Chinese New Year 2010

For me, making Pineapple tarts is a 'must-do' a few days before Chinese New Year to make sure my guests savour them... nice and fresh.

Then the night before, preparing the angpows is another 'must-do'. Making sure we get the crispy new notes sometimes mean queueing up at the banks a week before the Big Day. Also, getting the the new angpow packets from every bank in town seems to be the craze a few weeks before!

Here, the 'Yee Sang' at Reunion Dinner.....is really looking good... it REALLY is good!! This dish is another 'must-eat'
........

But before you begin, you have to 'Loh-hei', meaning to toss the dish, while uttering some nice-sounding blessings. I haven't learn how to say them in authentic Cantonese, but I will learn to do so...next year.

Not only nice-sounding blessings...but also the dishes have nice-sounding names. This one, 'Hoi See Fatt Choy'...means ' Good Things and Prosperity Come Your Way' and.....

another one, 'Stuffed Sea Cucumber'.....i guess it means that 'The Year Will Be Filled With Rich Blessings'....

Mama is looking very happy here. She must be very pleased with the food....but most importantly, that everyone came back for the Reunion Dinner, all 30 of us.

Another thing.....red clothes! Next morning, the children get ready to receive lots and lots of Angpows!!

In our family, we begin the 'Angpow Ceremony' by having everyone, from the youngest to the eldest receiving angpows and in exchange, we offer blessings and best wishes to Mama.

Having fun time with cousins  on the hammock in the garden!!

Luckily for Skype, Vito and Jae-lynn were able to join in the merry-making. We were also able to'exchange greetings and mandarin oranges'.

Together with the fireworks around the neighbourhood and the Lion Dance, and having everyone back home, it really was a great Chinese New Year!!!