A more indepth look at Asian ingredients, including sea cucumbers and sweet and sour sauce.    Here you’ll find basic information on the ingredients used in Chinese cooking, from storage and preparation tips, to seasonal availability and suggested ingredient substitutions. Continue Reading

 While they can be made at home, crullers (“you tiao” in Chinese) are a popular item at hawker’s stands. They are dipped in warm congee, the same way you would dip a doughnut into a cup of coffee. In northern Continue Reading

 People with autoimmune disease, cancer, or other chronic illnesses should consult a health practitioner. Astragalus root can be found at Asian herb shops or selected health food stores. It is about a dried, slightly yellow root approximately 5 inches in Continue Reading

 While cooking, mix cornstarch, water, and soy sauce together. Add to wok and stir gently. Serve with freshly ground Szechuan pepper.    A famous Szechuan recipe – the name Ma Po Tofu is roughly translated as “pockmarked grandmother beancurd,” named Continue Reading

 The dishes you serve your food in can also increase your prosperity and abundance. Ornate or expensive looking dishes carry wealth luck. Chinese or Asian dishes with fish designs or other wealth related designs also improve your wealth energy. Crystal Continue Reading

      Yin and yang. Hot and cold. Male and female. The philosophy of yin and yang lies at the heart of Chinese culture. The first references to yin and yang come from the I Ching, the five classic Continue Reading

 Your next fortune cookie says “Never order a hamburger in a Chinese restaurant.” Kindly ponder that one over your next order of General Tso’s Chicken.    Food and eating probably brings up the most questions and the most misconceptions when Continue Reading

 The story doesn’t end there. It turns out that the inspiration for fortune cookies actually comes from Japan. In The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, Jennifer 8. Lee takes us on a journey to Japan, where bakers sell “fortune crackers” – thick Continue Reading

 *The calorie count goes down to 352 when based on 4 servings.    Don’t have fresh egg noodles on hand for this chow mein recipe? Try substituting an Italian pasta. For an added touch, try garnishing the chow mein with Continue Reading

   Add 1 tablespoon oil to the wok. Add the chili pepper and ginger. Stir-fry briefly until aromatic. Add the dried mushrooms. Stir-fry briefly, then stir in the chili sauce and the noodles. Add the reserved mushroom soaking liquid in Continue Reading