2013 过大年（2013 Chinese New Year Celebration)

今年的春节时间正赶在周末，好得不得了，我试探地问问咱家那个是出去吃饭还是在家里庆祝。我是真希望去外面吃，省得好多麻烦和赶鸭子上架了。 答案是“如果你不介意，我们在家里庆祝，可以吗？我当然还是喜欢你做的饭菜！我和虎娃，虎妞玩儿！”被他说的我还得高高兴兴地“赶鸭子上架”。
It happened that 2013 Chinese New Year was on the weekend. I absolutely love it. Still, I asked him whether he liked to go out to celebrate or stay home. It doesn't matter to me. However, dining out is easier than cooking at home with twins running around me. The answer I got was: "Well, if you don't mind... Is that OK to stay home instead? I prefer your cooking of cause. I will play with kids if that helps." Then, I went in the kitchen with "delight" feelings......

中国年菜单：
炸虾片
四喜丸子
春色满园
罐装东坡肉
溜鱼排
黄金饺子

Chinese New Year Eve Dinner Menu:
Fried Shrimp Chips
Chinese Meat Balls
Spring Garden Delight
Individual Braised Pork
Mahi Mahi Steak with Vegetable
Boiled Golden Dumplings

炸虾片：
这道在我家是人见人爱，炸多少吃多少。。。我的“拿手菜”！
This is our family's favorite snack/appetizer. Simply deep fry the shrimp chips in the oil. I am very "good at" it.




四喜丸子：Chinese Meat Balls
这次的四喜丸子是用虾和豆腐为主要原料，加入淀粉少许，姜末，葱末，酒少许，盐，胡椒粉调味，做成4个球状，放入油中炸成形，装盘蒸熟，蒸出的汤汁用来做汁，加入酱油少许，糖，盐，胡椒粉，水淀粉，葱丝，胡萝卜丝和胡萝卜片略炒一下，浇到丸子上即可。
The main ingredients are the shrimp and tofu. They are fried in the oil first then steamed. Sauce is made from the juice from the steamed meat balls, soy sauce, salt, pepper, sugar, chopped ginger, corn starch, shredded green onion and shredded carrots.  Pour the sauce on top of the meat balls and serve hot.
 

惊喜！居然得到小家伙们的喜欢。。。Surprise, our twins like them, too.
 

春色满园：Spring Garden Delight
材料：豆腐，大虾，芥兰花，青红椒切丁。。。
Main ingredients are again Tofu, jumbo shrimp, blanched broccoli, chopped green and red peppers...



做法 Procedures：
1。 一块豆腐切三块圆形，中间挖出一点，每块豆腐中放入两只去皮的大虾，撒入少许盐入味。放入蒸锅中蒸熟，取出待用。
1. One container firmed Tofu, cut into 3 round pieces. Take center part out but not cut thru. Put two shirmps in each Tofu. Sprinkle pich of salt and pepper on the Tofu and steam them for 10 ninutes. Save the juice for next step.


2。 炒锅加热放入少许油，姜末爆锅， 放入青红椒略炒，加湿淀粉调汁，调好味，倒入盘中间，芥兰花烫后摆盘边浇上多余的汁就好了。两个小家伙吃了半个”树“呦。。。
2. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a wok. add chopped ginger and pinch of pepper, add chopped green and red pepper saute for 1 minute. Add juice from the Tofu
 


罐装东坡肉：Indivial Braised Pork
这是我家那个的最爱之一。。。 因为做法简单我也喜欢做。
材料：带皮五花肉，姜丝，大料，酒，盐，糖，酱油，花椒，桂皮，胡椒粉，葱，香叶
做法：
1. 带皮五花肉切大块，撒盐和胡椒粉，厚底不锈钢锅炒糖色，五花肉6面都炒好颜色。。。加入酒，盐，酱油，水。
This is one of the favorite dishes in our family... I like to make it as well since it is so easy to make.
Main ingredients: Pork belly, shredded ginger, star anise, cooking wine, soy sauce, salt, sugar, pepper, cinnamon, green onion, bay leaf.  
Procedures:
1. Pork belly cut into 4"x4"big pieces. Heat 2 Tbsp oil and add 2 Tbsp sugar; wait till sugar melted and change t brown color, ~2 minutes. Add pork belly and braise all sides. Then add cooking wine, water to cover the pork, soy sauce and salt.


2. 装罐中，每制罐中加入大料，姜丝，桂皮，香叶，葱，花椒粒。汤汁没过肉，上蒸锅蒸至酥烂，大约2到3小时。
入蒸锅前：
2. Transfer each pork into a individual container. Also add a small piece star anise, couple shredded ginger, small piece cinnamon, bay leaf, few pepper corns and liquid from the previous step. Cover it and steam for ~2 to 3 hours till cook thru and very soft.


蒸好了，可以吃了。。。很简单易做，适合我这样的“懒人”。
Here they are and ready to serve. It is simple, easy to make and delicious.
 


