Buddha’s Delight 罗汉斋 ‘Loh Han Jai’

Buddha's Delight Chap Chye

You don’t stumble upon your heritage. It’s there, just waiting to be explored and shared. ~ Robbie Robertson The period of celebration for the Lunar New Year is over, culminating with a gathering over Glutinous Rice Balls 汤圆 ‘Tang Yuan’ with Black Sesame Paste. Buddha’s Delight is a vegetarian dish that is cleansing and easy to […]

Turnip Cake ‘Loh Bok Gau‘ 萝卜糕

Turnip Cake

A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.  – Winston S. Churchill ~ DIM SUM SERIES ~ A week ago, people of Chinese descent all over the world celebrated the Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Rooster. Following tradition, where Lunar New Year is celebrated […]

Kale and Sweet Potatoes

Kale and Sweet Potatoes

Winter sports takes on a new meaning. Just how much longer is the cold and wet spell going to last?  Skiing has been good with all the snow but enough with the rain already, yes? Looking for that silver lining, we are all hoping that the rains and storms we have seen will bring an end […]

Italian Sausage and Kale Stew

Italian Sausage Kale stew

It’s okay to play with your food. ~ Emeril Lagasse How many of us indulged over holidays? We told ourselves it was only an extra drumstick with “only a few tiny” drizzles of dressing, one more slice of pie (a la mode, of course, why stop at pie), one more helping of noodles (to represent ‘healthy […]

Sunday Morning Tomato Basil Frittata

Sunday Morning Tomato Basil Frittata

“A journey into a new year begins with a Sunday Morning frittata served around a warm hearth.” As I was preparing to write this week’s post, I hesitated over which story to share. The Gregorian calendar stands poised at the cusp of a transition and Earth is about to embark on another orbit around the Sun. Past and […]

Ginger Beef and Broccoli

Ginger Broccoli Beef

So long vegetarian is not the goal; or you might need to find new dining companions. I am not really sure how beef and broccoli became an American Chinese food staple. I know it is a safe bet to order it for a table of folks new to Chinese food or generally less adventurous diners. […]

Easy Gajar Halwa

Easy Gajar Halwa

“Festivals are the secret to youth; show me a person who doesn’t remember a festival that was all about sweets, treats and friendship and I will show you an unhappy person.” Here in the United States and most of the western countries, grown-ups and children are preparing to enjoy Halloween. Front lawns are adorned with lights and ghoulish decorations in a festive spirit. […]

Easy Water Spinach 空心菜 (Kangkung)

Easy Water Spinach

All things are difficult before they are easy. ~  Thomas Fuller Here is recipe that starts easy and stays easy. It will make a cook out of anyone. It’s that easy. Water spinach is more closely related to the sweet potato than to spinach as we know it in western countries. It is also called water morning glory, water […]

“Dragon’s Eye” Cabbage and Eggplant

Cabbage Eggplant delight

Let your imagination soar with this unique visual treat. Never give up and good luck will find you. ~ Falkor, ‘The Neverending Story’ My love for fantasy began early. As a child, one of my favourite movies was ‘The Neverending Story’. It was a fantasy within a fantasy. My favourite character was Falkor, the luckdragon. […]

Vegetable Fritters

Cook up a batch of these vegetable fritters for a fun way to eat more veggies! Deep-frying is not my thing. It (feels) unhealthy, uses (usually) more oil than surely is necessary, and is always a bother to wash. I handwash my utensils – my dishwasher is really a glorified dish drying tray disguised in […]