Gong hei fat choi!

I am very fortunate to have married into a very wonderful and generous family. They have taught me much about the value of sharing time and many wonderful meals in the company of those you love. From my father in law comes a wealth of wonderful traditions from his Chinese heritage.

Every year we come together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. As any good celebration, this one culminates with a feast shared with the extended family. The New Year is a celebration of good fortune and prosperity which is reflected in the dishes served. There are usually long noodles which represent long life. There are dishes with elements that bring to mind wealth or prosperity sometimes just because of their name or appearance.

This year we had Cantonese Chow Mein , Shrimp stuffed Tofu, Braised pork shoulder with dried oyster,mushroom and fat choi, duck with Chinese yams, chicken, white rice and tea steeped eggs. We also had sweet and sour pork to appease the white people at the table. Those white folk love their red sauces ;)

The children and unmarried people are given a red pocket of lucky money and everyone goes home with a clementine.

More important than all the food and decorations is undoubtedly a leisurely meal spent enjoying the company of family who wish each other a healthy, happy and prosperous new year.

Out with the old

Farewell to 2008! The Christmas decorations are (mostly) put away. The tree has been tossed to the curb. A new year begins. What it will bring we do not know. New resolutions to change old behaviors are always a given. Cheers to 2008! It was a year with many happy moments but not without the loss of some family friends. I remember them fondly and hope the coming year brings healing to their families. I resolve to treasure the moments I spend this year with everyone I love. Life is a precious gift.

Happy 2009! May it bring health and happiness and the grace to deal with the challenges that each year brings. Happy New Year to all!

Swimming in Chocolate-Part 2

So...I get a call from my SIL the other night. After several minutes of small talk she mentions that they might stop by for a visit. Then, ever so casually, she asks if the ice cream sandwiches are ready. "Not yet," I say "Maybe tomorrow." "Maybe we will stop by tomorrow instead," she says.

I make these sandwiches every year using my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. I add some crushed candy canes to the dough and freeze the cookies after baking. I fill each sandwich with candy cane ice cream and then I pour melted chocolate on top. I set the sandwiches on cookie sheets and put them in the freezer until the chocolate sets. I then wrap them into individual bundles and wait for the visitors to drop by.

Swimming in Chocolate

I love to play with chocolate. This year I started with chocolate truffles. They are a great treat for teachers and are wonderful hostess gifts. I use a recipe taken from my favorite cooking magazine Fine Cooking. You can customize the delicious ganache filling with any number of flavours. I like to do two different selections. This time I made one with Amaretto liqueur and the other with Grand Marnier and a mix of candied ginger and orange peel.

A Walk in the woods

Today I took a walk in the woods. Alone with my thoughts in the quiet of the forest, I saw splashes of red and green across the often bleak tapestry of winter.





I was reminded that the forest is never completely asleep. The birds keep their lonely vigil in all manner of weather and the streams keep flowing despite obstacles of ice and snow.

Welcome Winter

Winter has arrived in Nova Scotia. Its a little earlier than most of us expected. There were alot of problems on the road last night. Many people were stranded on the highway overnight after a number of vehicles became unable to climb hills and other cars lost control causing the roads to be blocked off.

I was fortunate to have been in a very peaceful setting for the arrival of Old Man Winter. I was practicing Yoga in a room of like minded people. The lights were off and the candles were lit. We watched serenely as the snow drifted by and the trees became laden with snow. OHHHHMMMM......

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