Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Toronto CNY 2

On Saturday, we hosted another CNY dinner for my Canadian Family - The Roach Clan. Mr. Bill Roach was my Program Director at Taylor's College when I was studying in the Canadian Pre-University Program. When I went to Canada for my undergrad, coincidentally, he returned to Canada as well. So we've kept in touch and I've spent every Christmas with them ever since. They really are family, and am really happy to celebrate CNY with them.

I cooked Popo's Stuffed Chicken, Keng Woon (Hainanese Mixed Vege), Tilapia marinated in ginger, garlic and soya sauce, stuffed mushrooms...etc. Sorry no pictures... forgot to take close-ups.

PARCEL from HOME
Every year, my parents send me a CNY parcel. It is full of goodies that I can't find here, and I greatly anticipate its arrival. This year's parcel finally arrived today :) YAY!!!

The parcel really warms my heart. It's a piece of home that I can hold on to. They also sustain me through mid-term exams, the dreary winter months and now job interviews. There's nothing like some keropok while you are burning the midnight oil. Although my parents ask me what I want, they always put little surprises in them :)

My parents are pros when it comes to protecting items that are fragile. Look at these bottles!!!

And the kerepek (love letters) and jam tarts arrived all in tact this year. Not even a crack! Previous years, sadly they arrived almost in powder form!



THANKS MA & PA :) I love you :)

Monday, February 19, 2007

Hi folks! This is Wei Lynn, William's younger sis. My Koko has agreed to share his blog with me :) In line with the title of the blog, I will share my life in Toronto with you through this blog. I did think of creating my own blog, but that meant you (readers), especially relatives, would have to keep track of yet one more blog... so I thought that I should save you the hassle and just "tumpang" on this blog-loh :)

This is my first Chinese New Year in a proper house of my own, sharing it with the love of my life. Instead of having a reunion dinner, we spent the day grocery shopping and preparing for the New Year Lunch for the 1st Day of CNY with our friends. It is madness to shop on the eve of CNY. The atmosphere is much like home with lots of CNY decorations, music and good wishes. The difference is that instead of sweating, I was freezing!!! We're in the thick of winter here... cold enough that ice sometimes forms INSIDE of the window.

Anyway, we had a dim-sum sort of CNY lunch where my guests made their own Spring Rolls. We made

my mum's Spring Rolls,

"Fa Cai" Stuffed Mushrooms(above & left), Honey Garlic Pork Ribs(below),


Siew Mai, Edamame (far left), Agar-Agar (pic to come)& my aunt's Honey Joys (below). Note that there is only one Honey Joy left... they are THAT GOOD :)
Even though this wasn't your traditional CNY Feast, we had a good time preparing the food, catching up with friends and welcoming the Golden Pig.

Hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends as well. Here's to a Happy, Healthy and Properous New Year! Xing Nian Kuai Le! Gong Xi Fa Cai :)