Simplybest from food and life: 12/1/11

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Winter Solstice/Tang Yuan

It's Dong Zhi or winter solstice (22nd Dec) an important event in the Chinese custom. It signifies the longest night in the year.. Some people celebrate it on a bigger scale than Chinese New Year. On this day, the Chinese will make Tang Yuan (汤圆) to signify the arrival of winter and by eating this we will be a year older. In Chinese custom, the round shaped rice ball symbolizes togetherness and completeness of the family. Today, these glutinuous rice balls come in rainbow colours like pink, yellow, blue, green...... I remember my grandmother made them only in pink and natural white, without filling. Today, people are more creative and Tang Yuan comes with filling like peanuts, black sesame, red beans.
You might be interested (thanks to Lily) to read this........ http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa122200a.htm

Frankly, while making this, I felt abit homesick :-(

<div style="background-color: white; color: #535353; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 15px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXVq6008b4E/TvI_QbqCnmI/AAAAAAAACag/LshoZFyPVLc/s1600/PC213403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JXVq6008b4E/TvI_QbqCnmI/AAAAAAAACag/LshoZFyPVLc/s400/PC213403.JPG" width="400"></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br>
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's Dong Zhi or winter solstice (22nd Dec) an important event in the Chinese custom. It signifies the longest night in the year.. Some people celebrate it on a bigger scale than Chinese New Year. On this day, the Chinese will make <strong>Tang Yuan</strong> (汤圆)  to signify the arrival of winter and by eating this we will be a year older.  In Chinese custom, the round shaped rice ball symbolizes togetherness and completeness of the family. Today, these glutinuous rice balls come in rainbow colours like pink, yellow, blue, green......  I remember my grandmother made them only in pink and natural white, without filling.   Today, people are more creative and Tang Yuan  comes with filling like peanuts, black sesame, red beans.  </span><br>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You might be interested (thanks to Lily) to read this........ http://chineseculture.about.com/library/weekly/aa122200a.htm</span></span><br>
<div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><br>
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><br>
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;"><br>
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-small;">Frankly, while making this, I felt abit homesick  :-(</span></div><span style="background-color: white;"></span><br>
</div>

Halle (a little Christmas Market)

Son of Halle - Handel..... 'Michael Jackson' of the 1700 :-)
After Leipzig, we made a short drive to Halle. The Christmas Market is small and not different from Leipzig. Lots of grill - sausages and game.

How did he do this ?

While walking through the Viktualien market in Munich, I saw this (DING). There was nothing else around him. Looked like he was floating. What happens when he let go the stick ?

Have a closer look. Can someone please explain leh.

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While walking through the Viktualien market in Munich, I saw this (DING).  There was nothing else around him.  Looked like he was floating.   What happens when he let go the stick ?</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ssN2UW4ask8/Tt5ATlSwfWI/AAAAAAAACY0/MaDzxJj6bYc/s1600/P1050854-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ssN2UW4ask8/Tt5ATlSwfWI/AAAAAAAACY0/MaDzxJj6bYc/s320/P1050854-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have a closer look.  Can someone please explain leh.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YVxR3d1VCbI/Tt5AZeMN4aI/AAAAAAAACY8/9zZJWe1cRTQ/s1600/P1050855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YVxR3d1VCbI/Tt5AZeMN4aI/AAAAAAAACY8/9zZJWe1cRTQ/s400/P1050855.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Christmas Market 2011 - Munich

Here is another CHRISTMAS MARKET to add to collection. It's Munich or München in German. Munich city alone draw tourists like bees to honey, all year round - to Oktoberfest for one. In the city centre, never to be missed is the Church/Marienplatz. A stone throw away is the Viktualien Market which is another must see. There is also a display of the 'button in ear' (remember Teddy Bear) Steiff animals. It was almost impossible to shoot any photos due to the crowd - please excuse the lousy shots.

Please go to the webalbum to view more

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is another CHRISTMAS MARKET to add to collection.  It's Munich or München in German.  Munich city alone draw tourists like bees to honey, all year round - to Oktoberfest for one. In the city centre, never to be missed is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rathaus_and_Marienplatz_from_Peterskirche_-_August_2006.jpg">Church/Marienplatz</a>.  A stone throw away is the <a href="http://http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktualienmarkt">Viktualien Market</a> which is another must see. There is also a display of the 'button in ear' (remember Teddy Bear) Steiff animals.   It was almost impossible to shoot any photos due to the crowd - please excuse the lousy shots.</span><br />
<div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzS7jgVRIvM/Tt48cZ9v7cI/AAAAAAAACXI/J5k_2oRqnx0/s1600/P1050844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzS7jgVRIvM/Tt48cZ9v7cI/AAAAAAAACXI/J5k_2oRqnx0/s400/P1050844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please go to the <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/118083132250182326277/MunichXMasMarket2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCLbvpuiAjIShzAE">webalbum</a> to view more</span></div><div></div><div></div>

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Strange Stuff

What do you think this is ?

Son said it looks like a tabletop toilet bowl, with 'material' !!

Make a guess before you read further.

YUMMY - Prawns and Truffel

I have finally made up my mind so off we went to Munich to finalize the purchase. While the papers were being processed, I went into the city for a round of Christmas Market tour in the city centre. Photos will be posted soon. After an hour of pushing crowds, decided to have a good lunch. And here is our lunch. Huge butter prawns on salad of sour cream red beets - with oven fresh baguette.

Linguine with Truffel cream sauce

Happy decision, happy tummy !

I have finally made up my mind so off we went to Munich to finalize the purchase.  While the papers were being processed, I went into the city for a round of Christmas Market tour in the city centre.  Photos will be posted soon.  After an hour of pushing crowds, decided to have a good lunch.  And here is our lunch.

Huge butter prawns on salad of sour cream red beets - with oven fresh baguette.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrKLdAYjn1s/TtiyNR-yNdI/AAAAAAAACP4/AuqL_zuYpHg/s1600/P1050834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrKLdAYjn1s/TtiyNR-yNdI/AAAAAAAACP4/AuqL_zuYpHg/s400/P1050834.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Linguine with Truffel cream sauce

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p36OobRFQWQ/Ttix8Ge4hdI/AAAAAAAACPk/PfrdkLYOrwM/s1600/P1050832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p36OobRFQWQ/Ttix8Ge4hdI/AAAAAAAACPk/PfrdkLYOrwM/s400/P1050832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Happy decision, happy tummy !

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