Chinese Hot Pot

                Hot pot is very common in Chinese families. Hot pot consists of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is simmering, ingredients are placed into the pit and are cooked at the table. Typical hot pot dishes include thinly sliced meats, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, dumplings, and seafood. Vegetables, fish, shrimp and crab should be fresh. We will usually eat hotpot with a unique dipping sauce and drinks to accompany. We usually eat hot pot in the winter because it keeps us warm. We can pick the soup base to be spicy or mild. Nowadays they introduce a pot that can have both, which we call it “yuan yam.”     

                The Chinese hot pot has a history of more than 1,000 years. Hot pot was first originated in Mongolia where the main ingredient was meat. It then spread to southern china during Tang Dynasty and Chinese people develop different ingredients such as seafood. By the Qing Dynasty, the hot pot became more famous. Back then we use traditional coal heated hot pot. Today in most families replace it with electric or propane gas. There are many ways to call hot pot. In Japan and Taiwan they call hot pot as shabu-shabu. In Thailand hotpot is called Thai Suki. In Singapore and Malaysia hot pot is known as steamboat.

                Other common ingredients for hot pot includes Fish Ball, Lobster, Octopus, tofu, spinach, pumpkin, taro, udon, crab stick, mussels, clams and etc.   

Lobster

             Lobster is my favorite food. I grew up eating lobsters. I love most of the seafood. Yesterday I eat a lobster and it made my day. There are several ways to cook lobster. For example, we can boil a lobster, steam a lobster, and bake a lobster, grill a lobster, butter flying lobster tail, and lobster with butter. I like it all and it taste so delicious and healthy. In the restaurant, butter flying lobster tails are most common where the lobster tail meat is sitting on top of the lobster shell. Baking lobster tails are other most common dishes in the traditional Chinese restaurant.

I only know how to boil a lobster. Here is a simple method for how to cook a lobster.

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 lobster per person
• Salt
• A large piece of dried seaweed (optional)

Preparation:

1.      Get your largest pot, fill it 3/4 of the way full with water

2.      Take your live lobsters (lobsters must always be alive when you buy them) one at a time and put them in the pot.

3.      Once your lobsters are in the pot, quickly cover it and wait for the water to return to a boil. When it does, count off 15-20 minutes, depending on their size. A normal 1-1 1/2 pound lobster will take 15 minutes once the boil returns.

4.      Remove your cooked lobsters and place them on a plate to cool and drain. Water will drain out of them, so make sure the plate has a lip to catch it.

5.      If you serve it on the spot, do so with clarified butter, olive oil, mayo, or, do as I do: a squeeze of lemon. I think lobster is rich enough without butter or other fat, so lemon or lime is all I give it.

 

 

 

Japanese Food

              My favorite food is Japanese Food.  I am very interested to learn about how to make Japanese food.  My young uncle, he is a Sushi Chef and sometimes he will make sushi for me. I am always on the side to watch him and learn from him. There are many Japanese restaurants out there in Manhattan, Queens and all over the world. Japanese food is very tasty and healthy. The fresh Salmon, Tuna and other fish are good for our body.  The appetizers such as edamame, seaweed salad are my favorite.  I also like Dragon roll and sweet potato roll the most.  Moreover, I like the chicken teriyaki with rice. In addition to that I like Japanese Green Tea ice cream. The ice cream is just the best because it is moderate taste. It is not too sweet. I usually will go out with my friends to eat Japanese food in Long island. My favorite Japanese restaurant is called Mizumi. Mizumi is a Japanese Sushi restaurant. I get to eat as much as I can with good prices too.  

 

 

 

one of my dreamed vacation place: Cancun

            One of my interests is to travel. Today I would like to share some information I found for this wonderful place Cancun. Cancun is a city in southeastern Mexico, located on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexican state of Quinrana Roo. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea. Cancun is world renowned tourist destination. The history of Cancun dates back to 1967 when Mexican government, recognize the importance of tourism to the country’s economic future, began to search for an ideal site for tourism development.

            Peak season in Cancun tends to run from December to April. Prices in both airfare and hotel increase dramatically during these times, while dropping in the summer and early autumn months. Late June is especially hot, so come prepared or try the off season. Hurricanes can be a major threat in late summer and autumn. The climate in Cancun is tropical, with consistent hot and humid weather throughout the year, and very warm sea temperatures.
            Downtown Cancun is a real Mexican city. There are many restaurants (One example of them is La Parrilla, , Los Arcos, El Timon de Cancun, Va que Va. all of them are really good restaurants,  Shopping centers, markets and clubs in the downtown area that you can visit during your stay.
Most popular activities in Cancun:

1)      Ocean and beaches

2)      Bird watching

3)      Swim with Dolphins

4)      The Lobster Dinner Cruise

5)      Cancun Yachts Club

6)      Scuba Diving

7)      Spa

8)      Exotic Rides Mexico

9)      Jeep Adventures

Chinese New Year

                Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday. The Chinese New Year is often referred to as the “Lunar New Year.” Chinese New Year celebrations traditionally ran from Chinese New Year's Eve, the last day of the last month of the Chinese calendar and it continues on for 15 days. This long Chinese New Year is meant for Chinese all around the World to go back to their hometown and celebrate with their families. The evening preceding Chinese New Year is an occasion for Chinese families to gather for an annual reunion dinner.

                The Chinese New Year does not have a fixed date. It changes every year according to the lunisolar Chinese calendar. This calendar is also used in counties that have been influence by Han Dynasty, notably the Koreans and Japanese.

                Few days before the Chinese New Year are the traditional for every family to clean the house, in order to sweep away any ill-fortune and welcome good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper cuts with popular themes of good fortune, longevity, wealth, happiness, and luck. Other activities include wearing new clothing, giving money in red paper envelopes, lighting firecrackers, parade and candles are lighted during prayers. The first day is for the welcoming of the deities of the heavens and earth, officially beginning at midnight.  It is a traditional practice to light fireworks, burn bamboo sticks and firecrackers to chase off bad sprits. The second day of the Chinese New Year, known as kāinián, beginning of the year “was when married daughters visited their birth parents, relatives and close friends. The third day is known as Chìkǒu directly translated as "red mouth". Incense is burned at the graves of ancestors as part of the offering and prayer ritual.