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Show AggieLife Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 Page 7 Year of the tiger begins Saturday 44-?'10 By APRIL ASHLAND staff writer Saturday Feb. 13 is Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year as it's called in the U.S. 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, and according to online newspaper Chron.com , The Houston Chronicle, it is supposed to be a year for success and competition. Beatrice Yip Ka Ying, senior in marketing, said the best part of Lunar New Year is being with her family, giving and receiving blessings for the new year. She said visiting relatives and hanging out with the whole family is an important part of the Lunar New Year, which brings the whole family together. "We give blessings, for a happy, healthy and fortuitous year," she said. Yip Ka Ying said Lunar New Year is a very important holiday in the Chinese tradition — the most important holiday of the year. "It's like Christmas and Thanksgiving in America," Yip Ka Ying said. "We all buy new clothes and wear red, which is the symbol of happiness and fortune." Justine Leung, junior in finance and economics, said the best part of Lunar New Year is that it's a rest day, when no one works or goes to school. "We do special things — we have fireworks and a dragon dance," Leung said. Leung said her family also has traditions that go along with the Lunar New Year, such as visiting family and friends, and eating special foods. "My family has a tradition that on the Lunar New Year we don't eat meat, to refresh your system," she said. "We have vegetables and sticky rice, like a stir-fry." According to a 2007 documentary on the History Channel called "History of the Holiday's: Chinese New Year," the holiday was born out of fear — there was a wild beast who would appear at the end of the year and prey on villagers. To frighten it off, people would use loud noises and bright lights. And that's when the festivities were born. Yip Ka Ying said the Chinese have different traditions to celebrate the Lunar New Year, but her family in Hong Kong doesn't always follow all of them. "We have this weird tradition, where on the eve of the new year, you're not supposed to sweep the floor," she said. "It's said you'll sweep away luck and happiness. My family doesn't really follow that though. We pretty much always still sweep the floor." She said that in Hong Kong, which is where she's from, the traditions are a little more relaxed. Leung said she isn't doing anything really special this year for the new year, since it's different and harder to do in America. "I might do something with my friends, and celebrate, but I don't really know yet," she said. Yip Ka Ying said she'll call her family in Hong Kong and get together with friends, but it won't be a huge celebration. — april.ashland@aggiemail.usu.edu EatTh at Bring your Valentine in with this coupon in for a two for one swim pass. If you bring this coupon in to us on February 12-14th you'll also receive a free Hershey's "Kiss" from our staff. Come try out our newly remodeled mineral pools. Coupon expires: February 28, 2010 8215 N Hwy 38, Honeyyillc, UT-435.279.8104—www.crystalhotsprings.net NiiSmyle Dental Edwin S. Hurst D.D.S 150 East 200 North Suite B1 752-4533 Attention AGGIES!!! When you schedule an initial exam, cleaning, and necessary x-rays you will receive a $10 gift certificate to Spoon Me! Your name will also be entered in a drawing for a 19" flatscreen T.V.! Taking back the kitchen and all about it. No kiss this Valentine's day? Try chocolate When we were teenagers people told us eating chocolate would cause pimple breakouts. Now they're telling us chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and, in moderation, is good for you. Either way, eating chocolate releases phenethylamine into your brain, which is the same thing that happens when you get a big, passionate kiss. Seeing how Valentine's Day is right around the corner, you might want to get your hands on some. I mean, whether you're single, who doesn't want to release happy chemicals into the bloodstream while getting a healthy dose of disease fighting antioxidants? Truffles are to Valentine's Day as gingerbread houses are to Christmas. Only, chocolates are melt-in-your-mouth delicious so you'll eat them instead of throwing them in the garbage three weeks later. Truffles are so easy it's hard to believe the results: fancy custom made chocolates for you or the one you love. The main body of a truffle consists of only two ingredients (chocolate and cream), but from there the possibilities are endless. You can add extracts to the mix (mint, almond, vanilla, etc.). You can roll them in toasted nuts, cocoa powder, coconut, cinnamon or even flavored hot chocolate mix (I recommend raspberry). If you're really adventurous you can even put things like whole hazelnuts or blobs of peanut butter inside of them. Making them is so fun you may want to make the chocolate ahead of time and then invite your significant other over to do the rest together. Truffles: 8 ounces semi-sweet or milk chocolate (you can use chocolate chips or chocolate bars chopped into pieces) make a French silk pie. Anyone who's had French silk pie would probably describe it in one word: rich. This stuff is not for the faint of heart. It will satisfy your chocolate craving in one bite. And like truffles, the hardest part of this recipe is just waiting for it to come out of the fridge. FREE missionary exam with paid x-rays and cleaning! For the past 25 years Dr. Hurst, a USU graduate, has provided excellent service to hundreds of USU faculty and students. He enjoys this association with the university, community and looks forward to serving you! Chocolate French Silk Pie 1 pie crust (graham cracker or pastry, your choice) 1 cup sugar (Offers for new patients only.) Sunrise Midwifery Services A Warmer Life's Dawning 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder* Nurturing & Natural Care For Mother & Child With A 3 tablespoons oil* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 eggs Midwife whipped cream, for topping —Beat the butter and sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy, four to five minutes. —Beat in the cocoa powder, oil and vanilla until combined. Home Births —Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping the sides of the bowl when needed. Water Laboring —Spoon the chocolate mixture into the pie shell and use a rubber spatula to spread out until smooth. —Cover and refrigerate for two to three hours, until set. 1/2 cup heavy cream Hypnobirthing Water Birth Childbirth Classes Doula Services Lending Libary Birth Center —Top with whipped cream. —Put the cream in a small saucepan and heat to boiling. —Put the chocolate into a bowl and pour the boiling cream over it. —Stir until melted and combined. —Refrigerate until firm enough to handle, one to two hours. —Run your hands under cold water to keep them from melting the chocolate. —Roll the chocolate into balls. —Embellish them to your liking (see above paragraph). —(You may want to put them back in the fridge for a little bit so they can set up after being handled.) Another delicious option for getting your healthy dose of chocolate this V-day is to —If you want to be really impress your sweetheart you can top it with chocolate shavings. *Note: Three ounces of baking chocolate or chocolate chips can be used instead of the cocoa powder and oil. Just melt the chocolate and let it cool to room temperature before you add it to the mix. Whether you're spending Feb. 14 alone or with somebody special, you are guaranteed phenethylamine and a happy, content feeling if you make either of these chocolate dishes. Jennelle Clark, junior in psychology, wants to hear what you have to say. E-mail her at jenn. nelle@gmail.com with your recipes, feedback and food experiences. Launa Campbell, Midwife (208) 521-9286 Serving families in Idaho & Utah. For families interested in natural childbirth & holistic maternity care. We offer individualized & personal care to include complete prenatal, delivery & postpartum care. Newborn & well-woman exams. Homebirths, Birth Center Births & Hospital Birth Options. Additionally, we offer childbirth classes & doula services. We have a lending library of books & DVDs. Initial consultations free. Saturday appointments available. Watch for our new Birth Center Coming To Logan Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 Sunrisemidwifery@hotmail.com www.sunrisemidwiferyservices.com ...Providing pathways to a gentle birth experience... |