Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, it is sometimes called the Lunar New Year. This is Landen’s first Chinese New Year, the year of the rat. For Chinese New Year’s eve we celebrated having a dinner of hot pot with Grandma and Grandpa C.

Chinese Hot Pot at the Garndma and Grandpa C’s generally consists of a skillet or hot pot at the center of the dining table, while the hot pot is kept hot, ingredients are placed on top and are cooked at the table. Our hot pot dishes included thinly sliced meats (steak, pork, chicken), seafood (shrimp, scallops), mushrooms, yams, tofu, and rice cakes. The cooked food is then eaten with a dipping sauce. Hot Pot is always a nice meal in the winter since it tends to keep you warm and the meal is slowed down so you can enjoy the company of family.

There are two general varieties of hot pot the more typical type of hot pot is where everything is cooked in a soup, for the one we partake in everything is cooked on a hot skillet along with bacon. If you wonder which is tastier ask yourself would I rather have a boiled shrimp or one that has been cooking on a skillet with bacon.

Spending time with Grandpa C.

Here Landen is hungry for Julie's shirt.

Red envelopes or red packets (Known as 'Hong Bao') are often presented at social and family gatherings such as Chinese weddings or on holidays such as Chinese New Year. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck. Here Landen is holding his first red envelope.

While he may be dreaming of a new toy or onesie this most likely will be going towards his college fund.