Jennifer J. Chow's Blog, page 47
November 27, 2015
Foodie Friday: Sizzling Seafood
Sizzling seafood: peppered seafood, served hot on a metal plate
There’s something a bit dangerous about eating food that’s sizzling away. That’s part of the allure of these particular dishes. (I blogged about sizzling chicken before.)
Usually, they’ve all got a nice kick to them–a healthy dose of pepper. I also love the different colors on display from the veggies and meats on the platter. Here are some more hot plate pics!
Q: What’s the key to the sizzling?
A: A cast iron plate pre-heated in the oven or warmed over a flame.
November 24, 2015
Happy Book Birthday to Me!
My YA book, DRAGONFLY DREAMS, is released into the world! (Thanks for giving me the birthday term, Joy. You can find her review of my novel here.)
Want to buy a copy for you and a friend?
November 23, 2015
Runaway Goodness
“A friend is a present you give yourself.”
Speaking of presents, Black Friday is around the corner. I don’t participate, though, because I really don’t need to stand in line to get my favorite gift–books. As the weather turns colder, I love snuggling up in a blanket and cozying up to a book.
But what’s better than books? Discounted books! Recently, I discovered Runaway Goodness. I particularly liked their Prefunk the Holidays list with a ton of books discounted to $2.99. So now I’ve got a huge to-read pile!
How do you find great deals?
p.s. If you’re looking for free giveaways, check out my Facebook launch party happening today!
November 20, 2015
Foodie Friday: Fish Cakes
Fish cakes: fried, thin versions of fish filling
There are so many kinds of fish cakes in Chinese cuisine. (Maybe because the words for fish and abundance sound awfully alike.) Some are brightly colored and swim around in noodles and broth. Others, chunkier and meatball-like, adorn vegetables–and also go well in stuffed tofu.
Once in a while, though, I like mine spiced and fried up. This version gives you a chewier texture and makes for great snacks. (Don’t forget to be liberal with the five-spice and other flavorings!)
Do you have a favorite fish snack or dish?
November 16, 2015
Christmas Socks
“It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.”
Growing up, my aunt had this tradition of giving us clothes for Christmas. We knew which presents were hers–those telltale lightweight rectangular boxes! The worst was getting socks. I mean, did we really need socks every year?
But nowadays, I like having fresh, fuzzy socks to wear. And it looks like I’m not alone. Seniors also like having toasty feet. In fact, there’s a nonprofit called Socks for Seniors. (Check them out and support them!)
Go and spread some kindness (through socks or otherwise) over the holidays!
November 13, 2015
Foodie Friday First: Poutine
I tried my first bowl of…
Poutine: French fries and gravy
After my brother raved about poutine from his travels to Canada, I had to try it. Poutine is thought to have originated in Quebec in the 1950s. If you want to make a version at home, try out this recipe.
When I first heard about this dish, I was skeptical. Gravy and fries? But, lo and behold, it’s truly a tasty combo. There’s something really savory and comforting about this dish. I think it’s the blend of cheesiness along with the yummy warmth of the gravy. The only problem with the version I got (according to my brother) is that it used mozzarella bits instead of the more traditional cheese curds.
Have you ever tried poutine?
November 12, 2015
Multi-Author Promo
The other day I heard this phrase tossed around: Thanksvember. One of the things I’m really grateful for as a writer is the author community. In honor and celebration of that, I’m participating in a cross-genre promotion. It’ll last ten days from November 12-November 22.
Fabulous storytellers from different genres pulled together for a Thanksgiving treat of discounted books. My own cozy mystery, SENIORS SLEUTH, will be discounted to only 99 cents at the following retailers: Amazon and Smashwords. Go take a look!
Check out all the other participating writers below and what kind of book(s) they’re promoting:
Barbara Monier — https://barbaramonier.wordpress.com/ — contemporary literary fiction
Evelyne Holingue — http://evelyneholingue.com/ — middle-grade fiction
Janice Spina — https://jemsbooks.wordpress.com/ — middle-grade junior detectives series
Jo Robinson — https://africolonialstories.wordpress.com/ — nonfiction publishing guide for newbies, two short stories, and mainstream fiction
John Howell — http://johnwhowell.com/ — fiction thriller
Katie Cross — http://kcrosswriting.com/ –YA fantasy
Luciana Cavallaro — http://luccav.com/ — historical fiction–mythology retold
Michael Fedison —https://eyedancers.wordpress.com/ — YA Sci-fi/Fantasy
Nicki Chen — http://nickichenwrites.com/ — historical fiction–WWII China
Shehanne Moore — https://shehannemoore.wordpress.com/
Sonya Solomonovich — https://sonyasolo.wordpress.com/ — time-travel fantasy
November 9, 2015
Buddha Board
“The strengths in your character will bring you serenity.”
I got this present from my brother one year. I’m not sure if he meant that I needed to relax more…
Anyway, the Buddha Board is this rectangular slate that you can “draw” on with a brush. However, it uses only water to make images. And, according to the description, it’s supposed to “leave you with a clean slate and a clear mind” while the artwork evaporates. (I don’t know about that, but it’s a lot of fun!)
I love the fact that it uses water to “paint” pictures. (Just make sure you take a real pic of it before the drawings disappear.) It’s been a big hit in our household with both adults and kids!
Interesting fact: They now sell a mini Buddha Board!
November 6, 2015
Foodie Friday: Fried Radish Cake
Fried radish cake: square cake made of white radish; often served at dim sum
This dim sum dish is a staple when I go yum cha. It’s made from a white radish known as daikon. The texture is soft on the inside, but there’s a crisp outside edge to it. I like lo bat go either plain, or sometimes, with a side of hoisin sauce.
My aunt used to make these from scratch–and my mom, too. It takes a big steamer and a long wait, while the cloying scent floats in the air and seems to permeate even the walls.
Fun fact: In Singapore, it’s also known as carrot cake.
November 2, 2015
Changing my Tagline
“The coming month shall bring winds of change in your life.”
Have you noticed a change on my website? For mobile users, it probably looks the same, but those checking it out on a computer may see something slightly different. What is it? My tagline.
A tagline is a slogan that helps you remember something–in this case, a person. My old line read, Asian-American fiction with a geriatric twist. My new slogan is Multicultural fiction, Intergenerational drama. The old version really encapsulated my cozy mystery, SENIORS SLEUTH, which features an investigation in a senior home. However, it didn’t really encompass THE 228 LEGACY (a Taiwanese-American family story) and my upcoming DRAGONFLY DREAMS (YA paranormal meets immigrant struggles). Since I write diverse characters and often describe conflict across generations, I picked this new tagline. What do you think?
Bonus: I also added a Special Features tab on my website, which has THE 228 LEGACY book trailer and a (new addition!) Winston Wong video game.
