Celebrating Chinese New Year

It's the Year of the Tiger and Chinese New Year has come to an end, but with one last night we came together as friends to share in a new family tradition. For our first Chinese New Year without Danny and Min, the Beales' family and Gorman/Clayton family and the Dea's all worked to re-create the amazing meal and fellowship we had celebrated with the Wong's in year's past.

To start the evening out right, Kevin, Simon and Rhian did a salute to Danny Wong with fine shot of sake...needless to say I think it was the only shot any of them did as Kevin referred to it as tasting like rubbing alcohol.

Each family brought a few dishes to share. We started out the night with some homemade spring rolls (Min's recipe and they were an absolute hit) and crab rangoons (our Americanized Chinese favorite that we introduced to the group). Here I am preparing the Crispy Duck that we'll have for our 2nd course!!!

Everyone thought that this was an amazing sight to see Kevin actually cooking...I think this is the first time he's used my wok. I was a little worried at first but he did a great job. He is mixing up our pineapple chicken dish as pineapple is a very important during Chinese New Year.

The kids were pretty excited about getting together as well since it had been since Thanksgiving that we all got together last. Addison loves our neighbor girl Gemma and she repetitively tells me that Gemma is her bestest friend ever.

Here we are at the table ready to eat our feast. We had pineapple chicken, chicken and black beans, chicken kung po, stir fry veggies, chow mein noodles, crispy duck, spring rolls, crab rangoons, and rice. Sarah made up an apple crumble and treacle sponge pudding for our puddings with loads of custard on top...yummy!!!! (Not very Chinese but we live in England and you have to throw your own bit in there some times).

Well this year after dinner we didn't break into the traditional karaoke as we would at the Wong's so we pulled out the game of Cranium. We waged the Battle of the Sexes with men vs women and of course the women won...(but only by two questions!)

Normally Kevin seems to dominate this game with all of the factoid questions but tonight we was all about drawing with his eyes closed and making turtles out of clay. Some things were a bit challenging for our British friends as this was the American version and when they have to act out famous American icons its a bit hard when they don't know who they are.