December 15, 2014
Winter Holiday Section
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 11
HOLIDAY LIGHTS
Peacock Lane
Winter Wonderland at PIR
Dec 15-31, 6-11pm (daily except Dec 24 &
31), 6pm-midnight (Dec 24 & 31), Peacock Lane
(between SE Stark & SE Belmont St, one block
east of SE César Chávez Blvd, Portland).
Experience all the holiday warmth that 110
volts of AC power can provide as Portland’s
famous Christmas-light display illuminates the
night. The free event is presented by home-
owners, who encourage visitors to view the
display on foot and enjoy hot cocoa. Donations
are accepted. For info, visit <www.peacocklane.
net>.
Through Dec 28, 5-9pm (Sun-Thu), 5-11pm
(Fri-Sat), Portland International Raceway
(1940 N Victory Blvd, Portland). Enjoy the
annual Winter Wonderland drive-through holi-
day lights extravaganza at Portland Interna-
tional Raceway (PIR). Illuminating the skies
are Toyland, the Poinsettia Arch, Candy Cane
Lane, Reindeer Road, and 250 display pieces
featuring animated designs. For info, call (503)
232-3000 or visit <www.winterwonderlandport
land.com>.
Christmas Ship Parade
MAIN DISH OR A SIDE? Winter Quinoa Dressing with Apples and Dried Cranberries is served in Concord,
New Hampshire. Quinoa is easy to cook and offers fiber, protein, iron, and B vitamins, but no saturated fat or
cholesterol. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
A quinoa dish that can be
a side or delicious main
By Melissa d’Arabian
The Associated Press
T
he first time I heard of quinoa was
more than 14 years ago. I was at a
bustling little restaurant called Le
Loup Blanc in Paris. The menu was
plug-and-play — pick a meat, then fill out
your plate with a selection of sides. Think
upscale table-service cafeteria with
crammed quarters, French bistro charm,
and wine carafes clinking above a smoky
din.
Quinoa was one of those side choices.
And like many of us, I pronounced it
incorrectly. But however I said it, I was
glad I tried it. I was immediately hooked
on those nutty little grains, and I ordered
quinoa every time I ate there. Sometimes I
made it the star of a meatless meal.
Sometimes it nestled up to whatever meat
I opted for.
Eventually, I moved home to the U.S.,
but quinoa came with me. I loved it
because it was so versatile, so easy to cook
and so good for me.
One cooked cup of this “pseudo-cereal”
(it’s actually the seed of a plant in the same
family as spinach) offers five grams of fiber
and eight grams of protein, along with
plenty of iron (a big plus for non-meat
eaters) and B vitamins, but no saturated
fat or cholesterol.
The exciting protein news on quinoa
isn’t necessarily the quantity (though
that’s good, too), but the quality. Quinoa
offers all nine essential amino acids in the
quantities required to make it a complete
protein (unusual for vegetable-based
protein sources). Another bonus: It’s
gluten-free, which makes it a great option
for hosting gluten-free guests or for
families (like mine) that have gluten-free
members.
I like to cook up a batch of quinoa on the
weekends, then use it during the week
much as I would cooked rice — in cold
salads, in hot side dishes like a stir-fry, or
with stews and sauces. Sometimes I’ll
drizzle warm quinoa with maple syrup and
top it with berries and almonds for a
hearty breakfast.
My recipe for winter quinoa dressing is a
perfect dish for both newbies and quinoa
pros. It complements the gorgeous roasts
of winter as a side dish, or can be served as
a main event for a simple supper.
Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on
healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the
upcoming cookbook, Supermarket Healthy.
Winter Quinoa Dressing with Apples and Dried Cranberries
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
1 1/4 cups uncooked quinoa
1 3/4 cups low-sodium broth (chicken or vegetable)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 sweet Italian turkey sausages, casings removed
2 small celery stalks (or 1 large), chopped (about 1 cup)
1/2 yellow onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
6 ounces fresh mushrooms, roughly chopped
1 apple, cored and diced
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
In a large microwave-safe baking dish, combine the quinoa, broth, and olive oil.
