Mmm...mmmm.....Mongolian!

How much do you know about Mongolian food, and have you ever had it?

Our pal Jojo (check out her very engaging, very honest and very funny blog BuddhaBelle), who was born and raised in Mongolia, gave us some insight on her favorite Mongolian dishes. And the picture of the woman on the horse to your left happens to be Jojo's mother, in her younger years, cruising around the Mongolian countryside.

Mongolia is a nomad country, and its nomadic people move from place to place 2-4 times a year. They raise sheep, horses, cows, camels and goats in the forest, steppe and Gobi desert. In Mongolian culture, the horse is considered man's/woman's best friend, and Mongolian cuisine reflects the nomadic lifestyle.

Boortsog - think of this as a fried dough ball, or biscuit, of various shapes and sizes. Bouillon fat that is left over from cooking meat is traditionally used for frying, giving the boortsog a unique aroma. However, any type of vegetable oil will do. Jojo says she whips these up whenever she's feeling homesick. A picture of boortsog is in the "Your Asian Heritage" photo gallery on the left.

Airag - a traditional drink of fermented mare's milk that's got 7-8% alcohol and guaranteed to have some kick. Airag is a popular summer drink and is said to provide strength and cheerfulness, destroy pathogenic microbes in the intestines and help improve the living body metabolisms. If you visit a Mongolian family or attend a Mongolian wedding, you'll typically be offered a big bowl of airag.

Buuz - steamed dumplings traditionally made with onions, seasoning and mutton, but beef and other meats work just as well. Mongolians consider fatty meat to be better quality. These are a favorite during the new year.



Aarul - Dried curds, or curdled milk that has been dehydrated and thoroughly dried in the air and sun. Some believe that aaruul is one of the reasons why Mongolians have strong and healthy teeth.


Khorhog - the REAL Mongolian barbecue! It's prepared by mixing water, hot stones, onions, potatoes, carrots and mutton chops into a large, vacuum-sealed kettle and simmering it over a fire for about an hour. In earlier times Khorkhog was a cooking method commonly used by soldiers, and the meat would typically be cooked in the animal's skin...this eliminated the need to tote around heavy pots and other utensils.


And for the record, the Mongolian barbecue options you may see on the menu at Chinese restaurants aren't the real deal...

Jojo - Thanks for sharing an important part of your heritage with us!

*Food photos from Alagtstar Adventure Tours

Chinese Tradition: Red Egg and Ginger Party

Last week Ivy talked about Dol, the Korean first birthday soiree, and she touched on the red egg and ginger tradition in a post about her nephew's 100 day party....so today we'll continue the celebration trend and share more details on the Chinese "Red Egg & Ginger" party that I, alas, neglected to throw for my daughter to commemorate her 1st month.

Like many other countries in ancient times, China experienced high infant mortality rates, and babies who reached the one month mark were likely to survive…so that called for a celebration!

In Chinese culture, parents ring in baby's first full month with red eggs and ginger. The color red represents happiness and good luck. Eggs symbolize fertility and the renewal of life, and their shape is traditionally associated with harmony and unity. Think of ginger in the context of yin (cold) and yang (warm) – ginger adds a touch of “warmth” to a new mother’s diet, which is necessary given she’s typically weak and tired (yin) after giving birth.

At the Red Egg and Ginger party - which can be done at home, or in a lot of cases, at a Chinese restaurant - parents proudly introduce their new baby to family and friends and formally announce their baby’s name. The Chinese believe that one’s name can influence all that happens in life, so making that decision is an extremely important task. Naming is usually handled by grandparents (like mine and my sister’s Chinese names), and in some cases, fortune tellers.

Traditionally, the one month celebration is also the time to reintroduce the new mother to the world. Why? According to Chinese beliefs, women are in a weakened state in the weeks following birth and are expected to rest indoors for a month after delivery (I went crazy after three days). Staying inside ensured that new mothers wouldn’t over-exert themselves, get sick or pass germs on to their newborns. In addition to resting, new Chinese mothers also drink a soup made with pig’s feet, eggs, vinegar and ginger. While I broke every one of these rules and refuse to eat eggs, many Chinese mothers around the world still follow this ritual...and I know my mother was house-bound and sipping creative brews during my first month of life!

