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Chinese New Year 2013

 Chinese New Year falls in February 10th this year. 2013 is the year of the snake. The lunar calendar determines the date every year meaning Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January to mid-February. People supposedly born in the year of the snake are charming, wise and intuitive.

 

Traditions and customs
- Clean your house before New Year to get rid of back luck.
- Settle all debts before new year.
- New Years feast with family and friends, eat longevity noodles, fish and chicken as they are signs of prosperity.
- Do not cut hair or use anything sharp as it indicates losing good fortune.
- Wear red to scare away bad fortune.
- The infamous red envelope to family and friends for good luck throughout the year.
- Greeting people with Happy New Year

Events in Sydney

Chinese New Year Markets
Belmore Park, Eddy Avenue, Sydney
8th Feb: 4pm - 10pm
9th Feb: 11am - 10pm
10th Feb: 11am - 10pm

 

A perfect way to start Chinese New Year. There will be traditional Chinese foods including dumpling, noodles and spicy flavours. Come along for the free entertainment , competitions and even learn cooking tips form former MasterChef contestants.

Chinese New Year Twilight Parade
Sydney Town Hall to Chinatown, 483 George Street, Sydney
Sunday 17th Feb, 8pm
$0.00-$66.00

A highlight of Chinese New year. City building light up and become part this magical parade. It features pre-parade entertainment, acrobats and music.This event is not to be missed.

Dragon Boat Races
Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour, Sydney
Saturday 23rd Feb - Sunday 24th Feb
8am - 5pm

Watch 12-metre long boats decorated to resemble a dragon, race down Cockle Bay. This festive atmosphere will sure get you excited. Experience Chinese New Year 2013 right in Sydney! 

 - Amy 

A little piece of home...

My posts have been very universal in terms of food, I’ve been skipping between countries but now, with this last post I think its time to bring it home. Home for me is a traditional Pakistani dish known as Chicken Tikka. The word Tikka means bits, piecces or chunks. Chicken Tikka is an easy-to-cook dish in which chicken chunks are marinated in special spices and then grilled on skewers.

 

Ingredients that you will need:

• 1kg chicken fillets, cut into pieces
• ¼ cup natural yogurt
• 2½ teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
• 2½ teaspoons fresh garlic, crushed
• 50ml vegetable oil
• 2½ teaspoons salt
• 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
• 3 teaspoons garam masala (spice mix)
• ½ teaspoon hot chilli powder (optional)
• 4 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2-3 pinches of tandoori colour or turmeric powder or 5 teaspoons sweet paprika powder (for colour)

Garnish:

• 1½ teaspoons chat masala (tangy spice mix)
• 3 teaspoons lemon juice
• onion rings
• Fresh coriander, chopped

 

 

Method

1. Blend the yogurt with a whisk then add all the other marinade ingredients. Mix well. Add the chicken fillets and ensure that they get well covered with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
2. Before cooking insert chicken pieces onto skewers. If you want some vegetable to go with it, a great idea is to put a few pieces of capsicum or tomato in between the pieces of chicken on the skewer and grill them.
3. Cook the chicken until the surface is flecked with brown and the chicken gets tender, about 4 minutes on each side.
4. Arrange on a plate with either white rice or small wedges of limes or with Raita, cutney (mint yoghurt dip) and fresh salad. They can also be served with naan (bread).

This dish is easy to make with minimal effort and best of all is not very time consuming to make. So I hope you enjoy it!

G'day Mate! Ya like an ANZAC Biscuit?

►► Please take a virtual ANZAC biscuit ☺

Living in Australia, we often forget that despite our Multiculturalism, we also have a very distinct, and more often than not, a very stereotypical Australia culture. 

And where there's a culture, there's always an iconic food, in this case- ANZAC Biscuits!

ANZAC Biscuits is associated with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) of World War I. 

