Friday Favourites - Chinese New Year

Kung Hei Fat Choi (Happy New Year) from all of us here at The Amazing Blog! This celebration marks the commencement of the year of the Wooden Horse.  The wooden horse can be seen as good or bad depending on our beliefs. Wood is seen as additional fuel for the already energetic horse, meaning it can inspire those to follow through with goals but can also spark conflicts. Whether you celebrate the date or just want to partake in the festivities, here at The Amazing Blog, we have found all you need to get your New Year’s celebration underway.

First off let’s address the superstitions surrounding the entry of a new year to the Chinese and what one should and should not do. Starting with the home, families clean the home as a way of saying out with the old and in with the new, as well as eliminating bad energy. Also remember to avoid any unpleasant situations or crying on this day since the first day of the year is said to be a precursor of the year to come. For you fashion conscious folks, be mindful not to wear black since the colour relates to death and instead opt for red as it represents luck and fortune. Also if you want to have some fun with ghosts and spirits, pop some firecrackers to scare the bad ones off. Your neighbour may not appreciate it but it’s a sure way of starting the year off with a bang!

chinese-new-year-cake

Regardless of your plans, let us suggest a themed recipe because clearly we here at the blog love anything in regards to food! We have found a Chinese New Year Cake Recipe Kit by Sous Chef.  Sous Chef is an online store dedicated to supplying hard-to-find ingredients and equipment to ‘adventurous cooks’ interested in exotic cuisines.  The cake mix kit includes the ingredients needed to make traditional New Year ‘sticky cakes’ known as Nian Gao, which consist of Chinese brown sugar, glutinous rice flour, coconut milk and the recipe card with instructions. These cakes have the consistency of Japanese mochi balls but can also be pan-fried and transform into tasty, eggy ‘bread’. The kit is available online here for only £5.00. Thanks to our friends at Sous Chef who have given us the recipe to share with you!

Ingredients:

225g Chinese brown sugar in pieces (half packet)

200ml water

200ml coconut milk (half can)

225g glutinous rice flour (half a bag)

Optional gold leaf, to garnish

This recipe makes 3x10 cm cakes, to serve 6 people.

Recipe:

1. Break down the brown sugar into small pieces, and place in pan with the water. Heat, stirring until dissolved and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
2. Remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the coconut milk.
3. Measure out the glutinous rice flour into a large mixing bowl, and pour over the coconut milk and sugar mixture. Whisk well, until there are no lumps. The texture should be similar to a runny pancake batter.
4. With a little cooking oil, grease 3-5 small ramekins, remembering that 4 is an unlucky number! Pour in the batter, dividing equally between dishes.
5. Sit the ramekins in a large saucepan with a lid, and add water until it comes to half way up the sides of the dishes. Cover with lid, and simmer for 30 minutes on a low heat.
6. Remove from pan and leave to cool (they are also tasty at this stage!). Refrigerate. They will keep well wrapped in the fridge.

7. Optional: If you’re giving the cakes as presents, run a knife around the side of the cake, and lever it out. Place upside down on a circle of grease-proof paper, tie with string, and top with a little gold leaf.

Next we have the Wing Yip Five Beer Gift Pack, because what is a celebration without a little alcohol!  Perfect for any occasion and festivity, the pack contains beers from all over Asia in areas like Kirin Ichiban, Tiger, Sapporo, Tsing Tao and Singha. The supplier of the beer pack, Wing Yip, is the UK’s leading retailer of Oriental products with four locations in Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon. The beer gift pack however, is only available online here for £7.98.

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PandoraCharm

Food and drink are a must but not always enough to entertain your guests; we want your celebration to be everything but boring.  Amuse your guests and bring good fortune by flying a traditional Chinese dragon kite.  Airdynamics,  a UK based company specializing in hand-made kites imported from China, suggests that under Chinese tradition flying a kite during the celebration brings growth and good fortune in the upcoming year.  If kite flying isn’t your speciality, no worries!  These carefully crafted kites dual as entertainment and home decorations in the form of dragons, snakes and other animals.  Prices very based on size and selection, but orders can be placed here.

Finally we have a gift from us to you; well, it’s actually a gifting idea. Traditionally in Chinese New Year culture, a charm is given to family members and friends to optimize good fortune in the upcoming seasons.  Seeking good fortune themselves, the Pandora bracelet company has designed the Chinese Zodiac Horse Pendant Charm.  Yes, it is unique to 2014 but we find the Zodiac Horse doubles as an everyday “good luck” charm.  Even better, the horse charm will fill another space on the bracelets of your family and friends!  Find the charm at a local Pandora store or on Pandora for £35.00.

If you’re not hosting or attending a Chinese New Year party, pop by Chinatown to experience ‘the largest Chinese New Year party outside of China.’  Chinatown entertainment will include dancers, musicians, food and more!  Go here for more details.