So what kind of gifts do you bring to a Red Egg and Ginger party? Lucky money, of course! Crispy bills neatly folded into red “lai see” or “hong bao” packets are the gifts of choice for baby boys, while baby girls may receive pricey jewelry; however, nowadays money is always your safest bet for both. And rest assured, guests don’t leave empty handed, as they’re sent home with their own red eggs - an even number for a boy, and an odd number for a girl.

What was your Red Egg and Ginger Party experience? If you’re a Chinese mom, did you stay home for a month and drink grandma’s soupy concoction?

Korean Traditions: First Birthday - "Dol"

Since I'm in my mid-30's, babies are springing up everywhere! Luckily for me, my girlfriends are of many and sundry cultures, so I get to experience an international range of infant celebrations. This weekend, I was quite charmed by the Korean first-birthday celebration, the “Dol” (also translated as "Tol").

The word itself is loosely translated as "years old" in the Korean language. By itself, it primarily describes the first birthday, but it is also used with subsequent ones (Du-tol is the second birthday, Seo-tol third, etc.).

Technically, there are four parts to the traditional ceremony:

• Praying for the child's longevity and giving thanks to the birth god
• Dressing the child-of-honor in colorful and dressy clothes that symbolize long life (with a double-wrapped belt) and luck (a pouch/pocket)
• Preparing a table with ritual food and conducting the Toljabee ceremony
• Sharing food with guests and neighbors

However, the Toljabee was what caught my attention. The adorable one-year-old was propped up at a table, facing all of the guests in his finery, with an assortment of objects were placed in front of him in an equidistant semi-circle. Whatever he picked up first and second would influence his fate most strongly. There were general luck items: thread for long life, an apple for many descendants, rice cake for fortune/wealth (although some sources say that if the child picks this, s/he is not very smart). Also, items indicated career options: a book for scholarship, a brush for artistic/creative talents, a stethoscope (one parent was a doctor), and even a computer mouse!

So...drumroll please...what did the kiddie pick up? After a little bit of prompting (wow, the back of the chair was suddenly very interesting!), he nudged over to the brush, which pleased his creative mom, and the thread. I'm not sure that I can say that he actually "chose" these things of his own volition, but after a near-meltdown as a result of too-many flashbulbs, there was loud applause once the ceremony was finished and we were on to the sharing of food and drink.

Have you had a Dol/Tol for your child, or do you have any other infant customs you'd like to share? Post them here!

Shop Talk: Bye Bye boring bedding!

When it comes to my little monchichi, I prefer a mix of traditional and modern design...whether it be clothing, nursery decor or toys. When it comes to bedding, I'm a huge believer in modern designs and bright colors. So how about incorporating Asian heritage and culture as part of the mix?

Many thanks to our pals at Project Nursery for calling out this Lantern Festival twin duvet set as an option for your kiddie's bed. Not only is the set 200 thread count cotton percale, but it's also eco-friendly and made to Oeko-tex environmental standards (Oeko-Tex is a European certification process and ensures that certified textiles do not contain chemicals harmful to human health).

With vibrant shades of red, pink, green and blue, the designs celebrate the annual Lantern Festival that marks the end of Chinese New Year. The highlight of this event are the colorful lanterns that children parade down the street, as well as the various lion dances, dragon dances fireworks, and other celebrations. The many elements of the Lantern Festival are depicted in a bright and playful way on the duvet, with matching "Happy Dots" sheets and pillow shams adorned with little girls in traditional Chinese outfits to complete the look.

It's a great conversation starter and a fabulous way to encourage creativity and imagination with your kids....especially at bedtime, when some of you may be reaching for anything, and everything, to get your child to sleep. While I've got some time before my little one graduates to a kiddie bed, I may go ahead and scoop this up now. Join me, and splurge!

