Wok Star Eleanor Hoh

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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year Festive Table Setting

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For Year of the Dragon, I wanted to show you easy ways to dress up your table so you can enjoy a Simple Chinese New Year Dinner At Home.
Use lots of “red” which symbolizes good luck and anything you can find that has Dragon or Asian theme on it! This includes red packets with money in it to give to unmarried folks or kids.  I put little buddhas in red packets to give to Wok Stars or friends!  Tangerines, clementines, oranges represent good luck and prosperity. Give them as gifts to friends. The gold and red character paper is what Buddhists burn in their prayer ceremonies and can be bought at an Asian market.

This is my favorite Dragon plate and red mat I use for styling my dishes!

If you have access to an Asian store, buy those table mat and chopstick, napkin sets!  They’re all color coordinated and ready to go. I was given this set as a Chinese New Year gift by a chiropractor, who is also a  speaker and all round wonderful mom of Sophie and Wok Star, Dr. Maritza Paz.
Maritza’s lovely table mat & chopstick napkin came in very handy when I went on NBC Miami yesterday to show how to set an easy Chinese New Year festive table setting and cook up a Sizzling Shrimp dish!  More about the show here. Don’t forget to add some orchids if you can get them or any bright colored flowers would also be a wonderful addition.

If you can’t get to an Asian store, throw a Chinese New Year party (you have 2 weeks to do this in!), you’ll end up with nice gifts from friends!  That’s how I scored this beautiful handbag and a Monkey painting with lots of Chinese calligraphy.  It’s created by a dear friend, Marguerite Gil who’s a French ceramic artist, writer and radio show host!
Many Wok Stars who have my Dragon themed wok mitt set can use their mitts as a display when you’re not using them for cooking!
Here are a few of my table settings using ‘Dragon’ dishes I thought you might enjoy!

I didn’t realize how many Dragon dishes I had till I pulled things out for this post.
Well, have fun with your table setting…
Here’s one more Chinese New Year post with decorating ideas!

Chinese New Year Dinner at home

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Chinese New Year starts today and it’s Year of the Dragon! Dragon is the most dynamic in the Chinese zodiac, so be prepared for a year full of successes as well as surprises. Do check my NBC Miami TV appearance where Jennifer wok-ked up a Sizzling Shrimp dish and was so surprised it was so quick and easy plus some funny experiences along the way. All in keeping with my New Year’s resolution to see the funny side of things!

My suggestion is for a Chinese New Year Dinner At Home and Festive Table Setting so that no matter where you live in the world, you’ll be able to do it!  Less pressure and more time to enjoy.  An easy Grilled Pork and Stir Fried Curly Kale is the ticket. However, for those who want to make more dishes, I’ve included some ideas below.
Ingredients used in this dish are mostly available from your local market!  Below, I’ve given some alternative sources where to get them.
I picked pig which represents abundance and I’m all for that!  You can use this same marinade on leg of lamb, chicken drumsticks or thighs, shrimp, pork shoulder or spare ribs (this is my signature ribs and quite famous).
Grilled Spicy Pork (simple Char Siu)
I don’t use red dye #3 or any honey, you won’t miss them! I prefer to grill instead of roast, it’s faster & I like the texture better. It’s got more crunch with crispier edges. It’s literally 2 spare rib chops (this is the best cut for grilling) and 3 seasonings:
About 1 tblsp. San-J tamari
About 3 tblsp. Koon Chun Hoisin Sauce
About 1 heaped tsp. of Huy Fong Chili Garlic Sauce
Here’s how…
1.  Let pork chops come to room temperature. Wash & dry thoroughly so it doesn’t stew in its own juice.
2. Pierce meat with fork. Slather on marinade only on one side, do this right before grilling. You do NOT need to marinade hours ahead.
3. Grill till crispy with burnt edges. You can smell the deliciousness, no timing required.
4. When you flip over the chops, add more marinade and grill but only for a short time since this is quite a thin chop.  You don’t want to overcook them which makes them dry.
5. Serve hot with Stir Fried Curly Kale and mushrooms.

Left, Koon Chun’s Hoisin Sauce, San-J tamari black label (these are included in your Wok Star Kit) and Huy Fong chili garlic sauce.

Try other chili sauces! Left is Lingham’s hot sauce, right is Earthy Delight’s Yuzupao!

Marinade & grill on one side, then flip over and do the same!

Here are more easy dishes you can cook up for Chinese New Year celebrations at home:

Colorful Festive Vegetable Side Dish

Crispy Salt Shrimp

Swordfish Wok Fried or Grilled

Eat some Dumplings, they resemble gold ingots and will bring prosperity!

Buddha’s Delight featured in Year of the Rabbit

Turnip Pork Soup

Uh, very few noodle dishes and this Quai Teow with Pork Jerky is more Malaysian, oops, I’ll have to work on more noodle dishes! Remember not to cut the noodles cause it’s bad luck, slurp them.

Another Chinese New Year Simple Home Dinner with Roast Duck

Pineapple Stir Fried Rice, a must
More Chinese New Year posts:
Year of the Tiger and festive decoration ideas!

Meal ideas from Year of the Ox.

Simple Kale and Mushroom Stir Fry

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2012 is Year of the Dragon, for Chinese New Year, this easy curly kale & oyster mushroom stir fry is perfect and can accompany your other festive dishes! Kung Hei Fat Choy.
Just a little oil in hot cast iron wok, added garlic & ginger, cook down with mushroom juice from rehydrating dried oyster mushrooms, a dash of tamari & sherry, squeeze of lime & poof, it’s done! Less than 10 minutes!
Here is the Grilled Pork to go with this Curly Kale Stir Fry and how to set a festive table so you can celebrate at home with friends and family no matter where you are in the world! Keep it simple and easy but always yummy.
I use only 2 seasonings for my stir fries:  San-J Intl.’s black label gluten free tamari and a dash of medium drinking sherry, DELISH!

Rehydrating dried oyster mushrooms from Earthy Delights, I keep juice to cook down Curly Kale!

Stir frying Curly Kale and rehydrated gourmet mushrooms using Earthy Delight’s Tea Seed Oil, it’s perfect for high heat cooking. I put in a squeeze bottle to make it easier for swirling round my wok, it’s very liberating to not have to measure!  Everyone loves the freedom of the Squirt, Squeeze, Shake of dispensing their seasonings and once you do it, you can’t go back. Always add oil to a hot wok to prevent greasy veggies.