As an aside - we went through my father in laws cabinets today and threw out anything that had a use by date earlier than mid 2019. His wife died 3 years ago and he didn’t buy or use any of this stuff. I employed out of date flour and brown sugar in the Swiss steak and don’t think anyone was harmed. But who knows the next time any of this will be used. I was sad to throw out 4 year old barley as I cannot find it on store shelves currently and wanted to make beef barley soup.

Dinner was prosciutto and melon with balsamic glaze
Gruyere with Fig & Olive crackers
Half of a Nothing Bundt Cakes white chocolate raspberry bundlet. https://www.nothingbundtcakes.com/

Poker night - I won some big hands. Haven’t won this much since our games started in 2018

indian:
biriyani
pakora
chicken tandoori
vegetable stew
chana masala

curry crab (!!)


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...cbe5a79bc.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e38117076.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...91f27de34.jpeg

Someone has good taste in scotch.

There's some of the ingredients listed on the wikipedia page, but some ingredients are missing as well (notably jiacama (bangwang) and seaweed salad but there are others as well)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusheng

Yes : Turnip / " Bang Kwang " ( jiacama ) , etc .. plus nowadays , other other ingredients too for different versions including vegetarian .

Do you live near a Korean grocery like H Mart? They seem to consistently stock barley (near the rice). I honestly wouldn't have worried about 4yo barley but what is done is done.

Last night’s dinner from local fast casual fish restaurant… got to have fish fry on Friday!


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4137b13e3.jpeg

Thanks - it tends to be Nikka or Kavalan whiskeys or highland park. I brought the coconut liqueur and I think I was the only one to drink it. Another person brought a red wine and probably the only one to drink it. I’m pretty sure most of the highland park was finished. I brought 200mg total (2 tins) for the host and I don’t think anyone had any… yet the Girl Scout cookies were yummed up With much gusto and joy.

the crab was really great. Curry crab! I usually just have it Costco style or Chinese restaurant style that’s cooked with ginger & scallion. This curry crab was in a broth. We went through a half roll of paper towels before wiping down the table for me to set down the poker felt.

Are you in prison? What's with the rocks and fence? :D

😄 Restaurant’s strange idea for decor. They have “cages” filled with rocks on the walls. Blue salt Fish Grill on Artesia … you might be familiar with it.

Whew. I am familiar with one of their other locations but have not been in it. Now I have to check it out!

CNY Day 5
Somewhat lighter meal considering 5 days of indulgences with 10 more to go !

Crispy fried shrimp along with starters shown below
Beef udon with lots of seaweed , momo ice cream


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...08cd60c92.jpeg
Chawanmushi with ikura
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...99d8207de.jpeg
Tofu salad with special sesame dressing

I might have used it if it hadn’t already been opened. No Asian groceries here. I’m sure it will turn up eventually.

Actually IME, dried barley can last forever as long as it stays dry. I'm sure it will eventually absorb moisture and rot, but it takes me forever to go through the stuff (not counting hot dry summers). Barley water is one of my favourite drinks when I'm in SEA.

If you want fish that's even bigger than that, along with onion rings that you can use as spare tires on a vehicle, head to Pittsburgh and I'll take you to a hole in the wall bar where you'll get both. The atmosphere is one step above the lowest dive bar, but the food is plentiful and delicious.

Delete

Bacon wrapped asparagus

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...917c7fbc12.jpg
Panko crusted Dover sole with orange & avocado salsa

Hakka restaurant, Sf ca

assd Cantonese / Hakka cuisine

dumplings
steamed fish
chicken With sticky rice
pea shoots
tofu
salt & pepper spare ribs

super yum


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5dbd07a3e.jpeg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3573fecba.jpeg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...28a7fd557.jpeg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...10aab6205.jpeg

I’ll see your Pittsburgh fried fish restaurant and kick it up a notch! 2 suggestions for vacation pleasures. 1) Fish fry in Nassau, Bahamas. Fresh snapper perfectly fried. 2) About a dozen roadside stands while driving in Jamaica. Order some fish, pop open a Red Stripe, grab a picnic table with an ocean view and breeze. Life can’t possibly be this good.

I don't know about Nassau. I found the whole area too much of a tourist trap. About the only thing I liked about there was that it was a 15 minute walk from the hotel (when I was there) which made it convenient. The food wasn't really that impressive to me.

You have to get off Bank St as quickly as possible. I’ve only been to Nassau on cruise stops. But walking a mile from the dock opens up a whole different island.

