It's the Year of the Ox

In a nod to the Chinese New Year Richard and I hosted the San Antonio Family dinner last night and served Chinese food - as authentic as I could make it. I've learned that we prefer Chinese Chinese food better than American Chinese food. I set the table with a red table cloth and our place settings were dishes Beverly found for us in China.

The first two dishes are from recipes Beverly got when she was in China from a Sister Dong.

Spicy Chicken

Beef with Broccoli

The next three dishes are from from recipes I found at http://www.rasamalaysia.com/

Sweet and Sour Pork

Chinese Jiaozi / Leeks and Pork Dumplings

Cashew Chicken

The finale was a lemon cake - not Chinese but good.

I use two Meyer Lemons I managed to grow on my tree this year.

I'd be happy to fix any or all of these dishes for visitors.

THE cake recipe

For the recipe for THE birthday cake go to

http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/

It is a recipe from Sky High: Irresistable Triple-Layer Cakes. I may have to seriously consider getting that book.

I found these pictures on the interenet at Food librarian's photostream on Flicker.

THE Birthday Cake

Dinner was good. But the cake was what Abby and I had been looking forward to. It was a triple layer chocolate sour cream cake with peanut butter cream cheese frosting and a dark chocolate glaze. Adjectives would include scrumptious, yummy and decadent.

Abby almost patiently waited with much anticipation for the cutting of the cake.
Dad wasn't going to get any of HER cake.

Marshall tackled his piece first with a fork.

But hey, this is serious business. You need a fork and hand to enjoy the whole thing.