Every year I vow to take Chinese New Year off from work to celebrate the biggest holiday from my childhood.  One thing or another would always come up, and I’d vow to really take the day off next year.  This year was no exception.  I had a hectic clinic schedule filled with patients and meetings all day.  By the time 4:30pm rolled around, I was still trying to leave work so that I can go home and make my family a nice CNY dinner.

I ran out during lunch to gather whatever ingredients I could find in our local Asian grocery store.  Based on what I found, this is the CNY dinner menu I came up with: Longevity Noodle with Spicy Minced Pork and Bok Choy, Beef Bone Soup, Whole Fish with Ginger and Scallion and last but definitely not least, Susie’s carrot cake picked up on the way home.

Preparation took almost an hour and a half

Here you see all six burners going full gas.  This is where my PhD bench science training came in handy where you could often find me running full gas all over the lab: my fission yeast growing in the incubator, bacteria culture multiplying in the shaker, PCR running, protein extract thawing on ice, Western gel poured and setting on the bench, meanwhile I’d be busy making the solutions needed to run my Western by the sink.  I suppose I should appreciate our current tiny galley kitchen because at least everything is within arm’s reach!

Dinner is served!

Longevity Noodle with Spicy Minced Pork and Bok Choy (top view)

Enjoying my Longevity Noodle with Spicy Minced Pork and Bok Choy

Whole Fish with Ginger and Scallion (recipe here)

I don’t even know what kind of fish this was.  I was in such a hurry during my 20 minute excursion trying to get everything I needed.  I saw two whole fish left in the store and grabbed one of them.  If you could tell me what this was, I’d really appreciate it because I’d like to get this fish again!

And there you have it.  A busy mother’s guide to Chinese New Year!  We had the dumplings on CNY Eve and golden oranges all throughout the CNY holiday season.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!