The Year of the Ox

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year to everyone this January 26! Monday ushers in the Year of the Ox. The ox is a beast of burden so it's a bit uncanny that the year of the ox is coming at a time when the whole world is uncertain due to the global financial crisis.

Have you eaten your tikoy already? Tikoy is the sticky food/stuff that our Chinese friends give us every Chinese New Year. How do you cook tikoy? You beat an egg and then dip thick slices of tikoy in it. Give the tikoy slice an egg bath by slathering the beaten egg all over the tikoy slice. Then, fry in oil until golden brown. You can cook each slice of the tikoy for about 30 seconds on each side.

Tikoy comes in several variants these days. Most common are the white sugar, brown sugar, and ube (purple yam). I don't know about you but I still prefer the traditional white sugar tikoy the most. With sugar pa on the side, please.

I was talking to my Chinese friends just awhile ago and asked them why the Chinese give tikoy for Chinese New Year. One said so the family will stick together. Another said so the coming new year will be sweet. I also heard before that the sticky stuff is for you to attract good luck. Whatever. It's yummy to eat!

So, happy Chinese New Year everybody even if you aren't Chinese. With Barack Obama as president of the United States now, we know that the world is not as wide as it used to be. Everything is within reach. And as we start the Chinese New Year, more than good fortune, I wish you good health and the power to make your dreams and the dreams of others come true. God bless.