Foodie Friday: Celebrate Chinese New Year With Recipes & More

Chinese New Year is one of the longest and most celebrated Holidays in the world. As we say goodbye to the Year of The Horse and hello to the Year of The Goat, it's time to amp up your collection of Chinese recipes, beyond chop suey.  





HERE: Recipes And Kitchen Tools Guaranteed to Bring Good Luck

The Red Runner
Let's start the celebration with a cocktail, shall we? Raise your glass and say “ganbei”—Chinese for “cheers”.
Party Blu Prints Blog

Chinese Soup Dumplings With Pork And Crab
This is an authentic Xiaolongbao recipe from Top Chef star Lee Anne Wong from her book, Dumplings All Day Wong. The recipe and ingredient list is long, but this recipe promises to be long on taste, too.
 Steamy Kitchen

Sesame Prawn Toast
Though, I've never tried this, it is a well known and popular Dim Sum dish. I think it would be great as an appetizer.
Typhoon Housewares

Hakka-Style Eggplant with Prawn Filling 
What a pretty dish! Anything with prawns in the ingredient list, has my interest.
Gourmet Traveler

Almond Milk Pudding 
This delicate dessert it topped with a crunchy sesame praline. A lovely layer of textures!
SBS

Shrimp and Vegetable Dumplings
This recipe gets a helping hand with purchased dumpling wrappers. Make a big batch of these, as your company will love them!
Williams-Sonoma

Steamed Butter Crab With Shanghai Sausage
Recipe of Peter Jin, Chinese Chef of Four Seasons Hotel Shanghai. I have to be honest, this recipe has a list of ingredients that are a bit foreign to me. If you are game, the end result looks so worth the effort.
Taste - Four Seasons Hotels

Spring Rolls
Vegan and easy to make. Who knew? I never thought about making my own.
Fine Dining Lovers

 Meatballs Asian Style
An easy and colorful dish. And who doesn't love a meatball?
The Food Club

Chinese Sugar Egg Puffs
Said to be the easiest and quickest donut puff pastries ever. These donuts are called sai yong in Chinese.They are made from a type of pâte à choux dough, is very sweet, and is meant to be eaten as dessert. Yummy!
Dessert First Girl

Spicy Big Tray Chicken
"It’s not precisely a simple recipe. But it’s an excellent project one." Sounds like the perfect hearty dish to stay home and make on a cold Winter's night.
Cooking - NY Times

Wooden Chopsticks and Rests
Even though I have never mastered the art of chopstick eating, I just love them as a table accessory. These utensils are just gorgeous and made of black walnut. 
Provisions by Food 52

Spicy Asian Wings
An American favorite with an Asian twist. Love the presentation of the Peach and Mango Salsa served in wonton cups! A good dish for a crowd.
Bakers Royal

Chinese Style Potato Salad
Certainly the prettiest potato salad I have ever seen! "Ginger, chili and sesame add fragrance and flavour, while Chinkiang vinegar brings requisite piquancy to the table."
Gourmet Traveller

Five Spice Cookies With Candied Oranges
Citrus fruits are a traditional symbol of luck and wealth. And you would be lucky to try one of these sweet and spicy shortbread cookies
The Kitchn

Shiitake-and-Scallion Lo Mein
What an attractive dish! Silky Chinese Noodles are wrapped in banana leaves. Yum!
Food and Wine

No. 10 And No. 14
Elevate your beverages, soups, sauces and desserts with Chinese Five Spices and a cinnamon and ginger blend. Your guests will thank you!
Provisions by Food 52

Mission Cabbage Salad
Like confetti in a bowl! This is one colorful salad. Your guests will enjoy this Asian take on cole slaw.
Food52

Le Creuset Woks
Add some color to your Chinese cuisine. These are exactly what your Le Creuset collection needs to be complete.
Le Creuset

Mini Moo Shu Pork Pizzas
This is how you serve Chinese to an American crowd. A very fun little appetizer!
Tasty Kitchen

Hawker Stall Chicken Skewers 
Twin sisters and Sweet Mandarin owners, Helen and Lisa Tse, put modern Chinese food on the map with their popular restaurant, in Manchester England. Doesn't everything taste better on a stick? The Satay Dip puts this recipe off the chart. A must try.
Food Republic

Chinese Custard Tart
These sweet custard tarts are the perfect bite after a Cantonese meal.
Taste 

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Wedding Wednesday: Paper Style

(Via Jolly Edition)

One of the first ways to show your style to the world is via your Save The Dates and Wedding Invitations. It is the first time you can hint at your theme, set the tone, and color palette for the big day.  Your paper style is also the perfect place to showcase your creativity. It used to be that one would only consider black ink to be proper. Even back in my day, I chose a glossy green ink color, as the word traditional was never in my vocabulary. And so a traditional invitation suite will not be featured here either. It's your most special day, why not make it extraordinary?



