Birthday Hot Pot 2007 - [Crazies]

Published by Chubbypanda on 3/08/2007 at 3/08/2007 07:33:00 PM

My gods, I haven't been this sick in years.

In case some of you were wondering why I've been silent this past week, I've been laid up in bed with a wicked cold of truly craptacular proportions. We're talking fever, coughing, congested sinuses, lungs swimming in fluid; the whole nine yards. I managed to drag myself into the office today for a half day, but was sent home by general consensus based on how bad I looked. I'll probably end up doing another half day tomorrow. On the "up" side, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I've been able to do all of my work and run my department from my sickbed.

... I hate my laptop.

I didn't want to let a whole week go by without at least one entry to ye olde food blog. However, during the time I've been confined to the house and sick, I've completely lost my appetite. There's nothing under the sun that I've wanted to eat. The only thing I've wanted to do has been to curl up in a ball on my bed. (Stupid work laptop.)

Cat has done her best to minister to a sick panda. She's wonderful and I love her. But, in the end, whenever I'm ill, I just want my mommy. Silly, isn't it.


(We're big on hot pot.)


Since I'm feeling homesick, I thought I'd share with you all the most recent meal my mother made for me. It was the last time I visited, over the holidays. My father's birthday and mine are both in January and on consecutive days, so my mother always makes up a nice Huo Guo (Hot Pot) to celebrate.


(Cooks up healthy.)


Mom always starts with some thinly sliced meat to flavor the broth. Since pork is practically the national protein of Taiwan, that's what she usually uses. It may look really fatty, but since it's being boiled in light broth, it's not bad for you at all.


(Misc mix.)


The bulk of the protein in one of our family's hot pot meals comes from fish meatballs, wontons, and fried tofu. They're low in fat and good for you. The meatballs represent the hope that the family will eat together again. The wontons symbolize prosperity. The fried tofu just makes a great sponge for the broth. Mom keeps this stuff on hand, so it tends to be whatever is in the fridge. Hot pots are a good way of using up leftover ingredients.


(Stringy yet satisfying.)


My family always has enoki mushrooms with our hot pots. Mushrooms are supposed to carry the wishes of their eaters up to Heaven. You may recognize some of these foods from my Chinese New Year hot pot. Although they're favored during colder months, hot pots are used to celebrate special occasions year-round.


(Tasty pea shoots.)


Gotta have lots of greens to round out the meal. Mom is a strong believer in the healthiness of leafy green veggies.


(Edible chrysanthemum.)


Mom and I love these things. They have a very special flavor that always reminds me of home. When I have time and health, I'll post my recipe for Braised Oxtail with Tomato and Chrysanthemum Risotto.


(When I was little, I pretended they were worms.)


Noodles are a traditional staple of both hot pots and birthday meal. They symbolize long life, and must be slurped whole when eating. Chewing once they're in your mouth is ok, but you shouldn't cut them or bite them in half, since that would represent severing the lifeline.


(They look red to me.)


Red eggs are another traditional item in birthday meals. Mom doesn't like artificial food coloring, so she uses light brown organic eggs from free-range hens and serves them on red paper to give them a reddish tint. The eggs symbolize fertility for the eater. Since I'm pretty sure Pops doesn't want any more kids (the youngest of us graduates college next year), I think the eggs were meant for me.


(Pops is a traditionalist.)


My dad favors chocolaty birthday cakes with a bit of fruit. He's also likes a bit of flan thrown in for good measure if he can get it. Pops is a man of truly sophisticated tastes.


(I'm a freak.)


While I like cakes too, I'm a bit more avante-guard. Nothing like a big bowl of birthday Jell-O to put a smile on my face. I think this lot was peach flavored, since peaches also represent prosperity.

I love you, mom. Wish you were here to make me rice gruel and scold me for getting sick.

I wanna get well.

Posted by Chubbypanda

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15 comments:

  1. Deb said... 3/09/2007 07:05:00 PM

    Poor Panda Man! I wok up wicked sick yesteday and last night drove myself to the Irivne walk in clinic (got there ONE minute before they closed!!!) So sick I thought I had strep. No...the flu. They gave me Tamiflu..anti viral that cuts the fu in half. much better today but still doggin it. get better my friend!  