Got any other Asian-inspired nursery decor and design tips? Let us know!

Holiday Spotlight: Dragon Boat Festival

Growing up in Hong Kong, I remember vividly the annual Dragon Boat Festival. The colorful boats, the steady drumbeats, the roar of the crowd....and not to mention all the associated celebrations and great food that came with it! For those of you East Coasters, it's like Boston's Head of the Charles, but BETTER (no offense to those of you who might have ties to this event).

Also known as the Tuen Ng Festival in Hong Kong, the Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a popular Chinese national hero. Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Mi Lo River over 2,000 years ago to protest against corrupt rulers. According to the legend, as the townspeople attempted to rescue Qu Yuan, they threw dumplings into the sea and beat drums to scare away the fish...and prevent him from being eaten.

As for the races, teams of 20-22 paddlers in elaborately decorated boats that measure 32+ feet, row to the beat of heavy drums. Each boat has carved and painted "dragon" heads and tails, with the drummers in seated in front pounding away.

Now to the best part...the food. Zong zi - sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves with various fillings that include egg yolk, meats or dates - are the traditional Dragon Boat festival fare. Zong zi is also popular at dim sum, and I still credit my pau pau (maternal grandma) for making the tastiest ones that I've ever had.

While the Hong Kong races are scheduled for Sunday, here's a sampling of Dragon Boat races and celebrations around the U.S.:

San Francisco International Dragon Boat Festival
Lotus Festival Dragon Boat Races, Los Angeles
Boston Dragon Boat Festival
Washington, DC Dragon Boat Festival (already past)
Atlanta Dragon Boat Festival
Chicago Dragon Boat Race for Literacy
New York Dragon Boat Festival
Dragon Boat Races Austin (already past)

Ever thought of participating? Ever been to one of these events?

Origami....a paper affair

When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be Japanese. One of my kindergarten pals was Japanese, and I recall being insanely jealous of her Hello Kitty lunchbox and chopsticks set, her neat and colorful notebook sets, and the little origami balls she'd make and share with us during recess. I was also mesmerized whenever she spoke with her family in Japanese....I felt that her language was much more lyrical and soothing than what I perceived as choppy and unsettling Cantonese.

OK, so I've come around since then. The lunch gear and notebooks were from the Sanrio store at the mall (and who knows, they were probably made in China), and I've come to appreciate the complexity and history of Cantonese, especially since I can't speak it anymore. But I will say that I'm still in awe of origami.

The Japanese origins of origami - meaning "fold paper" - began in the 6th century when Buddhist monks from China carried paper to Japan. Origami paper is typically thin (yet strong) and colorful, which lends to the whimsical nature of the finished product. The crane, which is auspicious in Japanese culture, is one of the must famous origami designs. According to the legends, anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes will have their heart's desire come true.

If you don't have the skill or patience to fold a thousand cranes, you're better off sticking with the basics - animal shapes, balls, utensils, flowers, etc. All you'll need to start is a set of origami paper, which you can find online at sites ranging from Amazon to the Origami Paper Store, or at art shops such as SF Japantown's Paper Tree, Michael's, or even Target.

I've never been good at following instructional diagrams, so my origami animals and designs always looked distorted. And probably ugly. Lucky for you paper folding enthusiasts, you can choose from a range of animated instructional sites online. The Origami Club site seems to be one of the most comprehensive, giving you a slew of easy, medium and hard options, from sumo wrestlers to frogs to grand pianos. So if you're looking for a great, creative bonding activity with your child, warm up those fingers, find a nice flat surface, and start folding!

Got any origami tips? Stories of failed paper folding missions? Examples of origami masterpieces? Let us know!

Traditional Asian Medicine

Somehow, your lifelong fear of needles rears its ugly head every time the word "acupuncture" arises. We're here to tell you not to be afraid!

Traditional Chinese medicine traces its roots back to 3,000 BC. Variations of the technique are also described in traditional Korean medicine under the name Chimsul, and in traditional Japanese medicine (also known as Kampo). In this installment, we're going to focus on a form of Japanese pediatric acupuncture called "Shonishin."

