Chinese New Year 2014, Progressive Feasts

Chinese New Year 2014 is the Year of the Wood Horse and my year, I share it with Oprah Winfrey!  Wood Horse only occurs every 60 years, so it’s very special. The New Year celebrations continues for 2 weeks concluding February 14 and coincided with Valentine’s Day.  How fortuitous because it means double happiness!!!

It’s the time of year to ‘thank‘ all the people who’ve helped you and there’s no better way  to do that than to celebrate at home with family and friends!  I’m continuing the brilliant idea I started last year of hiring an assistant to help prep, decorate and get ready! It’s really the secret to throwing a good party. You’re less stressed and can enjoy your friends more.
This year, I did three rounds of Chinese New Year Progressive Feasts with dishes like Pineapple Fried Rice which signify long life and dumplings which signify prosperity and fortune, red and gold to signify luck. I really like the ‘progressive feast’ idea where I cook a meat dish and veggie dish, eat those while it’s fresh and hot before proceeding to the next few dishes.  The downtime allows your palette to savor the food and settle in your tummy before starting on another taste journey. The most important point is that you eat the dishes while they’re still hot instead of having them warming in the oven (drying out) or serving them all at once and get cold at the table! Next time you throw a dinner party, try this progressive concept!

As a Horse, I’m energetic, active and start too many projects, so true!  2014 has started off with a bang and I’m very excited to see how the rest of the year unfolds. Go check out your zodiac predictions here.

Hope you get some ideas for your next progressive feast…remember it’s always about taste, texture and color in that order…