Oh, I did. I didn't have much free time. Was there on a job and was advised not to stray too far during the evenings so beyond the Fish Fry, and about 45min to an hour of walking in every other direction, I didn't see much to inspire me... tried the John Watling Distillery (where I learned that rum could taste like kerosene)... there were only two things I enjoyed. The conch salad (had it in a few places, mostly good stuff) and there was a potluck the local staff had that was pretty good as well.

Not likely to happen again as I've changed employers a few times since, but I would like to get out to some of the islands if I ever get to go back.

CNY Day 6
Now for some Indian .. & dessert - not Indian


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...5d61c1ed9.jpeg
Butter naan , fish bryani , pappadams , Sheekh kebabs - banarsi & mutton
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...1f1097885.jpeg
Osmanthus pineapple cupcake

So much more festive in SE Asia, unlike here when it's over for a few days.

As some of you may have surmised, I love to gamble; and, all gamblers are inherently, more or less, superstitious. So, I didn't wash my hair new on year's day, have been trying to stick to veggie fare (it lasted about a day 1/2 before I had to look for, at least, some fish), wearing red and rubbing the head of miniature golden lions. Of course, I'm hoping this will help me win the Super Bowl bet on Sunday! My wager will be in increments of 8s.

Have I missed any good luck food, aside from the usual sweets?

pomelo, ba kwa (rou gang), pineapple tarts, yue sheng, shrimp crackers, pie tee, dumplings, noodles, honey mandarins, suckling pig, char siu, roast duck, etc.... Lots of fish... abalone (nee!!!) red turtle kueh.... :D

Awesome! I've got until Sunday 3:30 pm Pacific time to get all of this in! By the way, alcohol is considered good luck too?

Not sure about the alcohol... But a good toast wouldn't hurt. Yam seng to a new year.

Pizza Hacker carryout, Sf ca

Hawaiian pizza
Yo Vinny pizza (sausage & peppers)


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...e0b079531.jpeg

Collard greens. Greens bring money

Not one of my favorites, but if it may help win a bet, I'm game!

CNY Day 7
Well , Visconti , today is everyone ‘ s birthday ..
& brandy is always used , in our family anyway , for raw fish in the yusheng / lo hei


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...847f77521.jpeg
Believe it or not , felt like Campbell ‘ s cream of mushroom soup .. ended up with country mushrooms
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...3744a8b30.jpeg
Leftovers from last night
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f987425a2.jpeg
Cherries from New Zealand and Turkey
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ee3f050c0.jpeg
Peach “ gum “ prepared by our friend

RE: Brandy

Cognac is basically just aged & fancy wine from white grapes; so, it's essentially "bak jhou." I'm going with that it's good luck and prosperous--as YYZ observed, "yum seng"! Too bad we have smoke detectors now, otherwise I'd burn some incense, pour some wine and see if I can get Wong Dai Seen or something to ensure I win my bet on Sunday.

Breakfast on Sunday morning should be Cognac, collard greens & roast duck noodles.

Never heard of collard greens being used for prosperity :D but hey, if it works for you. I'd rather go with the dumplings that look like ingots. But I'm funny that way.

Actually Cognac is brandy. Just from what the Europeans call a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) in that it came from a specific region, made via a specific process and specific ingredients (how specific is anyone's guess). That's why champagne and parmesan cheese are protected. Or Neapolitan pizza. Hope you welcome Cai Shen into your house. :tu:

Cognac is double distilled and aged fermented juice of white grapes.

I think any leafy green counts...like spinach or arugula. I hate collard greens too. Spoiler alert: I have greens and black eyed peas every Jan 1 for luck and money. Waste of good veggies...doesn't work for me.

Of course, you're right. I didn't meant to imply that FlyerEC had used the term incorrectly in any way, but just my mind racing to when in Vegas, since everything is comped, I always order the most expensive stuff (which invariably will be French); and, in this case, it would be technically Cognac (which is Brandy, of course), e.g., Remy Martin Louis XIII, Hennessy Paradis, or something along those lines. By the way, custom is that if one orders the final shot of Louis XIII, you get the decanter, which, if I recall, is a nice Baccarat one. I'm still waiting to win this one, too!

After my bad luck last week, at this point, I'll try anything for luck, even a bowl of BamaVol's FIL's shredded wheats!

I used to hate them too. Growing up, my Mom made them the southern way. Lots of vinegar. Yuck.
A few years ago, I ran across a recipe for sweet greens. Contains rice wine vinegar, beer, molasses and bacon! Delicious!

If there is interest, I’ll drop the recipe in the proper thread later.

PS - and don’t forget the pork on January 1st!!! Good health!!!

Chicken strips, green beans and rice pilaf. Kids love it!!

The pork ends up in the form of bacon to go in my black eyed peas.
That is very nice of you but I am positive I would never make collard greens...no matter how much bacon.