Foodie Friday First: Osmanthus Tea

I tried out a new drink... Osmanthus tea: an earthy tea infused with the yellow flowers I'm one of those people who order the same thing over and over again at a restaurant. What can I say? Usually when I venture out and order something new, I dislike it. My tried-and-true beverage of choice is jasmine green tea. On a recent trip to the local cafe, though, my hubby urged me to drink something different. I ended up ordering osmanthus tea. Despite its floral origins, osmanthus tea didn't … [Read more...]

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival?

"The Chinese ancient civilization attracts you." This year Chinese New Year lands on February 19, 2015. Since it's based on the lunar calendar, the start date of CNY shifts annually. The celebration typically lasts about fifteen days. A "Wood Goat" year is slotted for 2015, an event that only happens every 60 years. Since the 20th century, this festive time period has also been known as the Spring Festival in China. This is because when the Chinese adopted the Gregorian calendar in … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Bee Hoon/Mee Hoon/Mai Fun

Bee Hoon/Mee Hoon/Mai Fun: rice vermicelli Whatever you call it, it's thin noodles made from rice. This is not to be confused with bean thread noodles (glassy transparent noodles made from a starch, like mung bean). You can cook the vermicelli in different ways, but I personally like them stir-fried. The key to nice noodles is: 1) soaking them until soft, 2) not using boiling water to do so, and 3) cooking the noodles separate from meat and vegetables (unless you have a stellar non-stick … [Read more...]

Why I Never Believed in Santa

"Better to do without books than to believe everything they say." -Chinese proverb Sure, I read the stories about St. Nick... and all his associated figures. One of my favorite illustrated seasonal books is The Polar Express; the pictures in it are breath-taking. However, I just couldn't believe in its words. I was one of those kids who would cry on Santa's lap--or at least wear a grumpy expression. I could understand the principle of rewarding nice versus naughty behavior. But a white Santa … [Read more...]