溜鱼排：Mahi Mahi with saute vegetable
想做个全鱼，但买不到大小适中，鱼刺还少的野生的鱼，有幸买到了野生的 Mahi Mahi 鱼排。。。理想和现实总是有差距的，别太认真了。唉，说是野生，希望它是野生的。
材料：Mahi Mahi 鱼排，蛋液，淀粉，胡萝卜丁，青红椒切丁，木耳切小块，葱丝，姜末，盐，胡椒粉，油少许。
做法：
1. Mahi Mahi 鱼排撒盐和胡椒粉，10分钟后沾蛋液和淀粉，入油锅中炸脆待用。
Originally, I was planning to make a whole fish dish. I prefer a wild caught fish, small to medium size with less bone. But I couldn't find the fish I wanted. Luckily, I found Mahi Mahi filet... I accept the difference between the reality and dream. So, I am happy. Just wish it is wild caught as what they advetized....
Main ingredients: Mahi Mahi filet, 1 egg, 2 Tbsp. corn starch, chopped carrots (~1/4 cup), chopped red and green peppers (~1 cup), chopped tree ears (~1/4 cup), shredded green onion, shredded ginger, salt and pepper, vegetable oil and olive oil.
Procedures:
1. Using a paper towl to dry Mahi Mahi filet; Dip the fish into the egg, and then coat it with corn starch. Deep fry in a heated oil till crispy.


2. 锅中加入少许油，葱姜爆锅，加入青红椒，胡萝卜丁，木耳，略炒，放入水，酱油，湿淀粉，调好味，浇在鱼排上即可。
2. Heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a wok; add shredded green onion and gingers; saute for 1 minute; add rest of vegetables in the wok and saute for ~ 2minutes. Add 1/4 water, 1 tsp soy sauce, corn starch solution, salt pepper to taste. Pour the vegetables on top of the fish filet and serve hot. 


这道确实简单易做，Mahi Mahi 本来就是很mild 的鱼，外加鱼肉新鲜，没有一点腥的味道，很受我们家人的喜欢。
It is another simple dish, easy to make and delicious. Mahi Mahi has very mild flavor. The texture of the fish is not too soft and not too firm.  My family likes it very much.



黄金饺子：Boild Golden Dumplings
在中国，过年的饺子是特殊的饺子，除了好吃的馅料，妈妈还要放入一些钱（硬币），红枣，糖块。象征着发财，早（ 枣）发财，甜甜蜜蜜。所以吃的时候很是惊喜。如今这个传统还要继续，我提前包了饺子速冻放入冻箱，除夕这天拿出来煮。
和的面里加的是南瓜，我就叫他们“黄金饺子”！下面是我做的“黄金”面：
The dumplings served at New Year's Eve dinner are special dumplings.  
Traditionally, specical dumplings are served for the first meal of Chinese New Year after the fireworks. Calling them "special" is because they have coins, dates and candies in some of them, not all of them. Each of them represents wealty, love and sweet. You get them by surprise. It is really fun. We now are in America. But the tradition goes on. I have made them ahead of time and kept them in the freezer. Just simply boil them when we are ready.
I made twist this year. I call them "golden dumplings". The dough is made of flour and pumpkin puree. See picture below:


馅料是猪肉和菜园摘的美国“葱（leek)”。我放了枣和硬币，没有糖，小家伙们吃了就不吃饭了。。。
The stuffing is made of ground pork and chopped leek. I put some coins and dates but no candy. I was afraid of that my twins will go for the candy instead of everything. So, no candy this year.  
 

包硬币的：This one has a coin (dime)





包红枣的：红枣太大，切一半。
This one has a half date. The whole date is too big to fit....
 

煮好了，可以吃了。。。在中国我们都是放完爆竹吃饺子，饺子是新年的第一餐。在美国条件有限，这饺子只好在除夕晚饭一起吃了。
The "golden dumplings" are ready to eat. Like I said early, they are usually served for the first meal of the year after the fireworks. We are having them at the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner table in America.  


这“黄金”饺子是不是很“黄金”呵。。。They are pretty "golden", aren't they?



我吃到一个。。。 新的一年发财有望噢！我家虎妞跟得很快："妈妈，恭喜发财！Daddy, 恭喜发财！"
I got a coin... I might get rich in coming year! My twins followed pretty quick: "Momy, Daddy, gongxifacai"


我的盘子里，什么都有。。。
Here is what in my plate....


只记得吃了不少，大大小小都吃得很饱。。。I remember I ate quiet bit. Everyone in the family enjoyed meal very much.
 

Here are some snap shots of our garden on Chinese New Year Eve...
Daffodils are ready to blossom soon...


比起东北老家白雪皑皑的冬季，美国的家却是春意盎然。。。
Compare to my snowy hometown in China this time of the year, Spring has arrived early in America...




很久没有回家过年了，很是想念那个爆竹声声，到处是中国红的中国年，希望不久的将来会回家过年。好想。。。
We have not been home for the Chinese New Year for several years.  I miss the New Year celebration... full of "China Red" and fireworks, especially the family dinner at the New Year's Eve.