  2. Kathy said... 3/10/2007 12:57:00 AM

    awww, i checked on your site everyday and was wondering why there were no updates! get better soon (lots of oj...and maybe a visit to mom's for a meal or three? :)) i was out last week with who knows what. they had me tested for strep and mono...and it turned out to be an 'extreme' case of spring allergies, fever and all! i hope you get better quick!  

  3. Passionate Eater said... 3/10/2007 01:25:00 AM

    Get better soon Chubby Panda! Your mom is quite innovative--brown organic eggs on red paper? Wow! What a fantastic visual trick!

    And thanks for the informative post too! You always teach me so much about the Chinese culture.  

  4. KirkK said... 3/10/2007 08:32:00 AM

    Hey CP - Take it easy man! I was laid up for a few days last week - my Doc said it's going around. Sounds like you got the best remedies...  

  5. elmomonster said... 3/10/2007 08:48:00 AM

    I was also sick last week, but I hopped myself with vitamin C and AirBorne. I somehow got over the cold within one day.

    Hope you get better!  

  6. Christine D. said... 3/10/2007 11:33:00 AM

    Oh no! You need your mama panda just like this little guy when he sneezes. Haha, I love that video!

    Get well soon!  

  7. Anita said... 3/10/2007 05:39:00 PM

    hot pot actually sounds like a great thing to eat when you're sick.. expecially the spicy-broth kind.

    Feel better, Panda!  

  8. Wandering Chopsticks said... 3/10/2007 06:28:00 PM

    Aww, poor panda. I was there last month. Drink lots of 7-Up. Try hot and sour soup, clears your sinuses.  

  9. Captain Jack said... 3/10/2007 08:42:00 PM

    Hey CP,

    I hope you feel better by the time you read this. I think I would have liked birthdays at your house growing up, that hot pot looks great!  

  10. Rasa Malaysia said... 3/11/2007 05:41:00 AM

    CP, hope you feel better. I am sick myself too, coming back from the freezing cold zone in Beijing. :(

    Maybe I should make huo guo, hehe.  

  11. suanne said... 3/12/2007 08:03:00 AM

    What the Panda needs is a bowl of heart warming chicken soup.  

  12. henrychan888 said... 3/12/2007 11:36:00 AM

    feel better CP! i usually go with ginger in warm coke when i'm under the weather...  

  13. BoLA said... 3/12/2007 04:47:00 PM

    Yes... get better real soon!!!  

  14. Maximus said... 3/13/2007 01:45:00 AM

    Get well soon =) The last time I was sick, I also had a hot pot meal. My nose was blocked and I had a sore throat but I still enjoyed the meal very much. Your pictures made me drool just now. =)  

  15. Chubbypanda said... 3/13/2007 07:51:00 PM

    Deb,

    Doh! I should have gone to my doctor like Cat wanted me to. Some Tamiflu would have been great.

    Kathy,

    Wow. That's extreme. I don't think my allergies have ever been that bad.

    PE,

    Your comments always make me smile. You're such a nice, generous person.

    Kirk,

    Thanks buddy. I appreciated the email as well.

    Elmo,

    Sadly, mine was the flu. I knew it wasn't a cold when it didn't go away after three days.

    Christine,

    Awwww... Panda-cam! I saw this documentary. He's actually calling for his momma to pick him up and feed him.

    Anita,

    Hot pot is great no matter what, but the spicy kind is best. Thanks for the well-wishes.

    WC,

    Mmmm... 7-Up, the sovereign specific. Thanks for the hot and sour soup tip!

    Cap'n Jack,

    Thanks! I do feel better now. How pots are the best. We should have a big food blogger hot pot party. It would be insane.

    Rasa Malaysia,

    Beijing is insanely cold this time of year. You definitely need some huo guo to warm you up. Luckily, the weather is all nice and toasty in SoCal now.

    Suanne,

    My mom makes the best chicken soup. It may be Campbells, but she makes it good.

    Henry,

    Thanks for the tip. Sounds like a good substitute for ginger and black sugar?

    BoLA,

    Thanks!

    Maximus,

    Thanks! Hot pots are great for cheering you up, regardless of whether or not you're sick.

    - Chubbypanda  

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