National Peking Duck Day

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By Chef Diane

A man orders chop suey in a restaurant. The waiter brings out a pot with a lid but the man's afraid to eat it because every so often the lid lifts up a wee bit and a wee pair of eyes peer out at him. He calls the waiter over, points it out, and asks "Are you sure that's chop suey?" The waiter goes, "Oh sorry sir, my mistake - I've brought you Peking duck."

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According to mahalo.com, Peking Duck has its roots in Yuan dynasty, who invented the dish in the 1200s. It became the Ming dynasty's favorite food in the 1500s.  One of the oldest Peking Duck restaurants in Beijing has served Peking Duck for over 600 years.

By the mid-20th century, Peking Duck had become China’s national dish. Its popularity has spread across the world with many upscale Chinese restaurants around the world serving Peking Duck as one of their signature dish. Peking duck had historically been reserved for the nobles and upper class members of the Chinese community. It’s only been since the beginning of the 21st century that the average person in China could afford to eat authentic Peking Duck.

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There are many steps involved in the process of making authentic Peking Duck. One of most distinctive process is when the chef inflates the intact skin on the duck to cook it. The duck is traditionally roasted in a brick oven with open fire to get the crisp skin.  The skin is crispy, but so tender it melts in your mouth.  Peking Duck can be eaten with pancakes, spring onions, and either hoisin sauce or sweet bean sauce.

When my son was younger, I used to take him to different restaurants, to allow him to taste different foods as well as how to to practice his table manners.  When I took him to a local Chinese restaurant, he ordered the Peking Duck.  I had never tried this dish, so we shared it.  It tasted like chicken...hahaha.  Today is National Peking Duck Day, a dish that became popular in the United States in 1975.  If you are feeling adventurous today, head down to a Chinese restaurant, and order up a dish for your enjoyment!

International Day of Peace

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By Diane Forrest

The world has been shocked by the recent murder of American Ambassador Christopher Stephens in Egypt.  That set off a series of other protests and army attacks. Then the unrest moved to other parts of the world.  News of impending wars in Egypt and violence in Afghan and violence in China.  The fury in the Islamic Nation and the prospect of Iran building a nuclear bomb.  Even in the USA there are random acts of violence such as the shootings in Colorado and various places across the country.

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According to Wikipedia, the International Day of Peace, sometimes unofficially known as World Peace Day, is observed annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day was first celebrated in 1982, and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. To inaugurate the day, the "Peace Bell" is rung at UN Headquarters (in New York City). The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents except Africa, and was a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan, as "a reminder of the human cost of war"; the inscription on its side reads, "Long live absolute world peace".

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Individuals can also wear White Peace Doves to commemorate the International Day of Peace, which are badges in the shape of a dove produced by a non-profit organization in Canada.

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The first occurrence was in 1982, and this year there thousands of planned activities including school activities, music concerts, global comedy clubs (www.thinkPEACE.net), peace doves, prayer vigils, peace conferences and U.N. activities.

To see how you can help or things to do, visit these sites:  www.cultureofpeace.org , www.UN.org , www.wiserearth.org , www.thinkPEACE.net or search "peace day events."

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Fortune Cookie Day

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By Diane Forrest

My husband and I loved the television show Monk.  It was about a neurotic detective, who was obsessive and compulsive. He loved cleaning.  One of the reasons I loved it is because it reminded me so much of my husband.  He was also a clean freak.  I remember one episode where one of the police officers went to a Chinese restaurant with his date, and when they read the fortune cookie, the message came true.  Well this happened two more times, and he became a real believer in the Chinese fortune cookies.   Later in the show, it was discovered that the "girlfriend" was actually a criminal trying to find the location of Monk so she could kill him.

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I love getting fortune cookies after a Chinese dinner.  I am aware of several traditions involved with them too.  For instance, never pick your cookie, allow who you are with to pick first.   Always read your fortune aloud, and Never eat the cookie.  I’m not sure if the last one is a tradition, or because the cookies are really hard, and difficult to chew.

Most of the messages are pretty generic, here are a few samples:

• Courtesy is contagious.
• Curiosity kills boredom. Nothing can kill curiosity.
• Dedicate yourself with a calm mind to the task at hand.
• Depart not from the path which fate has you assigned.
• Determination is what you need now.
• Disbelief destroys the magic.
• Distance yourself from the vain.
• Do not be intimidated by the eloquence of others.
• Do not let ambitions overshadow small success.
• Do not make extra work for yourself.
• Do not underestimate yourself. Human beings have unlimited potentials.
• Don’t be discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.
• Your home is the center of great love.
• Your ideals are well within your reach.
• Your infinite capacity for patience will be rewarded sooner or later.
• Your leadership qualities will be tested and proven.
• Your life will be happy and peaceful.
• Your life will get more and more exciting.
• Your love life will be happy and harmonious.
• Your love of music will be an important part of your life.
• Your loyalty is a virtue, but not when it’s wedded with blind stubbornness.
• Your mind is creative, original and alert.
• Your mind is your greatest asset.

Another thing found on a fortune is a series of numbers, used to play the lottery.  I can imagine if the fortune is good, the numbers will also be good and will help to win another fortune.

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The third thing found on a fortune cookie is a translation of a Chinese word.  If you have alot of cookies, they would help you learn to speak Chinese as a second language.

Not only do Chinese fortune cookies provide standard fortunes, but you can also order some that have specific fortunes, or requests, such as ‘Will you Marry Me?’ or I'm Pregnant.

There is a common joke involving fortune cookies that involves appending "between the sheets" or "in bed" to the end of the fortune, usually creating a sexual innuendo or other bizarre messages (e.g., "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall [in bed]".

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Today is Fortune Cookie Day.  The Fortune Cookie did not originate in China. Rather, it was invented in California. There appears to be some uncertainty over who invented it. Some historical references suggest it was Makoto Hagiwara who invented the fortune cookie at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco in 1914. Others believe that David Jung, founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company, was the first to make fortune cookies in Los Angeles in the 1920s.   So today, head out to your favorite Chinese Restaurant and have some fortune cookies.  Who knows, you may even get a good fortune, or wind up with some winning lottery numbers (in bed)!