• Extras for Chinese Holidays

    Good Luck Dinner

    Good Luck Dinner for the Chinese New Year. Everything in this meal has meaning: Law Bock Gow is a homophone for “good fortune.” Pork symbolizes strength, wealth, and blessings. Noodles represent longevity—they shouldn’t be broken. Dessert is made with eight types of fruit. The number eight sounds like another Chinese word, “fa,” which means rich or to thrive in business. The sweetness represents luck and sweetness for the new year. Menu Turnip CakeChinese Roast PorkRainbow Long NoodlesEight-Treasure Riceserves 8-10 Turnip Cake | Law Bock Gow The translation is turnip, but it’s really made with daikon, Chinese radish. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a wok or large pan over high heat.…

  • National Chinese Almond Cookie Day
    April

    April 09: National Chinese Almond Cookie Day

    National Chinese Almond Cookie Day is on April 9th. The Chinese almond cookie is a dry, crispy, sweet cookie with an almond baked on top. They are often served with or instead of fortune cookies at Chinese restaurants. These cookies seem to be the Chinese-America version of the Hup Toh Soh or the Chinese Walnut Biscuit, which are thought to bring good luck. The almond cookie appeared in the mid-1800s around the same time as chop suey and fortune cookies. Now, they can be found in Chinese restaurants and bakeries in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, as well as Chinatowns in cities worldwide. Cookbook author Yuan-Shan Chi declared these…

  • National Spanish Paella Day
    March

    March 27: National Spanish Paella Day

    National Spanish Paella Day is on March 27th. Paella is a rice dish from Valencia, Spain. Traditional paella is cooked over an open fire in a wide, round, shallow pan with sloping sides, also called paella. Though there’s controversy about whether seafood should be allowed in this dish, there are a few things everyone agrees on. First, it’s all about the rice. Short-grain, sturdy rice is a must. Also, this dish is not stirred, instead the rice settles on the bottom of the pan, browning and becoming crispy on. Good stock should be used and a sofrito, a mixture of sauteed onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Paella was originally a lunchtime…

  • March

    March 25: Waffle Day | Våffeldagen

    Waffle Day or Våffeldagen is celebrated in Sweden by eating waffles. The name comes from Vårfrudagen (“Our Lady’s Day”), which in vernacular Swedish sounds almost like Våffeldagen (waffle day). Our Lady’s Day, the Christian holiday of Annunciation, is also celebrated on March 25. However, Waffle Day has no religious connections, it’s just about the waffles. They are usually heart-shaped and topped with whipped cream and jam or fresh berries and served with coffee. Swedish waffles are not made with yeast (like Belgium waffles), which makes them thinner. Swedish Waffles makes 8 waffles 1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt2 eggs2 cups plus 3 tablespoons milk3-1/2 oz. butter, meltedwhipped…

  • March

    March 18: National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day

    National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day is on March 18th. Lacy Oatmeal Cookies, or Oatmeal Lace Cookies, are wafer-thin, crispy, and delicate. The brown sugar gives them a hit of toffee flavor. They are similar to Florentine cookies, which are made from nuts. But they are quite different from the thick and chewy oatmeal cookie. Though delicious on their own, they make a great accompaniment to ice cream. Oatmeal Lace Cookies 1/2 cup unsalted butter1 cup packed brown sugar2 tablespoons all-purpose flour2 teaspoons vanilla1/2 teaspoon salt1 egg1-1/2 cups rolled oats Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt butter and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium…

  • National Eat Your Noodles Day
    March

    March 11: National Eat Your Noodles Day

    March 11 is National Eat Your Noodles Day. This bossy little holiday reminds us to eat noodles. Noodles are eaten in many cultures. They’re typically made from unleavened dough which is stretched, extruded, or rolled flat. Noodles can be any shape but the most common are long, thin strips. The earliest written record of noodles in China is in a book dated to the Eastern Han period (25–220 BCE). In 2005, Chinese archaeologists found an earthenware bowl that contained the remains of 4000-year-old noodles at the Lajia archaeological site. They resembled Lamian, a type of Chinese noodle and were made from millet. It’s now believed noodles originated from a desert…

  • National Crabmeat Day
    March

    March 09: National Crabmeat Day

    National Crabmeat Day is March 9th. A day to celebrate crabmeat — the meat found within a crab. Crab is sweet and delicate and it’s used in many cuisines around the world. Crabmeat is low in fat and contains around 340 kJ (82 kcal) per 85-gram (3 oz) serving. There are different crabs on the market and each taste different. Types include Alaskan King Crab, Alaskan Snow Crab, Blue Crab, Dungeness Crab, Red Rock Crab, and Stone Crab. You can get a whole crabs or parts. Crab can be boiled, steamed, grilled, or roasted. Once cooked, it can be eaten as is or added to dishes like crab cakes, Crab…

  • December

    December 20: National Sangria Day

    December 20th is National Sangria Day. Sangria is an alcoholic beverage originating in Spain and Portugal. It’s made primarily with red wine and fruit, but often includes other spirits. It’s served both warm and cold. The name sangria dates to the 18th century and is believed come from the Spanish sangre, meaning blood, in reference to the red color of the drink. Others believe the word comes from Sanskrit sakkari meaning “sugared wine.” It is one of the most popular drinks in Spanish cuisine, and it’s serve in bars and restaurants throughout Portugal and Spain. Iced sangria was introduced to the United States as in the 1940s. It became popular…

  • Hot Dog Day
    July,  September

    July: Hot Dog Month, National Hot Dog Day, September 10: Hot Dog Day

    There are a whole bunch of days for celebrating the hot dog; and they are celebrated all over, including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. The hog dog is a frankfurter, especially one served hot in a long, soft roll and topped with various condiments. The rolls or buns and the toppings have regional variations. Some Hot Dog Day origins are unknown and some have sponsors. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council in the United States designated July as National Hot Dog Month and National Hot Dog Day on the third Wednesday of July–though it may vary as it’s based on when the North American Meat Institute…

  • National Coffee Ice Cream Day
    September

    September 06: National Coffee Ice Cream Day

    National Coffee Ice Cream Day is September 6th. Coffee ice cream is a frozen dessert made with coffee, cream, vanilla, and sugar. Though “iced creams” were original fruit flavors, other flavors, including coffee, are popular. Coffee Ice Cream Facts & Trivia Coffee Ice Cream 2-1/2 cups whole milk1-1/2 cups granulated sugar1/8 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons instant coffee granules6 egg yolks2-1/4 cups heavy cream1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract Combine the milk, sugar, salt, and coffee granules in a saucepan, Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until quite warm and steamy, but not boiling. Reduce heat to low. Lightly beat the egg yolks in a small bowl. Slowly pour half of the hot…

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