It's 2022! With the big snow storm at the start of the year, I like to think that Little Snow (from A Big Bed for Little Snow) was jumping for joy that 2021 was over!
However, Lunar New Year is on February 1st. Yes, you have a second chance to start the year fresh, if you'd like! Below are some fun activities and suggestions to make sure you start this Lunar New Year lucky!
|
|
2022 is the Year of the Tiger. In Chinese culture, the tiger is brave, ambitious, passionate and a bit impulsive--and as the King of the Beasts (hear more about that in my drawing video below) also dedicated to justice.
So this is a year that will have surprises, adventure and opportunities. There will be risks involved that will require bravery but, if we have a strong moral compass, we can overcome the challenges.
So let's start the Lunar New Year lucky! Below are some fun activities you can do!
|
|
Decorating is an important part of the Lunar New Year tradition. Make this Tiger paper cut using my instructions and THIS TEMPLATE. Then, hang your finished papercut on your door or window and welcome the Year of the Tiger in! |
|
If a tiger papercut is too challenging (or you just need more tigers!), you can draw a tiger instead! In this video, I show how to draw a tiger and explain why the Tiger is the Chinese King of the Beasts! For Lunar New Year, I suggest drawing the tiger on red paper (red is a Chinese lucky color) and hanging the drawing on your door or window! |
|
For the Lunar New Year, I created a special Kids Ask Authors episode! Instead of answering kid questions like I usually do, I share my original adaptation of one of my favorite legends. |
|
More stories for the Lunar New Year |
|
Red Bean Paste Recipe
Our local Asian market has been having a red bean paste shortage, and with Lunar New Year coming, we've been worried! We can't celebrate without our sweet dumplings! So, we decided to take matters into our own hands and make our own red bean paste. If you're having a red bean paste shortage like us, here's the recipe we used so you can make your own, too.
|
|
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup adzuki beans (aka red beans)
2.5 cups water
2 tablespoon white sugar
2 tablespoon dark brown sugar
|
|
EQUIPMENT:
Large Pot
Strainer
Food Mill (not 100% necessary but will help get rid of some of the bean husks and make your bean paste smoother)
Blender or Food Processor
Large pan
|
|
|
|
INSTRUCTIONS:
Soak the beans
Soak adzuki beans in water at least over one night, more is better! We let ours sit for 2 days. Drain then rinse well.
Cook the beans
Put the beans into a pot. Pour in water to cover. Bring it to a boil, then leave to simmer for 60-90 mins until they become soft and easy to crush (continue to add water to keep from burning or drying out).
Blend smooth
Drain the cooked beans. If you have a food mill, mash the bean in that to remove some of the bean husks. Then, put the mixture into food processor to puree into a paste. Add white and brown sugar. Add water as needed, but don’t add too much!
Reheat to thicken to paste
Transfer the puree into a pan. Cook over medium-high heat while stirring and turning constantly to avoid burning. When the paste becomes dark and holds in shape, take it out to cool. Once cool, it’s ready to use! YUM!
|
|
Sweet Dumplings!
After you have your red bean paste, you can make your tang yuan--sweet dumplings that you eat at the last day of Lunar New Year (during the Lantern Festival). People also eat tang yuan at the winter solstice, because the round, sweet dumplings that symbolize family togetherness and the sweetness of the what is to come.
|
|
You can also watch my daughter and I make tang yuan (as well as get our recipe) in this little video from last year's dumpling making!
|
|
|
Well, the holidays now seem a long ago memory but the chickens wanted to let you know that they enjoyed the 2nd annual Cluckmas Caroling! Our tradition of singing re-interpreted carols to the chickens was a big hit; we are especially proud of our new song. It is based off of "Last Christmas" by Wham!:
Last Cluckmas, I gave you my egg.
But the very next day, you ate it away.
So this year, to save me from tears
I’m giving it to a vegan…
|
|
|
|
And that's it until spring! Stay tuned for the announcement of another free Q&A webinar and much more!
Best, Grace
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
