Chinese New Year for the Fast diet

Year of the Rabbit

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How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it: a simple way to lose weight and be healthier. Welcome to ColdPressed who is now Following.

The word ‘zodiac’ means a ‘circle of animals.’ Eurocentric cultures use the Greek Zodiac, with 12 signs: some of animals [Capricorn the Goat, Pisces the Fish], some of humans [Aquarius the Water-Bearer, Virgo the Virgin]. These are based on constellations that are found on the ecliptic. As the sun moves across the sky, its path looks like a Sine Curve rather than going straight across the sky at the same elevation. This apparent shift is due to the Earth’s axial tilt. As the sun moves through each constellation, that set of stars is said to control the life of someone born during that time span. The Chinese Zodiac is different. Yes, there are 12 animal signs but each controls the entire year, thus taking 12 years to complete the cycle. This zodiac is ancient and is derived from the Taoist religion which believes, among other things, that the stars dictated one’s future and one’s personality. Taoism also contributed the concept of yin and yang, so each animal has a yin side and a yang side. In addition, the calendar is affected by the 5 Elements, showing the unity of people and things on Earth. Tomorrow is the start of the Lunar New Year, and it is the first day of the Year of the Rabbit: the Water Rabbit, to be more exact. People born in a Rabbit Year are polite, responsible, and cautious. On the down-side, they are timid and often fool-hardy — especially with finances. They are good workers, as they are industrious, devoted, and stable. Countries that have been influenced by Chinese culture [through past colonization] also observe the same Zodiac, though the animals might not all be the same. In Japan, there is a wild boar instead of a pig. In Vietnam, there is a cat instead of a rabbit. Astrologers predict peace, harmony, and financial success for this year. We’ll all wait and see what happens.

In the Year of the Rabbit, when one should work on better health and well-being, eating well can be a good goal for this year. Meals like these can keep your weight down and promote good health. Xīnnián hǎo.

Foo Yung Bake: 130 calories 5 g fat 2.4 g fiber 10 g protein 12 g carbs 57 mg Calcium   NB: The food values shown are for the egg bake and the fruit, not for the optional beverages.  PB GF  Straight out of Guangdong, China, this is a no-fuss Chinese-American bake.

One 2-oz egg 2 Tbsp crab meat 1 tsp soy sauce ¼ cup sprouts [I used broccoli sprouts — suit yourself] ¼ oz mushrooms pinch ground ginger + pinch granulated garlic 1 Tbsp scallion, sliced cross-wise 1 clementine or 2 oz pear   Optional: 5 oz fruit smoothie or berry-yogurt smoothie [88 calories] Optional: blackish coffee [53 calories] or blackish tea or mocha cafe au lait [65 calories] or lemon in hot water

Gently mix the crab meat with sprouts, scallion, and mushroom. Lightly oil or spritz an oven-proof dish. Whisk the egg with the soy sauce, ginger, and garlic powder, then stir in the crab mixture. Pour into prepared dish, adding salt and pepper if you wish. Bake at 350 F. for 12-15 minutes. Plate with the pear and pour the optional beverages.

Dim Sum: 302 calories 5.6 g fat 1 g fiber 32 g protein 30 g carbs 28.5 mg Calcium I like to think of Dim Sum as the Asian version of Tapas or Meze: tastes of several different delicious foods. With prepared parts in the freezer, this meal is easy to assemble.

2 chicken Momos  2 oz raw chicken 1 tsp prepared Satay Sauce ½ tsp creamy peanut butter 2 pork Wontons  2 tsp chicken stock 1 oz Chinese BBQ Pork for steamed buns [purchased: 46 calories/oz] 2 oz tomato

Thaw the chicken and cut in cubes. Cream the Satay Sauce with the peanut butter and mix with the chicken meat. Let sit several hours. Thaw the momos, the wontons, and the pork. Combine the stock with 2 tsp water and put the wontons in the broth. Cook at a simmer until wontons are heated through. Remove them and continue to heat the stock until reduced back to 2 tsp. [Using ceramic soup spoons, I put 1 tsp of stock in each spoon and topped it with a warm wonton.] Thread the chicken onto a skewer and broil or grill for 10-15 minutes, turning to cook the other side. Place the momos in a steamer for about 15 minutes, until they are cooked through and the wrappers are translucent. Heat the pork in the microwave for about 1 minute. Slice the tomato and plate the Dim Sum components in the manner of your choosing.

Chinese New Year

~ me ~ Leave a comment

How this Fast Diet Lifestyle works: Eat these meals tomorrow, for a calorie total of less than 600. On another day this week, eat the meals from a different post, another day of eating 600 calories or less. Eat sensibly the other days of the week. That’s it. Simple way to lose weight and be healthier.

