vegetarian too…

Thanks!

By: RumorQueen

RumorQueen — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 14:12:33 +0000

The master schedule just shows what time each item’s preparation should begin, and for some items gives times that steps for an item should be complete so the next step can start. Someone has to keep an eye on the big picture and try to have completion of the various foods finished about the same time. I’m the host, so that’s me.

I should also say that two years ago I didn’t have the time, the nerves, or the energy to put it all together. We did a very simplified version of it that year, with various family members bringing a dish (some made themselves, some picked up at a restaurant). And the dishes we were responsible for were bought frozen at the Asian Market and then placed into the steamer for very simple preparation. If you can’t put it together without over stressing yourself then simplify it. Seriously, holidays are supposed to be fun, if they aren’t, make changes until they are.

We do use our small rice cooker probably once a week. It’s the big one that only gets used once a year.

As for traditional foods, that would be the jiaozi, though they are eaten on New Year’s Eve in China. Noodles seem to be pretty traditional, too. And fruit to end it. The main thing is that you want to start the year off with prosperity, so a huge spread is what you’re going for. I’ve seen some families say they have to have one of every kind of meat (so, pig and chicken and fish and I don’t know what else, since we don’t do meat).

We also have two birthdays in January and February, and sometimes CNY hits at the same time as a birthday, which can complicate things. We’ve always figured it out, though.

By: klem

klem — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:20:55 +0000

Katri: We celebrate Chanukah, Christmas, DD’s b-day (today) and DH’s b-day (next week). It is tough this year because CNY is so early, but we would never dream of not doing CNY. Would our DD be OK if we didn’t celebrate it? I don’t know. One thing we have learned from adult Korean adoptees is that many of them resented not learning about Korean culture. Plus we have really come to love this holiday.

By: Ellesmom

Ellesmom — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:50:12 +0000

Wow you’re organized! Would LOVE to take a peak at your master lists:) Also, would love some great recipes. Do you share?! Also, are there foods that are traditional for Spring Festival or is any type of Chinese food ok?

By: portlandval

portlandval — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:21:26 +0000

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your last two posts RQ. We have celebrated the last 3 spring festivals by going downtown for the events by the large Asian organizations in our community. We dress up in our clothes we bought in China and do the games, eat the food etc. I think having a family gathering is a great idea. A fond memory I have from the past is when I was 8 years old and Mrs. Wong, my fourth grade teacher gave all of her students lucky money in red envelopes and served us oranges. You do not forget the fun traditions. How wise of you to start this for your kids.

By: Katri

Katri — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:41:34 +0000

WOW! I am impressed. But I admit it, I’ll never be able to pull off Christmas and 2 sons birthdays in January & February AND CNY…Will I be okay to raise my daughter with American traditions? Yes, I think it will, but i aplaude those who can do it all.

By: skye06

skye06 — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:56:18 +0000

Agreed, Tresordasie! Thinking that RQ is in constant motion until she drops off to sleep at night.
Samba, was looking at rice cookers just yesterday. Thank you for listing all the other uses! There were a few different sizes so is it better to get a bigger one or a smaller one?

By: Tresordasie

Tresordasie — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:09:33 +0000

Oh, my goodness. It always amazes me how much you get done, RQ. I thought I was organized and able to accomplish quite a bit, but you take the cake! And you seem to accomplish everything so perfectly. Are you sure you’re real? Have you pinched yourself lately?

Thanks for all the great info and advice; it is truly appreciated. You’re an inspiration and a reference to boot!

By: samba2nite

samba2nite — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:32:15 +0000

Oh my…rice cookers are one of the handiest kitchen items around and are great for much more than just cooking rice.

The larger ones are great for steaming all kids of veggies (broccoli, potatoes, hard squashes, artichokes and such). It is also great for cooking grains, steel cut oatmeal and soups. One on my favorite uses is for making quick and fast polenta and steaming eggs in their shells which come out like poached.

I would be lost without my rice cookers both large and small. They get used several times a week.

So dust off your rice cookers and give these kitchen work horses a try…

samba in sac
http://www.talesfromthebigtomato.blogspot.com