Category Archives: Food

Traditional foods of Chinese New Year

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Nicole

Many traditions of the Chinese New Year season, or Spring Festival, revolve around cooking and eating particular foods. Elaborate dinners are prepared with the following symbolic foods: Pork brings wealth. Sweet-and-sour fish  and chicken (both whole) signify surplus. Fried rice … Continue reading →

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How to make jiao zi, Chinese dumplings

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Nicole

It’s the traditional custom to eat dumplings, jiao zi, at midnight before Chinese New Year’s day. Their crescent shape, similar to ancient money, is meant to bring in prosperity. Some cooks will hide a clean coin in one for the most … Continue reading →

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Celebrating Chinese New Year: Traditions

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Nicole

What is your favorite part of Chinese New Year? Maybe it’s the spark of firecrackers chasing demons away on the eve of the new year. Or lighting lanterns, yuan xiao, on the night of the full moon, marking the end … Continue reading →

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Kid Lit Review: The Ugly Vegetables

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Nicole

In The Ugly Vegetables, written and illustrated by Grace Lin, a young girl plants a garden with her mother. While their neighbors’ gardens bloom with pretty “poppies and peonies and petunias,” the girl’s garden is full of vegetables that grow … Continue reading →

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Chinese Menu Decoder

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Nicole

If you’re traveling to China and need help with translation while dining out, or you just want to practice with your family, you can print out this handy menu decoder from Budget Travel Magazine. Written by Jen Lin-Liu, author of … Continue reading →

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