祝各位虎年進步, 萬事如意, 心想事成!!

Because Randy and I created our own Love-Love Day, we spent the weekend celebrating the Chinese New Year which fell on February 14th this year.

As it is the Year of the Tiger it is extra special for me since my birthday year was 1986.

Friday: Chinese dumpling party

assembling and eating pork dumplings with a lovely group of people

Saturday: Dumpling experiment and Asian flick

Randy and I had a brilliant idea to make Gyro-style dumplings. We thought dumplings were easy-peasy after our Friday experience, but it turns out there is more to it than we thought.

We mixed lamb meat, mint, feta, minced garlic, chopped red onion, and chopped mushroom to use for the filling which actually turned out to be quite delicious. The problem came when we had to quick thaw our frozen dumpling wrappers. When we boiled our dumplings, the meat shrunk up way to much (I'm thinking the lamb was too lean) and the wrappers bust rather than wrinkle up and stayed gooey and limp. We ended up with what looked like alien eggs in broth.

We did successfully cook rice, a delicious broth, and steam edamame.

But as for the dumplings:

Our idea- A+

Our execution- D

Watching Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, a Park Chan-wook film made up for it, even though it is a Korean film so does not quiiiite fit in to the Chinese theme.

Sunday: Chinese New Year celebration

I am the Art 2 teacher at the Austin Great Wall Chinese School. We had a New Year celebration on Sunday instead of usual classes.

I hosted a Paper lantern and Lucky Red Envelope origami booth. Thanks to Randy for drawing the dragon on my poster and helping cut hundreds of red paper into squares for the envelope making.

The kids were so adorable in their traditional outfits. I hung up a long chain of handmade lanterns above the prize table and it was great seeing the students from my class excitedly show their parents the lanterns they had made.

While I could not understand the speeches being made or read the signs posted on the wall, there was a warm fuzzy feeling floating around the room and it was lovely seeing several generations of families celebrating their Chinese traditions together.

I definitely got more out of this weekend than simply going out to an expensive restaurant with my boy. No matter what holiday you celebrated or who you chose to share your love with, I hope you all felt loved and continue to feel warm as this cool weather comes to an end and Spring slowly rolls in.

Happy Monday!

No Fail Kale!

I am loving this weather. Even if it isn't rainbow-colored, bright, and shiny.

I know Austin needs rain badly and I try to keep in mind that we will soon be heading in to 9 months of hot weather again. Keeping positive and finding little things to do, like wearing smiling ladybug rain boots to teach in, helps keep me happy when it is gray outside.

I am on day 34 of my Bikram Yoga Challenge. This 60 day challenge has brought along a strange side effect that I wouldn't at all call bad. I have been craving vegetables, in particular dark green superfood type veggies, and fruit more than ever before. This is forcing me to explore produce sections I did not frequent before.

Today I decided to make kale chips, something a customer told me about back when I worked at Central Market.

I have seen them on sale once in a gas station for an obscene price (something like 6 or 7 bucks a bag) and figured with Kale being $1 a bunch, might as well give it a go. Afterall, Kale IS an awesome super food.

The process was so simple. I cut the stems off the kale and cut it into smallish pieces. (They shrink significantly as they bake)

I tossed the greens in the oil mixture. Some people suggested putting them in a salad spinner after adding the oil to ensure they were not over-coated. I do not own a salad spinner so I just shook them off before arranging them in a single layer on a pan.

For one smallish bunch of curly kale, I used about 2T olive oil, one small lemon, salt and pepper to taste.

Bake at 250 for 30 minutes. I found that my smaller pieces were ready to come out about 5 minutes early. Then I turned over some of the larger pieces so they would dry out more evenly. They are done when they are crisp. So easy!

For those who have never tried Kale, I would liken it to brussel sprouts. Haven't tried those? It's a bit like broccoli- definitely meaty and can be a bit bitter when overcooked.

I already have several varieties in mind to make next time, from Salt n' Vinegar to Orange Sesame. I plan to make some baggies for my yoga team The Cobras, because we are super and all.

Happy Rainy Monday!

Love to Love to Love

I love and want some of these badly.

Too bad they are not for sale.

Randy and I made up our own version of Valentine's Day- "Love Love Sandwich Day."

We will be spreading our love on February 13th and 15th... A nice little sandwich around the actual upcoming pink and red Sunday.

I might make one of these in celebration.

P.S. I know I have been slacking in the blogosphere, but I have good reason. When I am not substitute teaching I am sleeping, cooking, and partaking in a 60 day Bikram Yoga challenge. I am on the "Cobras" team and today will make day 30! Weeeeee!

Bikram says, "Do my yoga every day for 60 days and you will have a new body, a new mind, and a new life."

After 3 days my biceps were larger. After a week my flexibility had almost returned to when I had done yoga previously, and now I am so much calmer in the room and the heat (almost) doesn't bother me. Not to mention my entire body is toned. Unfortunately my butt has shrunk more than I'd have liked :)

Now that I have reached day 30 I have the opportunity to take an advanced class and I am moy excited!

I can't wait to see what happens over the next couple of weeks.