Menu: End of School Picnic

This past spring semester, I taught the Gifted and Talented Education program kids at our neighborhood elementary school: we spent 8 weeks on Mandarin Chinese and 8 weeks on Nutrition. At the end of each session we had a dinner party to celebrate, and last week’s event was a combination of the two sessions: together we cooked [...]

Menu: Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! If you’re tired of the traditional burgers and dogs, here’s a barbecue menu with a Chinese flair. All of these dishes can be substantially prepared in advance, leaving you to enjoy some time relaxing and eating!
the recipes:

cantonese barbecue sauce + your favorite protein: ribs, pork tenderloin, chicken, tofu, tempeh…
sweet & sour cucumbers
pickled [...]

Menu: Spring Stirfry Supper

Amaranth is back at the farmers’ market – certainly a sign of spring when the leafy greens start reappearing! And “Colleen the Tomato Lady” is back up to her elbows in gorgeous beefsteak tomatoes. I added those ingredients to the fact that I’m starting to clean out my pantry in preparation for our move and [...]

Menu: Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day! What better way to say, “I love you” than by preparing a homemade meal from scratch for your sweetheart? (And if you create it from local, organic, sustainably raised ingredients, you’re sending a love note to  Mother Earth as well!)
the recipes

 black pepper edamame
spicy cold noodles with sesame tahini
red beans and rice
chicken with [...]

Happy New Year – Gongxi facai!

The lunar New Year, still the biggest festival in China, will be celebrated on January 26 this year. All over China the trains, buses, and planes are packed as anyone who is able rushes to their ancestral home to be with family for this time. I remember the sound and smell of firecrackers lingering for days [...]

Menu: Happy New Year!

Planning a family New Year’s feast? Consider making Chinese food! Much of this menu can be made ahead, leaving you to enjoy the party, whether it’s tonight or on New Year’s Day. If you want to venture out on your own for menu planning, check out the Menu Planning Tips post, and remember to serve a fish [...]

Menu: Chinese Thanksgiving

It’s been a while since I posted a menu, and of course with Thanksgiving on everyone’s mind, where else would I go with this thought? So for anyone who is interested in veering far from the traditional turkey day path and still sticking with the usual ingredients….
the recipes:

black pepper edamame
spicy daikon & carrot salad
lotus leaf buns
chinese [...]

Menu: Election Day ‘08

Okay, if you haven’t voted, STOP reading this and GO VOTE! If you have voted, you may continue.
This year’s (okay, these past 2 years’!) election has obsessed me like no other past election has – I think there’s something about seeing our children growing and becoming more aware about their surroundings that causes parents to care more [...]

Early Fall Supper

Here’s a quick, homey supper, mostly featuring the items I’ve been finding at my local farmers’ market. I’m giving a vegetarian option (indicated by *) as well as one with meat.
recipes:

pork shreds with chinese broccoli or *chinese mustard greens with pressed beancurd 
sweet & sour cabbage
braised long beans (or green beans)
braised squash
basic steamed rice

strategy:

Soak the rice well in advance.
Marinate [...]

Menu: Late Summer Supper

If you’re planning a Labor Day barbecue, check out the menu for A Chinese Barbecue, but if you’re now in recovery mode, here’s a quick supper that uses some of the bounty of the farmer’s market as we shift from high to late summer crops: bok choy, squash, tomatoes, and eggplants. The heavier and saltier sauce [...]