This sweet biscuit is made ffrom using rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, golden syrup, baking soda, boiling water, and optionally desiccated coconut.
Have you noticed something special about these ingredients? Well?

Best places to drink in Sydney

El Loco- Mexican Bar and Restaurant (Mini tacos on cheap and hot drinks)
64 Foveaux Street, El loco, Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills 
Closest station: Central

http://www.elloco.com.au/


1. The moment you step through the slide doors you enter a cantina in Mexico. The walls are adorned with Mexican art and huge cactus table numbers line the bar counter. Bottles of tequila filled with floating scorpions entice you to the bar. Straight up the 5 dollar tacos are being ordered up. The Mojitos and Loco Rojo Margarita make this a perfect place to start a big night.



2. Scary Canary (Thai buckets and cool tunes)

469 Kent Street, Sydney
Closest station: Townhall

http,scarycanarybar.com/

This popular backpacker night scene is nearby Darling Harbour and is a great place to stumble into after a long night. The dance floor goes off and the cheap Thai buckets with vodka attract loads of people. Saturday night is ladies night! Ladies can get in for free all night and have a free glass of champagne before 11pm. This place is trashy fun and great to chat to backpackers.

3. Grandma’s (cute bar with Cool Nanna Deco and tantalizing cocktails)
275 Clarence Street, Sydney 
http://www.grandmasbarsydney.com.au/

Grandma’s is tucked away in a basement nearby Townhall. It’s a cute place to chill with friends and enjoy interesting cocktails. The niche deco of baskets, embroidery art and cane chairs add a homely feeling. The Bar tenders are attentive, friendly and great to chat to, also they make up some seriously mean drinks. Good classy place to enjoy a few drinks.

By Sigrid 

POTATO SALAD! YUM.......................

 

Potato salad is an easy and less time consuming dish to make. The key to a great potato salad depends on the variety of potato you use and how you cook it. Here is a simple recipe to make yummy potato salad you like.

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

 

      1000g red skinned potatoes

150g diced bacon

2 spring onions

20 g olive oil

6 eggs

500g water

 

Dressing

 

200g mayonnaise

15g whole grain mustard

10g balsamic vinegar

 

 

Method

 

 

 

1.  Add bacon, oil and spring onion (keep a little for garnish) to bowl. 

2. Put diced potatoes and add 500g water to the bowl and steam for 15 minutes.

3. Boil the 6 eggs for a further 14 minutes.

4. Check potatoes are cooked.

5. Put eggs into a sink or bowl of cold water to cool down as you peel them.

6. Quarter and slice eggs.

7. Add dressing ingredients and pour potatoes into your salad bowl.

8. Add eggs and shaved on top.

9. Pour dressing from bowl over the salad and mix dressing through until combined.

10.  Top with some spare spring and refrigerate until cool and serve.
    
    
    
    - Harthika

 

Grow your own Veggie Patch!

Keys to starting your own garden:

Growing and eating from your own garden is extremely rewarding. It does take time, dedication and persistence to grow your own produce, however it is completely worthwhile. I grow my own spinach and silverbeet which is so handy when I want to make salads and green juices. By growing your own food you also become more health conscious and eco-aware. There are many benefits including saving money, time as you don’t have to run up to the grocers as much and you are joining a community movement that promotes a slower more conscious way of living.

Check out this link for tips :) 

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/01/11/7-tips-for-starting-your-own-vegetable-garden/

Tips for growing Veggies:

Choose veggies that are in season and suit the climate as these will grow better.

Water daily! If you forget to water daily especially when they are still seedlings the plants can shrivel and wither up very quickly.

Use good quality compost and soil so water can be retained in the soil for longer and nutrients can feed the plants.

Make sure you check that plants are placed in a good position in the garden. Some plants can’t handle much sun while others happily thrive in hot and humid conditions.

Consider protecting your plants using chicken mesh and wooden sticks as birds, wallabies and other animals can take a liking to your scrumptious goods.

By Sigrid