Cover and microwave for 11 minutes, then allow to sit in the microwave for another
two minutes. Remove the dish from the microwave and stir the quinoa. Depending
on the power of your microwave, you may need to adjust the cooking time.
Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the
sausage and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the meat is golden,
about seven minutes. Add the celery, onion, and mushrooms, and cook until the
vegetables are tender, another seven minutes. Add the apple, cranberries, pine
nuts, garlic, rosemary, and sage, then cook an additional two minutes.
Combine the quinoa with the sausage and vegetable mixture and serve
immediately.
Nutrition information per serving: 240 calories (60 calories from fat, 25 percent
of total calories); 6 g fat (2.5 g saturated, 0 g trans fats); 15 mg cholesterol; 34 g
carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 8 g sugar; 10 g protein; 570 mg sodium.
Through Dec 21, Willamette & Columbia
Rivers (Portland). Watch two fleets of colorfully
decorated ships ply the Willamette and
Columbia Rivers. This year marks the 60th year
of the Christmas Ship Parade. The combined
fleets average 50 to 60 boats. For route schedule,
viewing locations, or to make a donation, visit
<www.christmasships.org>. See related story
on page 8.
“The Miracle of
a Million Lights”
Through Dec 23, 6-10pm, Victorian Belle
Mansion (1441 N McClellan St, Portland). Take
a tour of the richly appointed historic Victorian
Belle Mansion and enjoy the spectacle of 2.5
million holiday lights, along with Christmas
trees, holiday decorations, antiques, and more,
at “The Miracle of a Million Lights.” For info,
call (503) 970-0213 or visit <www.victorian
belle.com>.
Keizer light display
Through Dec 26 (daily except Dec 25),
6-10pm, Gubser Neighborhood (Keizer, Ore.).
Drive through a neighborhood holiday light
display benefitting area food-share programs.
The route, which features more than 300
decorated homes, is approximately 3.5 miles
and can take several hours to view on busy
weekend nights. Parking is available at
Whiteaker Middle School (1605 Lockhaven Dr
NE) or Gubser Elementary School (6610 14th
Ave NE) for those who wish to walk the route.
The route begins near the corner of Lockhaven
Drive NE and 14th Street NE. To find the
display, take I-5 Exit 260B to Keizer, go one-half
mile to 14th Street and follow the signs. Non-
perishable food or cash donations are accepted.
For info, call (503) 393-9111 or visit <www.
keizerchamber.com>.
Christmas Fantasy Trail
Through Dec 30 (Mon-Sat except Dec 24-25),
6-9pm, Wenzel Farm (19754 South Ridge Rd,
Oregon City, Ore). Walk down a holiday-lighted
trail featuring a suspension bridge, tunnel,
maze, crooked house, and a 40-foot castle with
Christmas scenes at the Christmas Fantasy
Trail in Oregon City. Refreshments are
available. For info, call (503) 631-2047 or visit
<www.fantasytrail.com>.
Christmas at the
Pittock Mansion
Through Jan 2, 11am-4pm (except Dec 25),
Pittock Mansion (3229 NW Pittock Dr,
Portland). View the historic Pittock Mansion in
all its holiday finery at “Christmas Past,
Present and Future,” a centennial holiday
exhibit. Visitors explore the palatial residence,
which is adorned with decorations, ribbon,
garland, poinsettias, and 20 festive trees. From
December 20 to January 2, free shuttle service
and three hours of parking are available at
Portland State University’s Parking Structure
#3 (SW 12th/13th Ave, south of SW Market St)
by using code number “15236.” For info, call
(503) 823-3623 or visit <www.pittockmansion.
org>.