Started several hundred years ago in southwest Japan (near Osaka), this technique takes advantage of light tapping or rubbing at the meridian points instead of using needles. A friend of mine who uses this on her kids tells them that they're having a "massage" and they love it.

You name the kiddie health issue, and shonishin can come to the rescue: earaches, headaches, fevers, allergies, asthma, ADD, ADHD, colic, diarrhea, nightmares, sleep problems, and bed wetting! In combination with diet modifications and herbal treatments, significant changes can be seen very quickly. It might sound like a mystical cure-all, but my friend Kathy who uses Shonishin on her kids (ages 3 and 6) swears by it.

My Asian Heritage is about to announce our very own Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist for our "Ask the Experts" section. So get those questions ready and stay tuned!

What does "ai ya" mean?

Now there's a good question.

We've been asked by one of our readers to shed some light on this oft-used, multi-purpose expression. Those of us who grew up in Chinese households probably have some sort of visceral understanding - but here's some more guidance for those of you seeking clearer definition.

One of the best explanations we've found is from urbandictionary.com, which provides 3 definitions. However, we think that "ai ya" is best explained by those who use it:

• "Ai ya means 'oh no' to me. . .although it's so much more. It's the perfect response to awkward and silly situations. Much more perfect than "oh no" could ever be."
• It's basically an expression of exasperation that can mean anything from "oh no" to "f***!" The funny thing is that your listeners can pretty much figure out where in that spectrum your ai ya falls! Chinese culture would not the same without it."
• " 'Ai ya' is like 'oh my gosh (OMG),' which can be communicated in many different ways depending on the situation. It can be used to portray the high maintenance side of you – 'Ai ya, it's raining, and my hair and make-up will get messed up!' It can be used to communicate pure horror at a situation – 'There's an hour wait for dim sum? Ai ya!!!!' Many Chinese parents use it to show their disapproval – 'Wah, why did you spend so much money on that shirt??? Ai ya, you need to save!' It's really fun to add variations to the pronunciation, depending on your moods and the situation."
  

So, instead of settling on one definition, we say, why can't all of these be right? "Ai ya" is probably one of the most versatile interjections we know, which can be used in equal parts to express delight, dismay, disapproval...you name it. It can't be defined the way "oy" in Jewish culture will never be translated to the full extent of its expression.

What does "ai ya" mean to you? Tell us about a time when you've used it and I'll share how my mother faced down a ruthless street-merchant in Taipei with an aggressive "Ai ya! Too expensive!"

Take off your shoes!

Ever since I can remember, I've been taking my shoes off before entering anyone's house/apartment. I can still remember my parents giving me "the look" and muttering "ai yah" under their breath when my Caucasian friends didn't take their shoes off before coming into our house (which they ultimately did once I timidly noted that my parents would be much happier if their nasty shoes weren't tracking dirt all over our clean carpets). It was always so awkward when we visited family friends who didn't follow the "take off your shoes" policy, but my parents still insisted that my sister and I do so. The tradition has definitely rubbed off on me, and I find myself cringing when my daughter races around our apartment with her grubby sneakers on.

And the funny thing is, I never knew exactly why we had to take off our shoes. I figured it had something to do with respect, and that's pretty much what it comes down to across multiple Asian cultures. Respect for other people's homes. In some Asian homes where people still sleep on the floor and use low, moveable tables for eating, it's necessary to keep the floors clean. For Hindus, it has to do with religion, as they believe that gods reside in the house. Many Hindus have prayer rooms in their houses, so not taking off one's shoes can be seen as a sign of disrespect to the gods.

For me, it's a mix of tradition and cleanliness....although these days I'm skewed more to the cleaniless factor. With a toddler scooting around, sometimes on all fours, I'd rather not have remnants of the NYC streets and subways all over our floors...and on our child!

If you're too shy or embarassed to ask your guests to remove their shoes, and if the racks and buckets full of shoes at the doorstep don't resonate, you can always invest in one of these:

Got any funny "take off your shoes" stories to share?