Tis the 4th of July and for most Americans its the perfect time to bust out the grill if we have not yet. Depending on what area you have your “view” of BBQ. I will not be discussing the different various at the current time though. 

With me being from the south I was brought up on Texas BBQ which is prodomninatly beef. Usually a dry rub smoked over some mesquite or pecan for hours until that perfect smoke ring is achieved (it is the lay right under the crust/bark that is pink). Speaking of the bark, I usually end up cutting the tips off for myself. It is usually the part that has been exposed the most and is trimmed before cutting and serving. I enjoy that powerful smokey dry cut that requires a drink in hand, good excuse to have a beer I guess.

I can not just have meat when it comes to BBQ, I do require a few sides to give my palette a much need time out from the smokey spiceness. For me a nice cold side of cole slaw, potato salad(the one with mustard), dill pickle slices, and a few slices of white bread and I am good to go! 

Well I know that I have been quite lax on the postings, and this one has been less informative. I was only speaking of what I expect in BBQ. 

Have a happy 4th of July everyone. 

new postings starting the 4th. sorry for going M.I.A

First and foremost sorry about taking an extra week off on the blog. Been kind of all over the place so I do apologize for that. Now that I got that out of the way on to the topic at hand.

*The practices and examples that are written about in the article below are done by some people not everyone. So please no “we do not do that” or “you’re wrong about that”

New Year is upon us! “But T-Vo wasnt the New Year a little over a month ago?” Why yes it was, however the New Year I speak of is the Lunar New Years or “Chinese” to most folks. The celebration is usually affiliated with the Lion Dance, fireworks, money filled envelopes, and lots of reds. For those who do celebrate the New Years know that it comes with many customs and family traditions. With it there are many tradional foods that are consumed and ones that should be avoided. 

I myself celebrate Tet; Vietnamese New Year. One item of food I see most often at the grocery stores, homes, and as a gift item is banh chung. Usually a square block made with glutinous rice surrounding mung bean, fatty pork and spices all wrapped up in banana leaves. There are also vegetarian versions that omit the pork or replaces with a sweeter filling. With the various ingredients are meant to represent Earth and when presented with two the represent the the earth and the sky, yin-yang, man and women… it that whole balance thought process.

Food items are consumed due to the fact that they resemble other words and symbolic reasons. Oranges sounds very much like gold in Chinese while dumplings resemble gold ingots, so they represent wealth to the coming year. Fish sounds like surpluses meant for experiencing abundance for the year; The fish should be served with the head on also. Noodles stand long life so they should not be cut especially for the new year; while egg noodles have the added symbolism of fertility as the egg represents. To add mixed vegetables to a noodle dish represents unity in the family. 

After all the savory should come some sweets. Usually a pomelo will be served(prosperity) along with many other fruits. Some where in the house all times is a “Chinese candy box” which contains red colored water melon seeds, lotus seeds (seeds represent having a large numbers of children), candied- ginger, water chestnuts, coconut, and winter melon (my favorite). Sesame seed balls stand for perfection and togetherness due to the circular shape.

The food is arranged on the table and are offerings to the ancestors showing that even though they have passed they are remembered and welcomed. Some do an offering to the Kitchen God with mostly sweets as a bride for when he reports on the family to the Jade emperor so that he speaks only sweet things.

I have only scratched the surface of thousands of years of traditions and on top of that there are many regional rituals and customs. I could continue writing on for days on end about everything and how everyone celebrates it. I can only speak of which i grew up with. If you celebrate, please let me know how you celebrate the Lunar New Year and what are your traditional.

Happy New Year to you and yours.