HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Year of the Rat: Lunar Year 4706
Chinese New Year Offers Symbols of Wealth and Prosperity for 2008
According to a recent FORTUNE poll, the economy and financial worries rank as the No. 1 issue facing Americans today, with 87% of respondents saying it was "very" or "extremely" important to them. Mary Lee Chin, a registered dietitian and first generation Chinese-American is encouraging everyone to hedge their bets this Chinese New Year and indulge in the foods that symbolize wealth, health and prosperity. Hey...the recipes are healthy, and maybe even will deliver some financial luck.
It is The Year of the Rat. People born in Rat years will need to take care of their health this year especially those who smoke, do not have a good diet or lack in any exercise. Try these recipes that will deliver good wealth and good health: The more elaborate Lo Han Jai, or the simpler but still celebratory Shrimp Egg Foo Yung
The Chinese New Year of the Rat begins on February 7, 2008 and is celebrated for the next 15 days. More food is prepared and consumed during this holiday than any other time of the year, and much of the food has symbolic connotations.
FOOD and Health & Wealth
Lo Han Jai : On New Year's Day, the Chinese family will eat a vegetarian dish called jai. The various ingredients in jai are root or fibrous vegetables, and various superstitious aspects are attributed to them:- Ginkgo nut - represents silver ingots
- Black moss seaweed - is a homonym for "exceeding in wealth"
- Dried bean curd is another homonym for fulfillment of wealth and happiness
- Bamboo shoots - is a term which sounds like "wishing that everything would be well"
- The mixture of vegetables represents family harmony, as well as helping to achieve a well-balanced diet.
- Recipe for Lo Han Jia below
Eggs hold a special symbolic significance in many cultures, and China is no exception. Scarlet-colored eggs are exchanged to celebrate spring. Eggs symbolize fertility, as well as being a great source of low-fat protein, vitamin A and eye-protecting antioxidant lutein.
Shrimp in Mandarin, and "ha" in Cantonese sounds like someone laughing. Eat shrimp for happiness and well-being. Shrimp is low in fat and calories, and a source of minerals, iron, zinc and copper.
- Recipe for Mary Lee's mother's Shrimp Egg Foo Yung below
Tangerines are symbolic of good luck, and oranges are symbolic of wealth. These Chinese New Year symbols have developed through a language pun, the word for tangerine having the same sound as "luck" in Chinese, and the word for orange having the same sound as "wealth. Abundance and sweetness of the new year. And lucky are you to get a wealth of vitamin C and fiber from these citrus fruits.
Chicken represents prosperity, and is also a delicious and versatile source of low fat protein and iron. The chicken is served whole; including head and feet, as to chop these off would sever good fortune.
Whole fish: Chinese word for fish, yu, sounds like the word for riches or abundance, and it is believed that eating fish will help your wishes come true in the year to come. The fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and good ending for the coming year. And if you choose mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon, you will find rich sources of omega-3-fatty acids.
Recipes
Lo Han Jai
Also known as "Buddhist Vegetarian Stew," is traditionally served on the first day of the lunar Chinese New Year, to cleanse the body. Since ingredients for Lo Han Jai are not easily available in most food markets, this is a simplified version. Although the list of ingredients appear lengthy, once everything is gathered, the cooking is easy.
2 T. vegetable oil
8 Chinese black mushrooms, soaked in hot water for ten minutes, squeeze excess water, remove stems, leave whole - save soaking water
1/2 c. dried fungus (cloud ears), soak in warm water, cut into smaller pieces
1/2 c. sliced bamboo shoots
8 fresh Chinese water chestnuts, peeled, cut into quarters
1 whole carrot, peeled, cut to julienne strips
2 c. Napa cabbage, torn into small pieces
1 c. vegetarian or chicken broth
2 oz. bean thread - boil in water to cover for 5 minutes. Drain.
8 snow peas, remove strings, cut to thin slivers
2 c. fresh bean sprouts
2 T. soy sauce (low-sodium best)
1 T. cornstarch mixed well with 2 tsp. cold water
1 tsp. sesame oil
Heat wok until hot; add vegetable oil. Stir-fry mushrooms, fungus, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, carrot, cabbage; cook for 3-4 minutes over high heat. Add broth; cover and cook for 5 minutes over low heat. Add bean thread, snow peas, bean sprouts and soy sauce. Cover and simmer for two minutes. Stir in cornstarch mixture to form a light gravy, adjusting if necessary. Drizzle with sesame oil.
Note: Traditional Lo Han Jai ingredients might include: ginkgo nuts, lotus root, dried oysters, lily stems, seaweed hair, fried tofu, and dried bean curd sticks.
Shrimp Egg Foo Yung
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 pound raw shrimp, shelled, deveined and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/4pound diced ham
1/4 t salt
1/3 cup diced onion
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup frozen green peas
2 stalks green onion, minced
1/4 pound bean sprouts, rinsed
6 eggs, lightly beaten with 1/2 egg shell of water
Heat oil in large flat-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat for one minute. Stir-fry shrimp 1-2 minutes until pink. Remove from pan. Discard juices from pan.
Heat 1 teaspoon oil in same pan over medium-high heat for one minute. Stir-fry onion, celery and ham for one minute. Add shrimp, bamboo shoots and green onions to pan and combine. Spread mixture evenly over bottom of pan.
Add beaten eggs and cook over medium heat. Gently lift edges of eggs to allow uncooked portion to flow to bottom of pan. When almost set, divide into four quarters in pan. Flip each quarter over and cook one more minute until eggs are set. Serve with soy sauce.
Now, you're set for your Lunar New Year feast ... what a great way to kick off the year for the 2008 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival!