My Love Affair with All Things Asian

Huanying and Yokoso

Which means “Welcome” in both Chinese and Japanese

I wanted to start a new blog post to showcase more of my love of all things Asian.

I probably won’t be posting many recipes here, if any, but what I do want to post is anything and everything that I deem beautiful about the Asian cultures. I do have a few Asian blog posts on this website that I will link to this one.

In addition to my believing that everything Asian is beautiful, I am also a huge fan of all the foods.

Eating at Chinese and Japanese restaurants, or even getting Take Out from the local Asian Fast Food scenes is something that we love to do and that we do often.

It is normal to us to run by 3 different Asian Take Out restaurants on our way home for dinner.

We don’t just go to one! Too many good ones out there to pass by.

Sometimes it’s fun eating out of the cute little Asian Take Out containers, and other times I like to get out our Asianware and set the table. Here is one of those times.

The pretty fans I found at my favorite thrift store.

My pretty Asian set here I purchased from a restaurant that was going out of business in San Francisco.

Plums at the Center of Attention

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Always Kimchi

Kimchi is a Korean Cabbage loaded with healthy bacteria.

This was a beautiful and Delicious Dinner.

I hope you’ll join me and stop by in to see what new things I’ve posted.

Zaijian and Sayonara

Julie

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Blog Posts Will Begin Here……..

(Recipe Down Below)

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Manapua, and a Candle that just Won’t Light

Click Here For: Asian Steamed Buns

If you would like the recipe for our Manapua.

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Noodle Bowls

Hawaiian Fried Noodles

From our many years of living in Hawaii, Fried Noodles are a staple at every get-together on the island. Whether it be an office party, a child’s birthday party, a luau, a wedding, a beach party….

You will always find them!

I believe that everyone’s does vary with ingredients, but you can always spot the dish and it does go very fast! We recently made yet another batch. Although every time we make them we do it a bit differently.

A Cascade of Noodles

If you would like the recipe we do have it listed here on this post:

Whann Way Aloha

Just scroll down the post until you come to it.

Aloha,

Kulii (Julie)

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The Year of the RAT

Saturday, January 25, 2020

It was right before Chinese New Year that I found out that I am a RAT. I had always thought I was an OX because when we would eat at Chinese Restaurants and they would place that paper place mat in front of you with all the Chinese Zodiac signs and symbols and years, 1961=The OX.

What they don’t tell you on those paper place mats are the exact days of the Lunar New Year and when the year of The Ox actually began in 1961. Hint: February 15th. I was born on February 13, 1961. That makes me a RAT. Not an OX.

At first I was a little bit upset by it. I mean, a RAT? Rat’s aren’t good. Rat’s aren’t honorable. Why am I a rat? However, when I read the profile of a rat it fit me. I am an Aquarius in the “other” Zodiac. And it fits me to a T. However, I always wondered why the OX never fit me? Well, now it makes sense. Because I never was an OX, I was always a RAT.

Gordon, whose birthday is January 8, 1965 always thought that he was a snake because that is what the paper menu said about people born in 1965. However, because of the Lunar Year Gordon is actually a DRAGON! A DRAGON! A fickin’ awesome DRAGON! While I am a RAT. (He got an upgrade. I’m still not sure about me.)

Our Homemade Chinese New Year Dinner

Every Chinese New Year we always hit about 3 different Chinese Restaurants, including the Asian Supermarket, picking up all sorts of goodies for our celebration. However, this year because of the Coronavirus Pandemic I told Gordon to skip the Asian shopping and just come home and we will just make something here. Oh, not to be racist at all! But, the virus did originate from there and I would think that the Asian Restaurants and Supermarkets would be where it was. Not necessarily because of it’s workers, but because of it’s customers. So very sadly, we stayed away.

Gordon ended up making Fried Rice and Potstickers.

Our very meager meal. It was delicious!

But, we do miss the grandeur of the Asian food that we would purchase.

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The Traits of the RAT

The RATS are clever, quick thinkers; successful, but content with living a quiet and peaceful life.

That would be ME! 🙂

The RAT is the first of the Zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor, said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. The RAT tricked the OX into giving him a ride. Then, just as they arrived at the finish line, RAT jumped down and landed ahead of OX.

The RAT is also associated with the Earthly Branch, and the Midnight Hours. In the terms of Yin and Yang, the RAT is Yang and represents a New Day.

In Chinese Culture, RATS were seen as a sign of wealth and surplus. Because of their reproduction rate, married couples also prayed to them for children.

Although I am not going to list all the traits of the RAT. I really was amazed how well the profile fit me. I am a bit upset however, that the RAT did trick the OX into giving him a ride only to then outfox the OX when they arrived at their destination. So, the RAT finished the race first.

Long before I found out I was a RAT I always admired the small people that can outsmart the large people. I would always say that it doesn’t matter how big you are, just how smart you are. And low and behold I end up being this small being in the Chinese Zodiac.

So, do I believe in this stuff? Sure I do! Why? I have no idea! 🙂

P.S. Gordon the frickin’ awesome DRAGON comes in 5th. in the race! Just like I said, It doesn’t matter how big you are, just how smart you are! 🙂 And I will be rubbing that in his face!

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Potstickers

Served here with Aloha Shoyu.

We first learned of Potstickers from our 13 years of living in Hawaii. They have been a staple in our house ever since. Buy the bags in the grocery store with all the Asian writing on them and you will get the good stuff. Remember that. 🙂

Here is our favorite way we like to cook them. They are always frozen when we start. Just place as many as you like into a saucepan. But first, place into the pan about 1/4 cup of water and 3 T. of vegetable oil. The potstickers do have a flat side, place that side down into the pan. Have your heat on a medium-high. Place a lid on top of them. The lid doesn’t have to fit perfectly. Here Gordon is placing the lid down into the pan and on top of the potstickers. When the water starts to boil, let it boil for about 8 – 10 minutes. Then, remove the lid to allow the water to steam away, leaving just the oil in the pan. Now you are basically frying them. Continue to fry until the one side turns brown. And then they are done!

You can see the nice caramelization. You can taste it too! 🙂

Eat with your favorite dipping sauce.

Top with some spring onions.

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Asian Cocktail Sausages

I believe that we based this recipe on an old recipe of Nigella Lawson’s. I don’t even remember what she called them but they were so delicious! I remember that she used Black Soy Sauce and Clementine’s. We have made this quite a few times but we end up changing it around occasionally depending on what ingredients that we can acquire.

But, they are always Asian in nature.

Here we are using 2 packages of mini Cocktail Sausages, the juice of about 2-3 Naval Oranges, some Sweet Soy Sauce, some Chili Garlic Sauce, and some Sweet Chili Sauce. We don’t even really do measurements. We just place everything into a baggie and let it marinade overnight.

The next day we place them into a dish and bake on 350F for about 20 minutes or so until they are done. They will plump up nicely. Stab with a cocktail pick and enjoy!