We hope this has given you some inspiration for your Chinese New Year festivities!

Friday Favourites- Holiday Reads

All we want to do in this cold weather is snuggle up on the sofa in our pyjamas with a mug of tea and a great book. The Amazing Blog understands that there comes a time when a novel seems a bit too heavy for unwinding, so we have selected three very different easy reads to browse when you’re taking some time off. These are How to Draw Like a Fashion Designer, Peruvian Kitchen, and The Book.

There’s no denying that at some stage in our lives, we have all had career ambitions which were a little far fetched. When I was growing up it was either a princess or fashion designer… By about 8 I realised the former dream was a little unrealistic so I began to focus on fashion. I would draw stick women and drown them in horrible floods of colour, clothes that nobody would ever wear, but it was fun. The How to Draw like a Fashion Designer book written by Celia Joicey and Dennis Nothdruft would have been perfect for that phase of my life and would have helped make my stick people look less like…sticks. It’s a beautiful book filled with vibrant colours and step by step guides. Valentino and Zadra Rhodes are just two of the many designers who have contributed to the book, adding their own individual personality. There are interviews, drawing guides, intricate images and much more to set you on your path to become the next big name in fashion. I think this book is wonderful for a light read when you have five minutes to yourself. Its only £12.95, and definitely a book which will look lovely on a shelf or table in the lounge for everyone to enjoy. You can purchase the book here.

 

From one of our favourite ‘F’s, fashion, to another, which is food! The Ceviche Peruvian Kitchen by Martin Morales is filled with over 100 recipes and photos of the most celebrated Peruvian food. Restaurateur and cook, Martin Morales opened his restaurant Ceviche in 2012 and has since had huge success. This book shows you how to makes hundreds of dishes including the famous Ceviche. He traveled the country in search of the best flavours and recipes to share with his readers, and we agree he’s done just that. They are simple yet delicious and unusual, and we are interested by every one. The dishes are fusions of cultural essences from Africa, Spain, Italy, China and Japan. If you haven’t tried Peruvian food before then you need to, it’s definitely not one to disappoint as there are so many different spices and textures to choose from. We trust everything about these recipes as Martin Morales has been cooking since the mere age of 11!  His passion for food is displayed throughout the book and seen in the beautiful photographs which compliment each recipe. The book is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and you can purchase it on Amazon here.

There is a particular genre of book that appears to be trending and increasing in popularity. These are self help books, ways to better your life and achieve greater happiness. If you visit book stores or use the internet you will probably be exposed to a large amount of these book titles, but The Amazing Blog can make it a little easier for you to choose. We have just read Linde’s life manual which goes by the name, The Book. It opens your eyes to different ways to maintain perfect health, wealth, happiness and longevity. It’s a guide to changing the way you perceive things to ultimately give you a happier and more positive outlook on life. As you journey through the chapters you learn how to understand how your body and mind function, and how to deal with them depending on your surroundings and environment. This book is full of optimism and is definitely one that I will keep referring back to as the years go on. It’s a bit like a support mechanism to guide you in the direction which will make you happiest. The hardback version is £30 and presented beautifully, it’ll be something to stay with you for years so definitely worth every penny. You can buy a kindle edition, or if you want, a hardback copy from here. 

The Ethicurean Cookbook

Here at The Amazing Blog, we share a love for cooking, and we are always impressed when we stumble on a truly wonderful cookbook. We have recently been reading The Ethicurean Cookbook, which is a truly remarkable and creative book full of recipes. The book was born out of the Ethicurean Kitchen Garden restaurant, which is located in Mendip Hills. Ethicurean means ‘the pursuit of fine-tasting food while being mindful of the effect of one’s food production and consumption on the environment’.

The four friends were brought together by their love of cooking, and combined the knowledge of food and business into the Ethicurean Restaurant. They aim to live sustainably and are working with local English farmers and fisherman to source their meat, and they supply their own fruits and vegetables from their garden. Recipes you will find in the book range from some ‘quintessential’ English with a twist to the truly creative and daring. Foods are listed by season, starting with Winter, and each season houses a collection of starter foods, salads, mains, desserts and drinks. I found it truly captivating, and the photography is phenomenal. You will find that the recipes in the cookbook are probably things that you have never tried before, and some are admittedly a bit unusual. If you are experimental in the kitchen, you will absolutely love this, but never fear if you aren’t; there is plenty of delicious options available for you as well. Beyond the recipes themselves, there are pages devoted to the proper way of cooking specific things, such as live crabs, which is great form improving your cooking skills.