Happy Year of the Fire Rooster. May it bring you luck and joy. In honor of the 5-day festival, I invite you to partake of Chinese recipes, one is an old favorite, one is a new favorite.  Both fit the requirements of the Fasting Lifestyle which goes to show that Fasting can fit into any cuisine.  It is possible to celebrate a variety of cultures without sacrificing a healthy diet.

jian-bing-w-granny-smith

Chinese Pancakes ‘Jian Bing’:     300 calories     6 g fat   3.5 g fiber    15 g protein   59 g carbs  202.7 mg Calcium         PB   This delicious treat is popular Chinese street-food. And now it is popular in our household. Quick to cook and fun to eat. The crisp tart apple is a nice foil to the salty-spicy food. HINT: this recipe makes 4 of which 2 will do for the breakfast. Save the remaining 2 to eat cold for lunch tomorrow.

1/3 cup all-purpose flour        1.5 Tbsp white whole wheat flour      

1 Tbsp semolina flour     1 two-oz egg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ½ cup water      ¼ cup chopped scallions, white and green parts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1 egg, whisked                     Kosher salt            2 tsp Sriracha sauce + 2 tsp low-sodium soy sauce [or more to taste]                                                                                                                                                                                                     per person: 1 oz tart, crisp apple                                                                                                                      optional: blackish coffee or blackish tea or lemon juice & hot water                                                                                optional: 5-6 oz fruit or green smoothie or natural apple cider

Whisk together the flours, one egg, and water until lumps are gone. Hint: this can be combined the night before. Whisk again in the morning. In a separate bowl, beat the other egg thoroughly. In a custard cup, combine the hot sauce and soy sauce. Using a good non-stick pan, add 2 brief puffs of non-stick spray, then wipe with a paper towel. [Keep the paper towel handy.] Heat the pan and add 3-4 Tbsp of batter, swirling the pan quickly to distribute the batter evenly to make a thin pancake that coats the bottom of the pan. Let cook for a minute or 2, then spoon some of the egg on top and smear it around. Sprinkle with a small pinch of salt and one quarter of the scallions. Cook until the egg on top is a bit set, then flip the pancake over. Brush the hot sauce mixture on top. Cook for 30 seconds, fold the pancake in 4ths, and plate. Use the paper towel to wipe the pan and repeat until all the batter and scallions are gone. Nb: I had whisked egg left over. If your hot beverage is brewed, your apples are sliced, and the smoothie is ready, then you are set for a real good start to your New Year.

Shrimp Spring Rolls

Shrimp Spring Rolls:     281 calories      6.5 g fat      4.5 g fiber      22.4 g protein     29.4 g carbs 126 mg Calcium     GF PB     Spring rolls are always a treat for Chinese New Year, for they represent luck. The Spring Roll wrappers look like 8” disks of opaque plastic, but after soaking for 10-15 seconds in water, they become clear and very pliant. If you are not accustomed to wrapping spring rolls or egg rolls, you might want to practice using wonton wrappers which are easier to manipulate.

3 oz raw shrimp, cut in half across the body         2 oz carrot, peeled and sliced into thin coins or cut as julienne                                                                        2 oz green cabbage, sliced thinly            1 oz chopped green onion           1.5 tsp soy sauce                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1 tsp olive oil                  3 eight-inch Spring Roll wrappers                                                                                                                    2 oz broccoli, steamed               Sriracha sauce

Chop and prepare all the ingredients and put them in small dishes near the stove-top. Heat a cast iron skillet or wok until hot and add the oil. When it is hot, add the carrot and cabbage. Stirfry for 3 minutes on heat high enough to keep the vegetables sizzling. If the pan becomes dry, add some water. This is supposed to be a no-no in stir frying, but we are cutting down on oil, OK? Add the shrimp and stir fry about 1 minute, until it is cooked. Add the green onion and soy sauce. Stirfry a bit longer until all is mixed and warm. Take off the heat. Remove the cooked mixture to a bowl. [if you want to, run it briefly through the food processor. This step is optional but it can make the mixture easier to roll.]  Steam or stir fry the broccoli separately.

Put a pie plate of warm water on the counter. Add one of the spring roll wrappers and let it soak a bit. When it turns clear, remove it and lay it flat on a dish towel. Spoon 1/3 of the filling mixture onto the wrapper. Roll up a bit, then fold in the sides, then finish rolling. Wipe out the pan and put a mere film of oil on it. Turn on the heat to medium-low. Put the roll in the warm pan. Repeat with the other rolls.  In the pan, turn the rolls until they are warm and slightly browned. Serve with hot sauce for dipping.