Here: Inspiration For A Paper Style Of Your Own

Alexandria Lindo
Metallics and gold are trending for 2015. These handmade invitations combine the trend with vintage glamour.
Etsy

A Beautiful Wedding Suite in Marsala
If you really want to be on trend, plan a pretty palette in Marsala, the Pantone Color Of The Year. 
Wedding Paper Divas

Watercolor Laurel Invites
Botanical motifs are just perfect for a garden wedding or more rustic theme. This set is a sweet selection for a fabulous floral fete.
Paper Source

Flair Necessities
Gold Calligraphy Suite
These handmade invites begin with Cranes card stock. Your guests will know yours will be a glam gathering.
Etsy

Artful Floral Designed by Marchesa
Designed exclusively for Wedding Paper Divas, the Marchesa Collection is pure romance and decadent details perfect for wedding stationery. For the fashion conscious bride.
Wedding Paper Divas

Claire Pettibone Fluttering Forever
Created by one of my favorite wedding gown designers, Claire Pettibone, these butterflies aren't free, but they are fantastic. Love the grapevine laurel. 
Wedding Paper Divas

Papercrew Bamboo Scroll Invitation
Make a splash with your destination wedding invitation - ribbons, scroll and more. If someone wants me to fly to Hawaii, this over the top invite better come with a plane ticket, too! The watermark paper can be changed to your specific destination. How fun!
Etsy

ShineInvitations
These might be the new traditional. The simple clean lines are appealing for today's bride. Sleek and  modern. Love the use of initials. I did the same for mine.
Etsy

Gold Foil Black Script Invitation
Charming calligraphy and modern typography combine to create this lavishly contemporary wedding design
Paper Source

Diva Gone Domestic, Too
Modern Chic 
Perfect for a formal modern wedding. I love everything about this suite. Programs and menus also available.
Etsy

Architette Studios Skyline Series
Destination or City Wedding? Customize these invitations with the skyline of your choice. Beautiful linen cardstock is accented with the colors of your choice. Love this idea!
Etsy

Printable Table Numbers

Plan your wedding by the numbers or not. Love this idea for the travelling couple. Personalize each card with a photo of destinations the couple has visited.

Wedding Paper Divas

Yellow Bird Wedding
Grey Initial Invitation
I just love the color grey as a sophisticated wedding choice, but you can pick your own color to match your theme. These are simple yet elegant, and more affordable than some. 
Etsy

Beacon Lane Beach Romance
A Beach Wedding calls for a more relaxed vibe, but you still need to be welcoming and organized. This is a great itinerary book that will make sure your guests get where they need to be. This artisan also offers beach invitations.
Etsy

Vera Wang Pewter Invites
Designed to match one of my favorite wedding gowns of all time, these invites are perfect for any shades of grey wedding! Don't you just love the oyster white ink on this chic card stock? To find these cards, click and please put "Vera Wang Invites" in the search box.
Paper Styles
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Countdown To The Oscars: Let's Have Our Own Red Carpet Moment

With the Oscars coming this weekend, there is big anticipation as to who will wear what. Traditionally it is the awards evening that all of the stars really "bring it" in regards to fashion. Of course, the red carpet is my favorite part of the evening. The gowns are being custom made and shipped as I type. They will be one of a kind and cost tens of thousands of dollars. But what about the rest of us? We all have special evenings in our own lives, be it a wedding, prom, a charity event and more. Here, I have put together an edit of evening dresses and bags that are red carpet worthy.

Elizabeth Arden

Carmen Marc Valvo Jeweled Gown
There has been a whole lot of red on the red carpet this year. In the past, I just didn't care for the way it looked against the color of the carpet. I think I am over that now. Red is really quite eye catching, especially on a brunette. See this gown on the runway at
Saks Fifth Avenue

Sondra Roberts Minaudiere
This is a chic choice for some high low dressing. It's less than $50 yet will pair nicely with any designer gown.
Macy's

Terani Couture Beaded Sweetheart Gown
You very seldom see a long sleeve gown on the red carpet. The truth is, many women want a sleeve, and I am one of them. Love the color, as navy is very on trend right now. This gown would be flattering to many. It's affordable, too.
Dillards

Kate Spade Elliana
Fringe is so in right now. This clutch is just a bag of fun in a very rich navy. 
Kate Spade

 Ralph Lauren Collection

Selena Gown
Don't you just love a gown with a dramatic back? This stretch jersey gown is the epitome of evening glamor. Unfortunately, it is almost sold out.
Ralph Lauren

Whiting and Davis
This timeless Minaudiere comes in dimple mesh for a modern look. The hand feel of these bags is really good.
Amazon

MARCHESA
Embellished Lace and Tulle Gown
Marchesa - a name you hear on the red carpet frequently. Their gowns always make a  statement. This one looks as if it was made for Penelope Cruz. See in in motion at
Net-a-Porter

Jason Wu Box Clutch
Faceted crystals and watersnake-covered beads, add a luxe look to this chic clutch. Now reduced by 30%.
Last Call By Neiman Marcus

Donna Karan Embellished Grosgrain Floating Evening Gown
Every once in a while an actress walks the red carpet in white, and it usually is striking. This dress is so gorgeous, it could be a wedding gown.  
Donna Karan

CC SKYE Lucite Clutch
One of my favorite clutches of all time. 
CC Skye

Halston Heritage
Half-Sequined Halter Gown
If you want to shine at night, sequins are the way to go. Love that this style gives the eye a break with only half of the design covered with sequins
Neiman Marcus

Edie Parker
Jean Stripe Box Clutch
I just love a lucite clutch. This is pricey but pretty.
Neiman Marcus

Alice + Olivia 
Blythe Embroidered Crop Top and Ball Skirt
You may have noticed that a huge trend on the red carpet is cut out dresses and crop tops. I don't normally think it is very elegant. In this case, the crop top is very pretty. A close up shows some barely there skin. Might be a pretty pick for prom or any party.
Neiman Marcus

Natasha Couture Sea Urchin Clutch
Pearly beads and spiky rods give this clutch an edge.
Nordstrom





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