The Ethicurean Cookbook is sure to give you a font of inspiration for your next cooking adventures. This will also be perfect for dinner party planning, as there is everything from cocktails to dessert. A wonderful gift for anyone who cooks, or for your own bookshelf, you can purchase The Ethicurean Cookbook, Ebury Press for £25 from (look up buying option and ask ebury how book needs to be credited).

Dog’s Trust and 'Phillipa Fairy Cake', a book by Sarahjane Funnel

It is not often that we write about children’s books and things here on The Amazing Blog, but when we find something truly exceptional, we make sure that we feature it. We were very lucky to be invited to the launch of Sarahjane Funnel’s new book: Phillipa Fairy Cake and The Secret Pet’s Tea Party in conjunction with the Dog’s Trust, and took the opportunity to attend.

The book is about a little girl named Phillipa and her cat Little Miss Whiskers. They, along with two of her friends and their pet rescue dogs, planned for a tea party in the garden. Shortly after they sat down for tea the adventure began and they meet characters such as a Mrs Boodle Doodle. It is an adorable adventure and the perfect story for small children, with brilliantly coloured pages full of fun illustrations. Definitely an essential read for any parent who has pets and perfect for a child’s developing mind. Sarahjane herself has a rescue dog ‘Pip’ from the Dog’s Trust are who are acknowledged in the book.

 The author Sarahjane Funnel (with Dog’s Trust rescue Boasson) and Edwina, our Exec Ed of TheAmazingBlog

As serious dog lovers here at The Amazing Blog, we took some time to learn a little more about the Dog’s Trust. Each year, they care for about 16,000 dogs at their 18 re-homing centres. They also run neutering campaigns across the UK and have educational programs to teach children about the trust and dogs. In addition, they sponsor many other dog charities and organisations. If you can’t re-home or adopt a dog, but would like to give a donation or you can become a member of the Dog’s Trust  please click  here.  When we spoke to the Dog’s Trust, they sent us some information on two of their lovely dogs that are desperately in need of a loving home.

Kobi 5 yr old male Malamute Cross

 Kobi is looking for a patient adult only home with no visiting children where he will have time to settle. He loves a fuss on his terms and enjoys woodland walks where he can lose himself in the undergrowth. He also enjoys a run in the field and playing with his toys. He would much prefer to be the only pet in the home so he can have all the attention to himself. Once settled he will make a very loyal friend. 

Zander is a 4 yr old male Boxer

Zander lacks confidence and will need patience and time to find his feet and build a relationship with his new family. He is a handsome boy who was very underweight when he arrived, so food is very important to him. He enjoys his walks and loves a game of ball! He does get on with other dogs when out and about but would prefer to be the only dog in the home. He could potentially live with older teenagers.  If you are interested in either of these dogs, please contact the Dog’s Trust rehoming centre 01227 792505 or visit them at: The Dogs Trust, Radfall Road, Chestfield, Nr Whitstable, Kent, CT5 3ER.

In the meantime, to purchase Sarahjane Funnel’s book, Phillipa Fairy Cake and the Secret Pet’s Tea Party,  at £7.99  you can head over to Waterstones or Amazon.

Love Brand & Co: Giving Back to the Elephants

  

As we all know, there are many wildlife charity organisations out there in the world working to help save, protect, and maintain endangered species lives and habitats. We at The Amazing Blog are always interested in these wonderful projects, and we have found an absolutely great one to introduce to you! Oliver Tomalin, who is passionate about Elephants and Fashion has found an exciting way to blend his two loves. A clothing company that donates sales to elephant conservation! I’m sure many, if not all of you know that elephants are drastically at risk for becoming completely extinct, and we can do our part to help save the species.

 

Love Brand & Co.  is the clothing company created by Oliver Tomalin that sells men’s and boy’s t-shirts, polo shirts, and a vast array of shorts. For every sale made, 5% of sales are donated to conserving elephants and their habitats. The company supports quite a few wonderful organisations. Elephant Family created by Mark Shand works to save the Asian Elephant and its habitat. They also have UK-wide Education Programs to extend the knowledge of the issue. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust works in Kenya to hand rear orphaned elephant babies until they are strong enough to survive in the wild. They also work with anti-poaching efforts and have mobile veterinary units in place. Another trust that Love Brand & Co supports is the Tusk Trust, which has raised over £16 million to conserve wildlife and alleviate poverty across Africa.

 

Sounds wonderful, right? Well, it is. You can take your part and help the elephants, and get great clothes in the meantime.  The t-shirts and polo shirts have an adorable elephant logo, and the shorts are available in a wide variety of colours and prints. Plus, they are all made with 100% organic cotton, which is a fabulous thing on it’s own. These are perfect for you, a friend, son, or boyfriend. Hopefully we will get some women’s clothes in the mix soon from Love Brand & Co. They retail between £49.00-£119.00 and are available on their website. The company also has a flagship store at 5 Park Walk, London.