Posts from — May 2010

When I come home, my grammy instructs me to call the house when I’m 15 minutes away.  She needs just enough time to put the fish in the steamer for 7-8 minutes.  The minute I step in the door is perfectly timed with freshly steamed fish ready for me to devour.

Like many other families, my family shows their love not so much through hugs and kisses, but through food.  It wasn’t so important to attend our games or recitals while growing up, but it was imperative for my mom and grandma to take great care and pride in my diet.

Being in NYC, I don’t eat much fish because I don’t cook it but 1-2 times a year.  To my delight, my roommate David, a talented aspiring chef, texted me at work one day:  “What time will you be home?  I got a nice piece of fish that I would like to make fresh for you.”

Striped Bass with Mushroom Broth. I would have taken a better picture, but I was too eager to eat!

Little did he know how big this gesture is to me.  I was gushing the whole time, trying to contain my cheesy smile.   I called my grandma and my mom to tell them how my roommate takes care of me.  It put them at ease to know that someone in NYC is making sure I have fish to eat.

I’m a Tang Yuan. My Grandma Said So.

Phone Conversation with My Grandma:

Me: …and then the bitch said….to me!  I don’t know what’s her problem!

G: (In her wise serious voice)  This person is absolutely useless.  If she can’t even get along with my Madeline, then she can count on getting along with no one.

Me: Really?  Am I that awesome?

G: Everybody gets along with my Madeline.  My grandbaby is the most considerate…like a “tang yuan:  mall de yuan, gum de bian” can be rolled into a ball or pressed flat.

Me: What?!!?!  But I don’t want to be a push over for other people to roll me or squash me!

G: *Sigh* Aiya!  Why is my grandchild such a dummy!  The meaning is that you are flexible and good with people.  It’s a good thing!

My G and me. I was showing her the flip screen on the camera.

So I am a tang yuan and what a great food to be!  Tang yuan represent wholeness and unity.  It is eaten on holidays with the whole family, as well as special occasions- like weddings.  Chinese like 意頭 (yi4 tou2) and tang yuan has great意頭 (roughly translate to auspicious meaning).

Tang yuan is flexible.  It can be plain or stuffed with filling (red bean, black sesame, peanut & coconut).   Tang yuan is basically a rice cake (or more so a ball).  It can be throw into any soup – sweet or savory.  If you have extra dough, it can even be squash and pan-fried.  I’m a tang yuan, well-rounded and adept to many situations.  What are you?

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