ZooLights
Through Jan 4, 5-8pm (Sun-Thu except Dec
24-25), 5-8:30pm (Fri-Sat), Oregon Zoo (4001
SW Canyon Rd, Portland). Ring in the holiday
season with the annual ZooLights display at the
Oregon Zoo. The family tradition features music
and more than 1.5 million lights illuminating
life-size animal silhouettes, trees, buildings,
walkways, and the zoo train. Popular returning
displays include trumpeting elephants,
swinging siamangs, a 35-foot-long Chinese
dragon, leaping reindeer, tobogganing polar
bears, playful penguins, and more. For info, call
(503) 226-1561 or visit <www.oregonzoo.org>.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
Continued from page 10
Mimi and Bear in the Snow
Dec 27, 11am, Powell’s City of Books (1005 W
Burnside St, Portland). Join a holiday storytime
session at Powell’s City of Books. The featured
book is Mimi and Bear in the Snow, by Janee
Trasler. For info, call (503) 228-4651 or visit
<www.powells.com>.
Kwanzaa celebration
Dec 27, 1-2pm, North Portland Library (512
N Killingsworth St, Portland). Learn about the
seven principles of Kwanzaa at an event cele-
brating the third principle, Ujima (collective
work and responsibility). For info, call (503)
988-5394 or visit <events.multcolib.org>.
New Year’s at noon
Dec 31, 10am-4pm, Portland Children’s
Museum (4015 SW Canyon Rd, Portland).
Young people are invited to ring in the New Year
hours before the grownups with festive
noisemakers, countdowns, a dance party with
DJs from Greasy Kid Stuff, and more.
Countdowns are held at 11:00am, 11:30am,
noon, 12:30pm, and 1:00pm. For info, call (503)
223-6500 or visit <www.portlandcm.org>.
“New Year’s Dance
for Young Children”
Dec 31, 10:30am-noon, Northwest Library
(2300 NW Thurman St, Portland). Families are
invited to ring in the New Year with games,
dancing, snacks, and activities at “New Year’s
Dance for Young Children.” The free event is for
children younger than six years old with an
accompanying adult. For info, call (503)
988-5560 or visit <events.multcolib.org>.
New Year’s Eve celebration
Dec 31, 7pm-1am, Heart of Wisdom Zen
Temple (6401 NE 10th Ave, Portland). Let go of
last year’s errors and renew commitments to
live ethically in the upcoming year at a New
Year’s Eve celebration. The free event includes a
vegetarian potluck (attendees are asked to
bring a dish to share), meditation accompanied
by 108 strikes of the bell, and sacred dancing.
For info, call (503) 728-0654 or visit <www.
zendust.org>.
DJ Anjali & The Incredible Kid
New Year celebration
Dec 31, 8pm (doors open), 9pm-2am (dance
party), Bossanova Ballroom (722 E Burnside St,
Portland). Ring in the New Year with DJ Anjali
and The Incredible Kid, who drop the latest
electronic sounds emerging from South Asia,
the Middle East, Africa, Latin America,
Jamaica, and the U.K. The event, which is for
persons age 21 and older, marks the 14th
anniversary of the beatmasters performing for
Portland crowds. The duo debuted New Year’s
Eve 2000. For info, call (503) 281-3918 or visit
<www.anjaliandthekid.com>. To buy advance
tickets, visit <www.bossanovaballroom.com>.
First Run & Walk
Dec 31, 10pm (festivities), midnight (run &
walk), World Trade Center Plaza (121 SW
Salmon St, Portland). Start the New Year in a
healthful manner by taking part in the annual
walk or run through downtown Portland, along
the waterfront, and across two bridges. The
event features music, food, dancing, and more
beginning at 10pm. For info, or to register, call
(503) 644-6822, e-mail <events@aasportsltd.
com>, or visit <www.aasportsltd.com/firstrun>.
Go paperless! Read The Asian Reporter – exactly as it’s
printed here – online! Visit <www.asianreporter.com> and click
the “Online Paper (PDF)” link to view our last two issues.