You Eat What?!

Here are two dishes on the menu from my parents' recent holiday party. Some will be grossed out by these and surely say, "you eat what?!" To the exotic epicureans from Asia, however, these are delightful delicacies. My mother, Paul and I belong to this camp.

Chinese wood ears or wood fungus, 黑木耳. (Auricularia polytricha or Hirneola polytricha). They actually grow on dead wood and have the medicinal quality of anticoagulation. These are soaked and ready for cooking. Cooked and Uncooked wood ears both look and taste the same. Very crunchy and light tasting. My mom stired fried it with pork. Yum! *Click pic to enlarge*

Chicken feet. With flavor pouch, dried chilis, green onions, soy sauce and ginger, these are ready to be cooked and simmered for a few hours. Paul made this for the few who dare to devour chicken claws!

Parents' Holiday Party

The process of preparing food for 17 people is a day-long event, but it was really nice family bonding time (when sparks aren't flying). It brought all four of us together into a small and warm space known as the kitchen. Somehow, conversation flows easily when one is chopping or stirring over a stove.

And guests arrive. Shoreh, a best buddy of mine, is an OB/Gyn resident in Maryland.

Laughter and chatting starts when friends fill the room.


Jac and Jill. Aren't they photogenic?


Friend taking our pic.

Birthday candles are for kids, no matter whose birthday it is! I love to see kids get excited over candles. Imagine, we all had that sense of wonder a long time ago. Benji (with mommy Laurel) is helping my mom and Paul blowing out their candles.



Cake time!

It's always nice to pose for a group photo. From L to R, David, Jac, Jill, Ryan, Paul, Ruth, and Andy.

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***You can check out the whole collection of pictures at www.pbase.com/chienchunchen. Dear friends, pictures are in full resolution at pbase.com so you can download the ones you like.***

Christmas Day 2006

Mom, glad she liked her presents.


Matching drinking glasses! Seriously, we really needed these as we only had a collection of mismatched mugs.

"Be Still and Know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Crabs for dinner!

Paul taking our pic; he also made this Christmas day dinner. That's chicken feet on the left side of the picture. Yummy!

A walk in the park.

Christmas Eve at the Chans'

Good food, good friends = Christmas Eve, 2006.

Having our picture taken by Adrian.

What a lovely Christmas tree.

Another shot, another view. Love the shadows in the background. Not a bad camera, eh?

Our friends and fellow Bible study members, KC and Juei.

My parents playing their first foosball game. Look like they rather enjoyed themselves.

My parents, in their more serious demeanor.

New Camera

BTW, hubby got new camera. Just in time for Christmas!:)

Visit to the Vet

I took Kitty to the vet this afternoon. I took the opportunity while I have these days off. While she got all her essential shots and lab work done months ago, she has not had an once-over by the vet.

There has to be very few things worse than a car trip and vet visit for Kitty. She vomited in the car. I didn’t know it until I opened up her carrier in the vet’s office. Then she actually started panting like a dog from all the stress!

So, I learned quite a few things about Kitty. By looking at her eyes and teeth, the vet (Dr. B) estimated her to be 6-8 years old. I knew she was no spring chicken, but I had hoped she was a spry young fellow, but actually she’s in her golden years! Instead of the smooth coloration to her eyes, the vet said Kitty’s eyes were too yellow and resembled the pattern of crushed velvet. “It could be due to age or build-up of toxins,” said Dr.B. For that problem, she gave blue & green algae pills to detox her liver. “Her eyes should turn greener after her liver is detoxed,” said the animal doctor.

Kitty's eyes. Too yellow? Crushed velvet appearance = toxicity?

Next, we discussed a hack/cough Kitty seems to have every couple of weeks. I was assured by the vet that it sounds like a hairball hack, although the possibility of heartworms is not ruled out. For that, we are going to try Felilax for hairball elimination. We will start Kitty on heartworm prevention in the future after we are certain that her cough is not due to a fatal infection with heartworms.

Lastly, Dr.B thought Kitty was allergic to either her food or inhaled particles or both. The vet diagnosed this based on excessive cerumen production in Kitty’s ears and a bare patch on her belly where she’s missing hair. We talked about what food Kitty is eating. The vet informed me that most commercial pet foods are “4-D” foods meaning it consists of “dead, dying, debilitated, and diseased” meat. For the next couple of weeks, I am to gradually switch her to a more wholesome diet from several approved brands. I purchased the “Chicken Soup” brand catfood from the office. To facilitate this gradual diet change, I’m to give Kitty Udo’s Choice pet supplements with enzymes. “This will help her from getting allergies to her new food.” I thought I was being savvy by purchasing the brand of cat food with chicken as the no. #1 ingredients. No more Wal-Mart cat food for Kitty from now on. Home-prepared food for the cat is the best but I doubt I can commit to that.

