Happy Chinese New Year 2017 : Saturday 28 January

Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival in China, is China's most important traditional festival. It is also the most important celebration for families, and a week of official public holiday.

The Date of Chinese New Year Is NOT January 1st - Chinese New Year 2017 is on Saturday January 28. This year (2017) China's Spring Festival public holiday is from January 27 to February 2.

Chinese New Year 2017 — is a year of the Rooster according to the Chinese 12-year animal zodiac cycle. Other Rooster years include: … 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017… If you were born then you’re a Rooster. Each Chinese zodiac year begins on Chinese New Year's Day.

You can read more about Chinese New Year here

If you may be looking for a Chinese Meal suggestion how about his one by Ken Hom ... It's Cashew Chicken ... tender pieces of chicken breast are stir-fried with crunchy, sweet cashew nuts in this classic Chinese dish.

Ingredients:

Serves Four
450g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into large chunks
1 egg white
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp cornflour
300ml groundnut oil or water, plus 2 tsp groundnut oil
100g cashew nuts
1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine or dry Sherry
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1 shredded spring onion, to garnish ( also known as scallions or green onions, spring onions are in fact very young onions, harvested )

Method:
1. Put the chicken in a bowl with the egg white, sesame oil, cornflour and 1 tsp salt, and mix well. Chill for 20 mins.

2. If you are using oil for velveting the chicken, heat a wok until very hot and then add the oil. When it is very hot, remove the wok from the heat and immediately add the chicken, stirring vigorously to prevent it sticking. After about 2 mins, when the chicken turns white, quickly drain it and all of the oil into a stainless steel colander set over a bowl. Discard the oil. If you are using water instead of oil, do exactly the same but bring the water to the boil in a saucepan before adding the chicken. It will take about 4 mins for the chicken to turn white in the water.

3. If you have used a wok, wipe it clean. Heat it until it is very hot, then add the 2 tsp of groundnut oil. Add the cashew nuts and stir-fry for 1 min. Add the rice wine or dry Sherry and soy sauce. Return the chicken to the wok and stir-fry for 2 mins. Scatter over the spring onions and serve immediately.

Original recipe, including nutritional breakdown, here

We bring a variety of articles, studies etc. plus recent news/views and recipe ideas to this blog, we hope something for everyone to read and enjoy. Please note, not all may be suitable for you.
If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter.

But to conclude … wherever you are … whatever nationality … at this time I would join in the Chinese custom and wish everyone peace and prosperity in the coming year. Maybe we should add good health too...

All the best Jan