Happy Chinese New Year! and Breakfast

Having left the wild west of Utah, we have succumbed to Eastern ideas of 'snowstorms.' One of which *the worst this winter! they say* occured over a recent weekend. Granted, it was icy. And snow plows don't seem to be as quick and agile out here, so there was reason to restrict travel. But church was canceled! Our neighbors went to church--faithful Catholics. I couldn't see why ours was canceled due to snow. Especially since most of the congregation out here hails from Utah *greatest snow on earth--and we're used to it!* and we should have a bit of an adventurous spirit. But who is to complain about a morning void of meetings, cuddled up with Marc? Not I.


And Marc was not about to be cooped up indoors with the great white blizzard before us! So he convinced me to bundle up in his snow pants (secured with a belt), scarf, hats, gloves, etc. The whole gear. For once, he too sensed that it might be chilly outdoors and also bundled up. We trod through the snow (not even a foot deep!) and look at 'the Haven' all silent in snow. We walked to the church (we just can't stay away!) and he practiced piano while I reacquainted myself with the organ. Very difficult. We were not a terribly melodious team. Great morning. Then the celebration really began. We called all our Asian friends and told them snow would not cancel our feast of the evening, planned in honor of celebrating Chinese New Year (a bit late, but better than never). They came! We feasted! Marc and I had proudly labored the previous night wrapping won tons. The soup and the fried won tons were magnificent. Even the full asians said so! Yes, everyone there but us spoke Mandarin. But we're learning! Xuesong's husband turned to us as we were trying to practice asking "what is your name?" and said that we were saying "what are you laughing at?"-- both I think will be useful phrases. Egg and shrimp dish, my mother's to-die-for fried rice, and broccoli and beef, and of course, the won tons. Little baby Mayah was there feeding everyone, particularly Marc. She'd grab won tons and wasabi peanuts and just shove her fist in his mouth. He ate a lot that evening. It was indeed a good new year's eve.


Lest you think that our feasting is only in the evenings! Oh la la. People say we are 'foodies.' We just love to eat. And in the vein of the Chinese living to eat, rather than eating to live... This is our tradition: Saturday morning breakfast. With the apartment complex. We call at *gasp!!* 8:15 am on Saturdays, pounding on nearby doors to Venez, venez! Mangez, mangez! And they come! Why? Because Marc is a chef. We call him the Muffin Man. Cranberry muffins. Applesauce muffins. Pumpkin muffins (some with chocolate chips!). Always muffins. Sometimes I make poppy seed bread. But we've also delighted in pancakes of all sorts, panetone french toast, hash browns, eggs-a-la-Marc (anyway you please and he does them to perfection), and most recently, crepes. Oh la la encore. S brings orange juice (because we NEVER have anything but water as a beverage), N brings jam and Canadian syrup, R brings blueberries or strawberries... et voila! Contrary to popular belief, people are cheery in the mornings, even 8:30 am Saturday mornings. And nothing keeps the neighbors close and in good spirits like Saturday mornings together in PJs, eating, and talking. I think it's our favorite tradition. We love each other. I mean, how can you not love people who love to come over on Saturday mornings, sleep deprivation set aside? It's a lovely world.


Simple and Delicious Crepes:
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups milk