Okay, I know what some people might think after reading the above: "the vet is a quack, " or "she's just out to make a buck." However I'm inclined to believe her. Aside from conventional veterinary medicine, Dr.B practices CAM (complementary/alternative medicine) for animals. She even does acupuncture on animals! Hmm, I wonder if the Chinese came up with that, too? I did not pick Dr.B for her CAM practice, it was just a coincidence. Now, I don't know if Kitty's eyes are really toxic, but I am now a believer in feeding her food that is more to its natural and fresh form. One thing I've come to learn is that some patients are too skeptical of their doctor's knowledge or motive. However, from my experience I know most doctors are capable and geniunely wants the best outcome of their patients. As for me with Kitty, I'm going to try every thing Dr. B recommended and go from there.

Another Day Ahead

I broke our camera yesterday:(. I'm just glad hubby do not get angry with me for such things. He said we'll buy a new one, just don't know when yet. I hope it's sooner than later!! Meanwhile, no more photo blogging for me. However, I'm using HelloKitty images to brighten up my post.

Feeling a little sluggish this morning. But I will be getting up soon. I have been listening to Christian radio during the day as I cook or clean up around the house. (Giving NPR a break.) I use to listen to Christian radio shows regularly but I haven't for a long time. It's a great way to set my mind on the right focus, Jesus Christ, and reminds me what's really important, walking with God, love my husband, and be humble. These modern wise men coming to me through the radio: Dennis Rainey, Chuck Swindoll, and James Dobson. And some wise women, too: Nancy Lee De Moss, and Beth Moore.


*_* Three Days 'til Christmas!! *_*

Sittin' Pretty

"Mommy, when is breakfast gonna be served?"

Tuesday Cooking

With continous Christmas music streaming from the radio in the background, I cooked for several hours non-stop today. I was in the mood, I guess, and eager to cross off a to-do item on my list, ;) Here's what I have to show for it.

1. Wonton Soup. Felt motivated to make this. I used the same filling recipe as in dumplings: pork, Chinese cabbage, and shrimp chunks.

Wonton Soup. Wola! Soup base consists of chicken broth, whole shrimps, green veggies, ginger, cilantro and green onions.

2. Guacamole. One of my favorite things! The avocados were still a little too hard, so it came out clumpy instead of creamy, oh well.

3. Fish Stew. Main ingredients: flounder, various veggies, oregano, basil, and white cooking wine. I added a chicken boullion, too. It's just combine and slow cook in crockpot.

Fish Stew, cooked4 hours later. Hmm, not what I expected. The flounder fish chunks just disappeared, as if they were blown into smithereens the size of minced garlic. Oh well, it ended up being an okay "veggie soup."

4. Apple Crumbles. Nice recipe! Ingredients include apples, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, butter, and nutmeg. It was simple, delicious, and relatively nutritious for a dessert. Best with vanilla ice cream! I haven't perfected it good enough to bring to someone's house or a potluck, though. This recipe is from a blog of a friend's friend. See http://provenrecipes.blogspot.com/

It's leftover time for the next few days.

My Soft Spot, Part II

Update 12:40am.
Those animal control officers never came. Yes, I waited up, hubby in bed 2 hours ago. After over 8 hours of holding the cat hostage under my laundry basket outside, I let him out. Final freedom roused a round of “meows” from Blacky, he lingered around for 5 minutes, still wanting to get my attention, before finally leaving my back porch. What did he want from me? Food? No, he’s been fed. Shelter? TLC? He must be so confused and scared. He looked lost. While under hostage, I fed him water, all of Kitty’s snack food, and half of a canned catfood. It was the only solace I could offer him. I watched him go, sick to my stomach, sleepy-eyed, and more than a little miffed.

Was I naïve for believing that the officers would come? Maybe. I even got confirmation that the animal control people work 24 hours around the clock. Who knows? I had to finally say, “enough is enough.” I was going crazy from waiting. I know I’m on break right now, no alarm clocks to worry about, no “work” next day, but I did NOT want this pet project, no pun intended!! I had plenty of happy and sunny things planned. I just don’t want to worry anymore, is that selfish? Is there really all this emotion and commotion inside of me over a cat? Yes, I can’t help but feel for them.

I’m a little (more than a little) angry at irresponsible pet owners everywhere and unreliable animal control agents. I’m heartbroken over the suffering and misery of small innocent animals who were only suited for household living. Perhaps I’m mad at myself for not taking Blacky in. I could become one of those animal rescuers. I could have let him in and did more. But his wound and filth scared me, I didn’t want or know how to deal with that.

What’s to become of Blacky? He’ll come back, no doubt, now hooked on the canned cat food. What shall I do then? I’m too tired to think, but will I be able to sleep tonight?

Update 10:30am
The animal controll officer did come this morning at 10am, I found a note on my door. I missed him, however, since I was still sleeping for staying up so late to wait on him in the first place! Aggg, the irony of this whole ordeal. Blacky is not outside anyways.