The great feast at the Chua's.

How was your NIU Year's? Mine was filled with food, as usual. My mom never fails to cook up a storm every Chinese New Year. This year wasn't an exception! 

My grandfather came down from Penang, and we usually stay home during the festive season because all my relatives always want my mom's food. :P Her signature dish, ji hu char (fried radish and cuttlefish mix), is always a must-have. My cousins said that it's not Chinese New Year without this. And also chap sui (sour and spicy vegetable soup, Ee Leen and Ammie's favourite too! :P).

When I say storm, I mean it! (I really should have taken some pictures) The ji hu char would always be at least two big woks full, and my mom would use a huge pot (like the ones used in hawker stalls) to cook the chap sui. And they're the most delicious dishes in the world! I really should start picking up my mom's cooking skills, cause she's good! I love my Mommy! :D

And of course, my mom never fails to bake her signature chocolate chip cookies either. Hehe. Her colleagues order from her every year, and some of them even have their mothers and daughters craving for the cookies! We never have to worry about leftovers. LOL And her pineapple tarts too! (Now, some of you still wonder why I love eating?)

At my uncle's gathering over lunch at his home today, my uncles and my mom told us some interesting stories about their childhood, and about our grandparents whom we've never met. After seeing so many pictures, I've always wanted to meet them. My grandma looks very motherly, and my grandpa is a tall man, six-footer. Now I know why my cousins are giants. But why didn't I get their genes??? :( (Again, I should take pictures next time!)

I also found out something. Something I've been so curious about all these years and I never knew how to answer when people ask me. I've always known about this partially, but I didn't know the actual reason. Wanna know why I look like... well, DON'T look like a Chinese? It's because my greatgrandmothers from both my maternal grandparents' sides weren't pure Chinese. My grandfather has Siamese blood, and my greatgrandmother was a Nyonya. That explains it. :) 

I just wanted to clear this up because I just hate it when people look at me and just assume that I'm a Malay or Chindian or Eurasian. It's cool to know that some people think I'm Eurasian. But I can't stand the strange looks people give me when I walk into a coffee shop and order pork noodle, or when I'm eating during the Muslim fasting month. >.<

So, stop judging me by how I look!

Anyway, back to Chinese New Year. My ang pao money this year isn't much, as usual. But I'm not complaining. I'm actually used to it. Thank God I still have more than a week to collect more! :D My mom's gonna have to cook more tomorrow for my dad's friends. >.<

Let's all cherish the time we have with our friends and families right now! :) Happy NIU year! (Sorry, I really love this line and I think it's really creative. How appropriate for the year of the Ox! Hehe.)