Jennifer J. Chow's Blog, page 67

A Twist on Traditions

“A tree has its roots, a stream its source.” -Chinese proverb

Everything has origins. We love family traditions because they’re a source of comfort, rituals that have been passed down from one generation to the next. I’m here to offer a twist on some annual traditions:

Instead of hot cocoa this year, try teh tarik (milk tea):


Looking for a quick way to wrap presents? What about a take-out box? One year, I found this and other beautiful designs at Target:


Get a free calendar for next year. Asian grocery stores (Ranch 99 is already offering their version to customers), banks, and other companies often have them in stock:


Instead of a Christmas card…



Send a “holiday” letter. (You can stretch this out to the New Year, or if you’re like me, the Chinese New Year, which gives me even more time.)
Too tired to make holiday cookies?



Use fortune cookies :) If you’re nimble enough, you can even place customized messages inside them.

What personalized rituals do you have?

Foodie Friday: Hot Pot

Hot pot: steamed veggies and meats in a boiling broth

It’s our tradition to hold a Christmas pot luck each year. What’s easier than cutting up vegetables and meats to place in boiling broth? A complex soup base can be purchased or a plain stock (simple vegetable, chicken, etc.) used .

The hot pot sits on a burner, and you want it set at the highest setting to make it bubbling before you throw in the food to cook. The bowl I use is divided into two sections; I use the smaller circle for meats and the larger one for vegetables. At the end of the meal, bean threads can be tossed in to get flavored noodles. And don’t forget the dipping sauce, which I concoct from a mixture of sa cha sauce and egg.

Hot pot is a healthy dish with its array of veggies. Plus, the subsequent cooking rounds force ongoing conversation. Whether you try this dish or not, I hope you enjoy your holidays!

 

The Importance of Light

“When you drink water, remember the source.” – Chinese proverb

Everything has a source, even words. The Latin roots behind “light” are LUC, LUM, LUN, and LUS. Think about these words:

eLUCidate: to make clear; explain
ilLUMinate: to light up; brighten
LUNambulism: sleepwalking induced by the moon
LUSter: gloss; glaze

There is something magical about sparkling lights, particularly at Christmastime. I’ve experienced several walks through lit-up expanses. Every time, the glowing atmosphere gives me a sense of hope and peace. Here are three of my favorite displays:

Mini Ferris Wheel:

Neighborhood lights

Tunnel of Lights:

Local zoo

Asian-style:

Global Winter Wonderland

What have been your favorite light displays?

Foodie Friday: Char Siu Bao

Char Siu Bao: steamed white buns with sweet roasted pork inside

These ubiquitous buns are found in all dim sum restaurants. With their outer soft bread layer, they’re one of my favorites. The best part is the inside: char siu, with its distinctive coloring. Yes, I know it’s unnatural for pork to be bright red, but there’s something festive and cheerful about the color. It reminds me of the holidays, and it doubles as a lucky color. Here are some fun red things I’ve seen:

-Red qipao: beautiful high-collared dresses; the color is usually reserved for weddings

-Red envelopes: laisees filled with money

-Red egg and ginger parties: celebrations for newborns

-Red firecrackers: to start off the new year with a bang

-Red monkeys: Formosan rock macaques, found in Taiwan

What do you associate with red?

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 Claus? If he was so prevalent, then where was his Chinese equivalent? (On a side note, a lot of the Western Santas depicted in China play the saxophone.)

Plus, who could actually slide down chimneys simultaneously all over the world? What about homes without fireplaces? Also, early on I recognized that “Santa’s” presents were signed with my dad’s penmanship.

What are your thoughts on Santa?

Foodie Friday: Sea Salt Drinks

Sea salt drinks: beverages topped with sea salt, typically using tea or coffee

That’s right. Salty coffee and tea is all the rage in Taiwan. Introduced by the chefs at 85C Bakery Cafe (85°C  is supposed to be the ideal temperature at which to brew coffee), the salty foam on top of the beverage encourages sequential tasting. In fact, it’s supposed to appeal to multiple taste buds, providing a fuller drinking experience.

