Your Chinese New Year Celebration - Asian Flavors and Style

Peking Duck House & Ping restaurants on Mott Street in Lower Manhattan

This year Chinese New Year is February 19th! The Year of the Sheep, I really like the way Asian style and flavor permeates everything. Just like fashion, cooking is an art form so it is no small surprise to see Chinese restaurants and markets mingled in along side dress shops nearly the whole length of Mott Street in Chinatown. The two just compliment each other so take a cue for Your Chinese New Year Celebration!

Panda Clothing Shop at 24 Mott Street selling beautiful Mandarin style jackets

Your Chinese New Year Celebration

So this Chinese New Year, try immersing yourself in the culture with a beautiful satin or silk top/dress, something jade and an array of delicious Asian foods for yourself and your party guests.

 I'm wearing this lovely Black Cranes dress by Joseph Altuzarra for Chinese New Year

The Black Cranes Dress by Joseph Altuzarra has four flying cranes embroidered in gold thread. The dress has satin tuxedo lapels and a gold zipper up the side. Joseph is known for his plunging necklines and high leg slits so this dress does not disappoint there! The belt shown in the photo is not included so try a wide banded wrap style to replicate this look. Part of his capsule collection for Target, this structured black dress is my choice to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Structured Black Cranes Dress by Joseph Altuzarra for Target.  PHOTO: c/o Target

Try new flavors and textures! Steamed dumplings with an array of traditional Asian Sauces.

Hosting your own Chinese New Year Party can be as simple or as ambitious as you like. You can make some delicious heat and eat: steamed dumplings, egg rolls, pork ribs, hot wings, chicken fried rice and more. All of these are available in the frozen food section of most grocery stores.

You can also go the other route and simply order Chinese takeout or do a combination of both! There are no rules here, just go with what you like and is easiest for you. As an example, my college friend Jean Chen taught me how to make Egg Foo Young using a Wok. Her family owned a Chinese Restaurant near Princeton, NJ so she knew her stuff! So certain Asian style dishes I can make on my own and others I prefer to order out.

Spice is Nice!
Whether you decide to make it from scratch or order takeout, you'll always want to have a few traditional Asian spices and sauces on hand to take that meal over the top. This will give your Chinese dishes an authentic flavor and delicious complexity. I like Lee Kum Kee of Hong Hong's array of fantastic, restaurant quality sauces and condiments. If you are just starting off, these four sauces should be in every cook's kitchen who wants to cook Asian style:

My Four Essential Sauces and Spices to enjoy authentic Asian cuisine.

Garlic Hoisin Sauce (thicker and more complex than plain soy sauce)
Minced Ginger can also be used in a marinade
Plum Sauce which goes so well on crispy egg rolls, chicken and pork
Shrimp Paste of which a little goes a long way. Very concentrated but essential to many seafood dishes

Some Like it Hot
If you want to add a little kick to your menu, you've got to try this new Sriracha Chile Ketchup. It is SO delicious without being overly spicy and hot. Just enough kick for: Hot Wings, Ribs, Shrimp, Pork. See the entire line of restaurant quality sauces from Lee Kum Kee online.

NEW! Sriracha Chili Ketchup

So bring it all together for Chinese New Year. It's like getting a restart on 2015. You can learn to prepare some new dishes and try different cooking techniques such as steaming using bamboo baskets. A great way to prepare vegetables, stuffed dumplings and fish that's low in fat but big on flavor. Eating with chopsticks also slows you down, helping you to eat less. Try it!

Bamboo Steamer Dumplings: (L-R) Plum Sauce, Shrimp Paste, Minced Ginger and Garlic Hoisin Sauce

Joseph Altuzarra Black Cranes Dress - Mine
Asian Sauces c/o Lee Kum Kee

Fun and Games: Throwing Your Own Superbowl Party

Essentials for watching the game and cheering your team!

Superbowl Parties can be a great way to kick back with friends in a super-relaxed way. So prepare to host this year's Superbowl Game in comfy cozy style.

Zooop It Up in this cool Adult American Flag Onsie 80% soft cotton terry with two zippered side pockets and two hand pockets up front. So cozy and perfect for watching the game and cheering your favorite team. Unisex means you can get one for your guy too. Check them out at ZooopItUp.com

Zooop It Up on game day in these cozy adult designer onesies.

Game Time Snackage
Try going light and organic with some delicious, ultra fresh popped corn from G. H. Cretors. Since 1885 this family has been making their famous popcorn in small batches. A 3 3/4 cup serving is only 150 calories. Lightly sea salted, this is gourmet popcorn to cheer about. Make it more festive by serving them in these nostalgic movie theater popcorn boxes. Visit GHCretors.com online for all the popped corn flavors and store locations.

G. H. Cretors Organic Popped Corn

Burgers Done Light

I like to use my Panini Grill press to make toasty sandwiches and grill turkey burgers. You can make lower fat Cluck n Moo Burgers which have about 50% less fat than whole beef patties. You really can't tell the difference. They are delicious. With my Panini Grill, I can make them to order for my guests, up to four at a time. Below are Cluck n' Moo Burgers with Kale! You can make your own too using 1/2 ground turkey or ground chicken and 1/2 ground beef.

Cluck n Moo Burgers with Kale

Red's All Natural Burritos

These natural burritos are perhaps the closest to my own homemade versions. My favorite? The Chicken of course! Other varieties include steak, beans, beef and cheese all of which are super delicious. Find Red's at the frozen food section at Wegman's or visit online at RedsAllNatural.com

Red's All Natural Burritos

Hot Wings with Sriracha Chili Ketchup

Hot Wings are pretty much a staple of all tailgate and game time celebrations. If you are making your own from scratch, try using Lee Kum Kee Sriracha Chili Ketchup. It has a delicious kick without being burning hot. It can also be used on burgers, hot dogs and more for a little extra zing. See all the great Lee Kum Kee sauces and condiments at LKK.com

Lee Kum Kee - Hong Kong Sriracha Chili Ketchup makes hot wings sing!

Deli Sandwiches

These are easy enough to do. Get some rye and whole wheat bread and fill them with pastrami, corned beef, ham, etc. You can also order a huge sub and cut it into sections.  Set out the various kinds of mustard and mayo so your guests can help themselves. Easy!

Lattes

I like to make a pot of coffee and let guests help themselves. I like the Krups Latteccino Machine as it has a milk frother on the side and can make all kinds of brewed gourmet coffee treats.

Have Your Cake and Eat it Too

Even your gluten and dairy free friends won't feel left out with these new, delicious Whoopie Pies by the Piping Gourmets. They are called that because Amish farmers would find them in their lunch pail and yell "Whoopie!" Martha Stewart just had a recipe showing how to make heart shaped - strawberry creme filled ones for Valentine's Day. The Chocolate Cake ones are my favorites and they can be served frozen or thawed. They even look like little footballs! Yum. Check them out at ThePippingGourmets.com

Clothing, foods and products c/o the companies so listed and included herewith