Lunar New Year

During the moving process we tired our hardest to keep making yummy meals. At times we had to resort to the evils of fast food. While this wasn’t the healthiest of choices it did save our hides more than once.

Even though our time was being consumed with packing and moving we did make time to celebrate a new holiday. I was so excited in February to celebrate our first Lunar New Year. This was the first year that Mario and I had actually paid attention and took the time to learn about the food traditions and cultures surrounded around this very special holiday.

(A photo from our parade)

I was super stoked to be celebrating it both in my home life and my work life. I work at a special education school that focuses on complex emotional and developmental disabilities. The Lunar New Year allowed me to organize a celebration and parade around this cultural holiday. The students and staff both seemed to love it. After the parade we had a snack table that was complete with oranges, tea, and cookies.

That night before our big celebration at work Mario and I had our own feast. As I was preparing cookies for the students I was also preparing a low fat lunar feast. I felt as if I had on a very small scale transformed into a person who was excited and filled with the culture of the New Year. My thoughts of year of good prosperity, good fortune, and good healthy in my little family filled the kitchen. It was important to us that everything we ate during this feast had meaning and understanding

Our meal consisted of dumplings for wealth , egg drop soup for fertility, and long life noodles for well a long life in the new year. So it may be late but from we wish everyone a great and healthy New Year!

Happy New Year!

We may be six days behind but better late then never! Here's wishing that 2009 is truley a year of change and new beginings!

Now, lets talk food! For New Years this year (like many years before) we brought back our tradition of fondue. We are not a couple who tends to go out and get crazy on New Years Eve. Our New Years style tends to be grabbing a couple drinks and sitting down to a pot of molten cheese and some tasty broth! This year we were lucky to have our friend Liz over to share the experience.

Our first course was steamed broccoli and oven baked potatoes dipped in a mix of Gruyere and Swiss Cheese combined with toasted almond yummy goodness! The second course was a bit more involved and extravagant. This round of fondue consisted of a vegetable broth that was cooked for about three hours. We also had out table top Japanese grill available for some grilling pleasure. We had an array of meats to choose from we had pork, buffalo, shrimp, rib eye, chicken, and a little lobster in the middle. I'd say half the dips we made up and the other half came from various cookbooks.

Once we cooked our meat of choice in the method of choice THEN there was a choice of dip. Our fondue set has five bowls so we made five dips. Each dip had a different flavor. We had a curry yogurt dip, Asian style, Homemade BBQ sauce, Roasted garlic aioli, and a Cajun swamp sauce.

Unfortunately, we did not make it to the chocolate course. By the time we were done with the first two rounds of food we were full and it was midnight. Even though we didn't get this course the night consisted of good people, good eats and full tummies. What better way to bring in a new year?

The Secret of The Spinach Dip Queen

Here's hoping that everyone had a sane and joyful holiday! We sure did. This year's Christmas for us seemed to fly by. We were lucky enough to spend the holiday with both sides of our family on Christmas Eve.

It's funny because the holidays bring out a lot of love and warm feelings, but it also means a lot of food and traditions. This year I decided that it was time that I give out my beloved spinach dip recipe. In my family whenever there is a holiday or event I am always asked to bring a spinach dip, thus dubbing me "The Spinach Dip Queen". But I have a small confession to make, my recipe comes off the back of a Knorr Vegetable soup mix *gasp* I know, my secret is now out, I sure hope I don't lose my title.

I believe that it is not always the recipe that makes it the best of something but more about the love and thought put into it. Therefore, I have no shame in sharing my spinach dip secret.So without further adieu The Spinach Dip Queen's version of Knorr Spinach Dip:
Ingredients:

1 (16 ounce) container low fat sour cream

1 cup low fat Best Foods Mayo

1 (8 ounce) package vegetable soup mix

1 (10 ounce) package chopped baby spinach, thawed and squeezed dry. Then I re-cut the spinach again to insure that it is cut nice and small.

1 (8 ounce) can of water chestnuts, drained and cut very small, almost minced (I tend to use more like 6-7 ounces. I rarely use the entire can of chestnuts)

4 green onions, chopped

Instructions:
Mix all of the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours allowing the veggie soup to rehydrate.

Then serve in your preferred method. I don't usually make a bread bowl. I like to take the bowl the dip is in and put it on a plate and then surround it by cut sourdough bread.

Happy Holidays!

To all of our Family, Friends and Readers,
Here's wishing you and yours a very safe and happy holiday season!
P.S. don't forget to eat some good grub!

Always,
The Bubs

Happy Halloween

Usually, for our favorite holiday we have some where to go and something to do. Well not this year. This year is very mellow for us. This is the second year in a row that we have not gotten to partake in our big day. The last time we got to dress up was in 2006 as Night and Day. We didn't even do our pumpkin carving like normal. And even sadder this year we did not get
1 trick-or-treater.

Unfortunately, due to lack of parties to attend we sat at home and ordered our annual pizza. We sat here watching Chuckie and The Cell. We also made special tinfoil hats to celebrate the day. My uncle jokes about his special tin foil hat that keeps him safe. So, we made our own versions. How sad are we? Well, in 2009 we are taking back our holiday!

~N