The flavors your tongue longs for are: sweet, salt, bitter, salt, and umami. (Umami is a protein-y taste.) Malcolm Gladwell, in his book What the Dog Saw, argues that Heinz continues to outsell all other ketchup brands because its formula combines all these wonderful tastes.

What’s my final verdict on the salted drink? It tastes the same! The sea salt is so subtle that I missed its flavoring. On the other hand, the whipped froth is interesting. It’s like having a latte in a tea.

Wanted: SAF

“It does not matter if the cat is black or white so long as it catches rats.” -Chinese proverb

A cat is a cat is a cat. But does the same hold true for women? Not according to a recent study based on the Facebook app, Are You Interested. Apparently, most men are drawn to Asian women for dating relationships.

I wonder if this is due to:

Exoticism: People still think of Asian females as exotic. Even women do–check out Katy Perry’s geisha get-up.
Diversity in Media: Perhaps this is a result of more ethnic females in mainstream media. Unfortunately, the majority of women I see in magazines and on-screen are not Asian.
Racial Indifference: That is, race doesn’t matter; men are looking more at the inner workings of women. This pollyanna view can be discredited, though, since the study was about perceived attractiveness based on photos, not actual interactions.

On the flip side, most women (excluding black women) are drawn to white men. I wonder what Asian men think of those results. In college, a friend of a friend created a blog detailing how Asian men couldn’t find any Asian females to date. It’s interesting because I think Asian women are portrayed as sensual, while Asian men are seen as sensitive. (In the YA novel, Eleanor & Park, Park laments how there’s no macho Asian role model, with the exception of Bruce Lee.) Interestingly enough, the new study didn’t agree with my old college acquaintance because it concluded that Asian men don’t prefer Asian women.

I’ve been out of the dating world for a while now, but what do you think of these results? Are they accurate?

 

Foodie Friday: Beef Roll

Beef roll: slivers of beef wrapped up in a scallion pancake

Like a burrito, this wrapped-up treat delivers a hearty taste. Flavored with hoisin sauce, the traditional appetizer can also double as a meal. I was amazed when I first sampled this dish. Who knew you could one up scallion pancakes, those yummy green onion eats? But the beef roll has a tantalizing array of flaky pancake, fresh herbs, and tender beef to draw you in.

What’s your favorite appetizer?

Memories Found in Objects

“Water can drip through stone.” -Chinese proverb

This proverb reminds me that there are solutions in even seemingly impossible situations. For example, I recently witnessed a way to revive memories for those with dementia. I was visiting a senior home and saw different stations set up for the older adults. These were nooks with key items like a wedding dress, an old Singer sewing machine, and a typewriter to help them reminisce.

I wonder what object will elicit stories from my generation in the future. Will we have hallways decorated with computers and smartphones? Personally, for me, I think a watch could pull out my feelings.

Even as a child, I loved tracking the hands that danced around my father’s silver watch. Sometimes I tried it on my own wrist (way too big, of course), but it was a comforting and familiar object during my childhood. I became somewhat of a watch collector myself, primarily through accidents; I always managed to scratch the face, lose the band, or something else.

For a while, a watch was the only adornment I would wear. When I went engagement ring browsing, the shopkeeper couldn’t discern my tastes because she couldn’t find a single jewelry item on me! Nowadays, it’s hard to find someone sporting a watch. Most people look at their cell phones to check the time (myself included, although I still think it’s quicker to look at a wrist than rummage through a purse for a phone). I continue to have a fondness for watches, though. I currently have two, and I keep them around for sentimental reasons.

What objects hold strong memories for you?

Foodie Friday: Sticky Rice

Sticky rice: sweet glutinous rice steamed in a lotus leaf (typical fillings include mushrooms and Chinese sausage, but you can tailor it to your taste)

I love how this food is sheltered in a leaf; its steaming goodness assaults you when you open it. It’s like unwrapping a culinary present every time. It also reminds me of the holidays because on Thanksgiving, we use sticky rice to stuff our turkey. It’s a great blend of American and Eastern traditions. Nowadays, though, my local dim sum eatery also offers to provide a fully-cooked turkey with sticky rice for those wanting to save some work.