Saturday, February 12, 2011

CNY 2011 - The First Day of Rabbit Year


Our new year started with a reunion dinner on the new year's eve evening at my in-laws' home. This year, I cooked 2 dishes (will share the recipe in my future posts) and the rest was ordered from restaurant. With a super active toddler around, we find it more comfortable and definitely less hectic to eat at home than eating out in packed restaurant (current trend for CNY reunion dinners). And I am glad everyone enjoyed the food and specially my dishes, that alone is a good start for a new year.

On the first day of new year, we went to our in-laws' home and then adjourned to DH's aunt's home for vegetarian brunch. Isabelle had a blast collecting angpows. :)


After lunch, we hit the highway to return to my parents' place. And as expected, heavy traffic awaits us. This year, it took us 5 long hours when it usually takes only 3 hours. But Isabelle was very pleasant, cooperative and did not fuss even a bit throughout the journey. It was us who got frustrated with the hot weather and endless traffic.


*picture sourced from google search


We head straight to Grandma's home upon arrival because it was dinner time and our poor stomachs have been starving for a good 5 hours. Dinner was ready when we stepped in. I did not waste a moment to start feasting on the popiah and mee-suah with porkribs & pork stomach soup topped with fresh coriander, spring onion, crispy fried shallots and hard boiled egg (I am drooling just thinking about it now). My Grandma's popiah is the best I have tasted in my whole life. The secret and special condiments we add to our popiah is a type of fried seaweed flown in from China (not available locally). It is sort of like our family's 'secret recipe' and is truly one of a kind.


Popiah

*picture sourced from google search


All my uncles, aunts and nephews were also back from the city for the new year. It is warm to gather under one roof, to catch up with each other's life stories, to feast and put on weight together :). Although we live in the same city but we really only get to meet when we are back in our hometown.


And above all that, it is just really wonderful to be home safely, CNY or no CNY, be it 3 hours or 5 hours drive. Most of all, thank you my dear DH for tolerating the tiring 5 hours drive so that I can be with my family ! :)


4 comments:

I'm a full-time mummy said...

Wah... 5 hours drive! It's really good that Belle can tolerate it! Thank God that you guys can celebrate CNY with your family and loved ones!

Catheryn @ Pink Bibs said...

yah! It was surprising Belle tolerated the jam :) This year's traffic was the longest for us. Last year's was not that bad.

Mama Hen said...

I am not one to hang out in traffic. I always plan around it if I can. But sometimes we can't avoid it. However, time with family is so important! Have a great day!

Mama Hen

Catheryn @ Pink Bibs said...

It is great to see you here Mama Hen!

Yes, we do plan our traveling time as much as we can to avoid traffic (I really dislike traffic jams) but at times like this and festival season, it is hard to avoid. But what is more important is, as long as we arrive safely and we get to spend time with family :)


Wishing you a lovely week ahead!