Friday, December 25, 2009

Chinese Christmas Eve


I was in cooking bliss today. Went to Whole Foods (which was crazy!) at noon and got all the meat and last minute things. Came home, ate some ramen and went to work. It went smoothly and everything turned out delicious. I timed everything well and the food was all warm when served. Everyone was happy including Molly who LOVED the almond jello! Here are some recipes (portions are for 8 people!) and pics from the night. I am snacking on leftovers as I am posting...mmmm! (See previous post for complete menu)




I started the chicken first since it takes the longest and is okay served room temperature. I served it with ginger scallion sauce which is usually for white poached chicken but I love it with soy sauce chicken too.

Em's Soy Sauce Chicken
1 4LB chicken
7 cups soy
2 cups cooking wine
2 cups broth
3 strips of fresh orange rind
1 lb rock sugar
cloth and string bag with a few cracked cardamon pods, tsp anise seeds, 3 star anise, 2 tsp cloves, 1 cinnamon stick crushed
  • bring all ingredients but chicken to boil in pot and stir until sugar is dissolved
  • put in chicken and bring to simmer
  • simmer on low covered for 20 mins
  • turn chicken and simmer for another 20 mins
  • turn chicken, remove from heat and sit for 20 mins
  • take chicken out and let sit for half hour
  • cut and serve

Ketchup Shrimp

2 lbs shrimp with shell on, cut on backside and de-veined
4 tbls ketchup
2 tbls oyster sauce
1 tsp white pepper
dash sesame oil
scallions big pieces
  • heat oil in wok and fry shrimp on both sides so its crispy but not cooked all the way, work in 2 batches
  • add scallions, I used the whole bunch and stir fry for a few minutes
  • combine the sauces and add
  • saute for another few minutes and serve immediately

Pork spare ribs, tofu and mushroom stew
1 small rack baby back ribs cut into bite size pieces
3 strips tofu foo jook
8 mushrooms
ginger (few slices)
garlic 2 cloves
1 square fu yu
1 tbls black beans soaked
dark soy and splash cooking wine for marinade
soy sauce to taste
  • soak foo jook and mushroom for an hour, cut into bite size pieces
  • marinade ribs in dark soy and wine for hour
  • brown ribs, remove from pot
  • brown ginger and garlic, mix in fu yu and black beans saute for a couple mins
  • put ribs back in and stir together for a few mins, let everything get very hot
  • pour in 2 cups water and bring to boil
  • simmer on low for 1 hour
  • mix a tsp of corn starch into a little cold water and make a slurry
  • put slurry into stew and stir well
  • bring back to boil and serve
Mok kwa (hairy gourd) with XO sauce
2 medium mok kwa peeled and cubed
2 cloves garlic rough chop
1 tbls XO sauce
2 tbls oyster sauce
salt
  • heat oil in wok and add garlic
  • add mok kwa and saute
  • reduce heat to med and saute until tender
  • add XO sauce (I used LKK), oyster and salt to taste
  • saute until sauce thickens and serve
I also served steamed halibut filets with black bean sauce, sauteed chinese broccoli and almond jello for dessert. I was a happy host!


7 comments:

lishapisa said...

Wow!! Look so good and you look so happy!! Yay we have a soy sauce chicken recipe, ever try putting some boiled eggs with chicken? Did you make the scallion sauce yourself?
A friend of mine also loves the scallion Ginger sauce, can u post the way to make it? it's good with har kow crystal shrimp dumpling!
Xo sauce , it's like a mixture of dried seafood sauce?
Gosh I'm hungry now I want to have all the dishes u made with a bowl of congee!

hungrysmurf said...

The ginger scallion is easy! equal parts peeled fresh ginger and scallion, either mince super fine or put in food processor, vegetable oil and salt! I personally like the texture from mincing with a knife.

Rosie Schaap said...

What a feast. That looks and sounds amazing.

Anonymous said...

An unbelievable feast!!! The passion, planning and work are what makes Christmas Eve so unique. The scallion sauce! 5 Stars!!! Hard to believe it's easy. I'll try.

Bananee said...

I had buffet all inclusive meals while I was away. Everything started to taste the same. What I would kill for to have that meal!

lishapisa said...

man this menu rocks!

Bananee said...

I just stumbled upon this post again... I am still traveling and everyhing still taste the same! What I would do for this meal...