Unlike western calendar, Chinese New Year is on the different day every year. Maybe this is one of the unique things that I consider. People's mood are changing based on the moon position. Why not let moon to tell us when the New Year's Day is...February 14 is the first day of Chinese New Year for 2010.
When December (Chinese calendar) comes, the weather usually tells us first. The 8th of December is the day that we start to aware of that the coldest days of the year are coming. In Northern China, we usually serve the sweet bean soup for breakfast. A hardy sweet bean soup warms everyone from inside out in a snowy and cold day. When I was home back in China, mom used to use different type of beans, add chestnuts, walnuts, peanuts and dates. After I came to America, the melting pot, our traditional bean soup on the December 8 started to shift a little; just like everything else in the US. I found more type of beans, nuts and dates. But the taste doesn't change much. It is still creamy, warm and sweet. Below picture show some of ingredience I put in the bean soup. Some of them were not in picture.

与公历新年不同, 中国年的日期每年都不同. 也许这也是与众不同的一点, 月亮在某种程度上主宰人们的情绪, 难道让月亮告诉我们哪天是新年, 不好吗. 2010年的中国新年是2月14日.
在中国北方,气候的冷暖会告诉你腊月天到了.农历腊月初八的早上传统的腊八粥给每个家庭带来温暖和甜甜的温馨. 美好的回忆随着岁月的流失有增无减.
记得小时候,家里的腊八粥主要是北方的各种不同的豆子,加栗子,核桃,花生,红枣,来到美国这个大融炉后, 和其他食品一样, 我家的腊八粥也有些西化了,中西不同的豆子,果仁,更丰富了,味道并没有变,还是清香, 甜甜的, 暖暖的.这是今年的原料, 有几样忘拍了....

Just happened, both of us at home for vacation on the December 8 of Chinese calendar. I also made scones, bacon and scramble eggs. Also, brought out some marinated/pickled califlowers, cabbage and salty eggs.
今年的腊八赶上我们在家休假, 早餐还做了炸面包, 培根, 芝士炒蛋, 外加自己做的咸蛋和几样泡菜, 各取所需, 自食其力...

Here is another picture:

Take a closer look:



We had Chinese dinner as well that day. See below.
那天晚上我特地又做了中餐如下。
Stir fry buck choy with sliced pork 肉片炒油菜
Spicy stir fry cabbage 呛连白
Steam wild flounder fillet 清蒸野生比目鱼片
Steamed brown rice 主食：粗米饭


Below picture show the main ingredients for this meal. 下图是这顿晚餐的主要原料。。。


Stir fry buck choy with sliced pork 肉片炒油菜
Chinese buck choy cut into big chunks. Heat a pan on medium high heat with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add minced ginger, sliced pork with pinch Chinese five spices and little cooking wine. Add Chinese buck choy and sliced carat and stir fry for 2 minutes. Season with salt. Serve hot.
油菜切大块，热油锅炒肉片，加少许五香粉和一点酒，放入油菜，翻炒2分钟，加盐调味即可。


Spicy stir fry cabbage 呛莲白
This is a traditional Chinese vegeterian Szechuan style dish. Cabbage cut into big chunks. Heat a pan at high heat, add 1 Tbsp vegetable oil. Add minced ginger and garlic along with 1tsp dry hot pepper. Add cabbage and stir fry for 2 minutes. Season with salt and serve hot. Note, 1 tsp dry hot pepper can be substude with 1 or 2 Tbsp hot oil.
这道菜是四川风味菜，大家都会做，就不多说了。

Steam wild flounder fillet 清蒸野生比目鱼片
I was suprised when I saw fresh wild flounder fillet in the store. Really want to try it. Can't help it. First, season the fish fillets with sea salt and fresh grounded peppers. Trim the fish to fit in the plate. See below picture. Add sliced ginger and green onion on the top. Drizzle 1 tsp olive oil. Steam it in a steamer for 10 minutes.
很惊讶在超市看到有野生新鲜的比目鱼片卖，一定要试试蒸鱼。这是我第一次蒸鱼，首先将鱼片用海盐和胡椒粉腌10分钟，鱼片去尾放入盘中，上面撒上姜丝，葱丝，加入一勺橄榄油，蒸锅盖盖蒸10分钟即可。

Here is the final product. 鱼蒸好后看下图。

配上粗米饭，还算健康的一餐吧。



In my plate... 我的盘子中。。。