Chinese new year - Chinese zodiac sign

There are 12 animals represent Chinese zodiac, each animal represents one year, which means 12 years complete a cycle. Each of us has our own zodiac sign according to the Chinese Lunar calendar.

We believe that each animal determines our own personality, characters... 

Many Chinese believe in Fengshui, they will calculate their luck according to the current year, their zodiac sign and 5 elements, etc. When they get the result, they will know what to do, what not to do.

To check your Chinese zodiac sign:

http://www.chinese-tools.com/astrology/sign.html

Happy Chinese new year of Horse

Dear all, happy Chinese new year! It is the year of horse!

Wish you all a healthy, joyful and prosperous year!

The Chinese written form of horse = 馬

French traditional meal in winter - Raclette

During winter each year, French like having an important traditional meal to keep themselves warm - Raclette. This meal originally comes from Switzerland. 

My husband explained that it is for people who live in the mountain, imagine the weather is cold with the snow outside.... they need something to keep their bodies warm.

According to my parents-in-law, raclette this name is from the movement how we scrap the melted cheese to our plate.

In French, "Racler" = to scrap.

















The main ingredients of raclette are cheese, smoked meat, potatos and pickles!  
AND... Don't forget the wine haha! Which is really important for the French!

I have a friend who now lives in Germany, they said their German friends eat raclette but with different ingredients other than those 4 main ingredients.... I personally prefer French raclette. 

However, be careful of the following issue after having a raclette at home:

1. The whole house will smell cheese.If you like the cheese smell, that will be fine. Otherwise you will feel disgusted... after eating cheese and your tummy becomes too satisfied!

2. Do not drive right after the meal, you will feel sleepy after the meal. I have said at the beginning that this meal keeps your bodies warm... so after eating the raclette, drinking the wine (French wine of course!!) You can go straight to the bed!

You can see on the table there are smoked meat, sausage, different kinds of cheese and potato (oh pickles are hiding behind the wine glass at the left).

In the middle of the table, there is a raclette machine to heat up the cheese.
This machine has been bought since N years ago!! It is the modern version.

On the top you can see the potatos keep heating up.

The wine is not shown here (it's actually on the right side) but we DO have a bottle of French wine!