Well, it is offical. The Chinese New Year has begun & it is indeed the year of the Rat! I have always been extremely interested & fond of the Chinese New Year celebrations & festivities, so today I'm sharing a few tidbits about this holiday & some gorgeous colorful photos I have found to ring in the New Year from the Amore Crush Daily. Congratulations if you happen to have been born in the year of the Rat. Looks to be a great year for you (especially if you are a job seeker). However, if you are a Rooster?? Well, you might be facing some bumpy times ahead... but, hey let's not talk about that just now. ;)
Oooo How I would love to be in San Francisco's China Town for the Chinese New Year parade. I have greatly enjoyed China Town on every fair visit into the phenomenal city & have often daydreamed about the ringing in of the New Year. Until I am actually able to witness it in person...I can share a few pix from vividobservation.com
I am especially intrigued by the Chinese Lantern Festivals. The Lantern Festival marks the last day of the Chinese New Year season. Traditionally, the Lantern Festival is a day for lovers. In the past, it was the one day of the year when a woman could come out - chaperoned, of course! - and be seen by eligible single men. I could only imagine these women would have worn such beautiful Empress style dresses inspired by the Qing Dynasty. Such as the following which are adorned with dragons & the phoenix. (wall hanging available at chinasprout.com)
The traditional food for the Lantern Festival is Yuanxiao dumplings, named after the lonely palace maid of long ago. (Some versions of the story have her preparing stuffed dumplings for the God of Fire, as this was one of his favorite foods). Yuanxiao are made with sticky rice flour. They can be sweet or savory; filled with everything from sugar, walnuts, and dried tangerine peel to meat and vegetables.
So, if you're feeling festive! Try the following recipe for Yuanxiao Dumplings .... chinesefood.about.com. (btw there you will find many more stellar recipes to add to your New Year celebration)
INGREDIENTS:
4 1/2 cups (500 g) sticky rice flour
7oz. (200 g) butter
7 oz (200 g) black sesame powder
8 oz (250 g) sugar
1 tsp wine
Water, as needed
PREPARATION:
Mix the butter with sesame powder, sugar, and wine. (You need to heat the mixture a little bit). Make small balls about 0.3 - 0.4 oz (10 g) each.
Take 1/2 cup of sticky rice flour. Add water into the flour and make a flattened dough.
Cook it in boiled water and take out when done. Let it cool down. Then put it in the rest of the sticky rice flour. Add water and knead until the dough is smooth.
Make the dough into small pieces about 0.3 - 0.4 oz (10 g) each. Make it like a ball using hands first and then make a hole in the ball like a snail. Put the sesame ball into it and close it up. Cook them in boiled water. Make sure to keep stirring in one direction while cooking. When they float on the water, continue to boil for about one minute using less heat.
And because you'll certainly want to outfit yourself (or your pad) in some fabulous festival fabrics! Check out the Peony Flower Fabric entitled "Big Flower" by Xiao Fu from chinasprout.com
And what would a holiday truly be without the appropriate music?? Check out Kung Hei Ni-Cantonese. It is the best selling Album of all time for Chinese New Year (& I am completely smitten with the cute album cover art) Also available at chinasprout.com
These Unique Modern Asian Paper Plates of blossom & Calligraphy are designed to liven up any celebration but would be exceptionally beautiful plated with the
Yuanxiao dumplings ;) chinasprout.com
However you choose to celebrate, wherever you may be.
Have a beautiful New Year and
CRUSH on...
xo
Parachute Girl
