Lucky Lucky New Year's Noodles

"We are noodle folk, broth runs through our veins."
-- Mr. Ping, Kung Fu Panda.

In China, noodles are considered to be a symbol of long life, and eating them on special occasions, supposedly, brings you good luck.

To the Chinese, food is life, health and a pastime that is best shared with others. So, to welcome home my best friend, Olivia, (and to honor my very favorite character from Hetalia), I thought it'd be a fun idea to whip out my wok, and cook us up some longevity to help reign in the new year.

I should add, that red, the traditional color associated with good luck, is also included in the meal. Usually it makes its appearance by adding red meat or cabbage to the dish, but my particular recipe called for neither. (My attention for details is such a hindrance, I swear.) Rather than dismissing this subtley, however, we merely improvised. Substituting the red meat with radishes, and serving it up on red plates, our dinner looked almost professional. Now to just sit down, and eat it.

There's a snag, though.

There are special ways to cook, eat, and keep your lucky noodle from breaking, (which is considered to be a bad omen). You can't just blaze in there, chopsticks drawn! Heavens, no. Each noodle has to remain completely intact and wholesome. Which -- in my case -- was apparently easier said, than done. Aiyah.  

So, perhaps I won't get everything I hope for in 2011, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try. Broken noodles be damned.

ni chi le ma? (Have you eaten yet?)

{Noodle Photo via WeHeartIt}

Cooking With Chopin

(Right, well, before I get started with all this blogging business, I would love nothing more than to give a shout-out and a huge "Arigatou Gozaimasu" to my dear friend, Ashley, for putting up with my crazy schemes and ridiculously time-consuming blog layout. =D You continually amaze me, friend. Je t'aime.)

Now then, to start, I would like to begin with this factual statement: I hate, nay, detest, nay, loath winter.
There are few things in this world that I dislike more, (but we'll save those for a later date).

The few joys I do find in this grim, bleak season is the food, and the clothing. (Tailored long-sleeved shirts and pea-coats are always fashionable, and dare I say, sexy? And the food, well, how can you go wrong with cup o' noodles, and a tall glass of hot chocolat?)

On this particularly cold evening, "Chicken and Potato Dumpling Soup", was on the brain. And who better to cook it with than old, musical friends of mine: Frederic Chopin, Ludwig van Beethoven and Johannes Brahms.

Their wisdom is invaluable.

Chopin: Spice it up with some violin.
Beethoven: Let it simmer with just a touch of "Fur Elise".
Brahms: ... needs salt.

Ah, how would I cook without you, my friends? Truly, you are wondrous in what you do best: entertaining me whilst I parade around the kitchen, as I pretend to know what I'm doing. My thanks.

(Image via WeHeartIt)