Lunar New Year
January 16, 2017
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 19
Cooking on deadline: Asian Bok Choy
By Katie Workman
The Associated Press
Lunar New Year 2017 events
from NYC to Disney to Vegas
Continued from page 8
f you tend to fall into cooking ruts, one easy way to
snap out of it is to check out the holiday calendars of
different cultures. Next up on my list of inspirations is
the Lunar New Year.
I love cooking Chinese and Asian food all year, but
certain foods carry symbolism in Chinese culture and are
intrinsic parts of the holiday. Many new year’s foods are
associated with luck and prosperity. Long noodles
symbolize longevity; the word for “orange” in Chinese is
similar to the word for “gold,” thus signifying wealth, so
that fruit is commonly presented and shared (the round
shape also signifies fullness); fish is served whole, to
symbolize a strong year to come, start to finish; and green
foods are equated with money.
It takes just a few ingredients — garlic, ginger, soy
sauce, hot chili sauce — to turn a variety of vegetables into
a delicious Asian side dish. Because my husband is knee-
deep in love with bok choy these days, that was the vegeta-
ble I picked to create my prosperity green vegetable dish.
Bok choy is available in cute baby versions, but for this
dish you can use the inexpensive bigger bunches. Look for
it in well-stocked produce sections or Asian stores.
This dish has a nice amount of cooking liquid, so serve it
over rice alongside a main course.
I’m under no illusion that money equals happiness, but
I do know that this green dish makes my family happy,
Photo/Sarah E. Crowder via AP
I
and that’s a rewarding feeling. Wishing all of you lots of
luck in the Year of the Rooster.
Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-
friendly cooking, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.
Asian Bok Choy
Serves 6
Start to finish: 20 minutes
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
2 pounds bok choy, trimmed, sliced into 1-inch pieces, and rinsed
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon Sriracha or other hot chili sauce
Place the sesame seeds, if using, in a large stock pot or braiser (this will seem silly, but you will use the same pan
to cook the bok choy). Heat the pan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until you can smell the sesame
seeds and they turn a bit more golden in color. This will only take two or three minutes, so watch carefully that they
don’t get too brown. Turn the seeds then put them onto a small plate and set aside.
Heat the vegetable oil in the same pan over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and the ginger and stir for one
minute until you can smell the aromas. Add the bok choy (it’s OK if it’s still a bit damp) and stir for another two
minutes, then pour in the chicken broth, soy sauce, and hot sauce, and bring to a simmer. Cover the pan and cook
the bok choy for about eight minutes, until it is tender, stirring occasionally. Transfer to a serving bowl with its
cooking liquid and serve hot, with the sesame seeds sprinkled on top if desired.
Nutrition information per serving: 65 calories (34 calories from fat); 4 g fat (0 g saturated, 0 g trans fats); 0 mg
cholesterol; 316 mg sodium; 5 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 3 g protein.
In Manhattan, holiday
events include a January
28 firecracker ceremony
and cultural festival in
Sara D. Roosevelt Park and
a February 5 Lunar New
Year parade kicking off at
1:00pm. There’s also a
parade and festival in
Flushing on February 4.
San Francisco
San Francisco has been
celebrating the Lunar New
Year with a parade that
dates back to the 1860s.
This year’s event rolls the
evening of February 11
with acrobats, lion dancers,
floats, and a 268-foot
dragon, kicking off at
Second and Market streets.
Other events include a
flower market fair held
January 21 and 22 as well
as a 5K/10K run-walk on
February 19.
Las Vegas
In Las Vegas, January 28
is the kickoff for a 15-day
celebration at the Lucky
Dragon Hotel & Casino, a
new resort themed on
Asian culture. Elsewhere
in Las Vegas, at The LINQ
Promenade, a four-day
festival
is
scheduled
January 27 through 30 that
includes dragon dances at
6:00pm nightly on the
Fountain Stage.
A January 27 through 29
“Chinese New Year in the
Desert” event includes
performances, a parade on
Fremont Street, a party at
Downtown
Container
Park, and a DragonFest
Benefit Concert at The
LINQ Theater.
Other Las Vegas venues
hosting lion and dragon
dances, parades, perfor-
mances, and more include
the Cosmopolitan, ARIA
Resort & Casino, The
Palazzo Las Vegas and The
Venetian Las Vegas, the
MGM Grand Hotel and
Casino, the Palms Casino
Resort and the Bellagio,
and Palace Station. The
Conservatory & Botanical
Gardens at the Bellagio
will host a display that
includes
incense,
red
lanterns, and a rooster
perched atop a mountain.
The Palazzo’s Waterfall
Atrium and Gardens will
host a 15-foot, crystal-
covered rooster and an
18-foot dragon. In addition,
many restaurants offer
holiday menus.
Additional Lunar New
Year parades are also
scheduled in Portland and
Washington,
D.C.
on
January 29; Chicago on
February 5; and Orlando,
Florida on February 11.
To view a list of some
Lunar New Year events
taking place in Oregon and
Washington, see page 15.
Celebrating the
Year of the Rooster!
January 28, 2017 through
February 15, 2018!
chinese new year
year of the rooster
presented by lan su chinese garden
january 28 - February 12, 2017
Chinese New Year sponsored by:
year of the rooster
events include
Lion Dances every weekend
Dramatic Lantern Sculptures
Children’s Performances
Feng Shui Talks
Kid’s Activities
Martial Arts Demonstrations
Rooster & Chicken Show & Tell
What to do if one starts in yours: Never put water on a grease or oil fire. Keep a lid handy
and more!
pan to extinguish the fire. Don’t run outside with the burning pot. Keep a fire extinguisher
in the kitchen. If the fire continues, leave the home and call 9-1-1.
A Message from the Oregon Life Safety Team: A Coalition of
Fire Service, Community and Insurance Professionals
year of the rooster
To schedule a blood donation
call 1-800-G IVE-LIFE or
visit HelpSaveALife.org.
The Autze n Fo und atio n
The Te mp le to n Fo und atio n
when cooking. If a fire starts in a pan, turn off the burner and carefully slide the lid over the
Give blood.
Supported in part by grants from:
See a complete schedule of Chinese New Year events at
www.lansugarden.org/chinesenewyear