This Month's Fare

Chinese New Year Celebrates Family, Friends, Food and Tradition

Chinese New Year sparkles with color, sizzles with firecrackers, and entices us with all kinds of fabulous food and traditions. But there's a lot more to this magical 15-day celebration. Based on a Chinese zodiac cycle that repeats every 12 years, it's also known as the Spring Festival, a time to honor the spirit of renewal and coming prosperity. Before the festival begins, people traditionally make vows, clean their homes, repay debts and buy new clothes.

Each year of the Chinese Zodiac is symbolized by an animal. According to one legend, Buddha summoned all the animals to come see him before he left the Earth. Only 12 came to bid him farewell. As a reward, Buddha named a year after each animal, in the order in which they arrived: Rat, Oxen, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar.

Chinese folklore has created horoscopes around these animal signs, similar to the Western astrological signs. Those born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 or 2007 are Boars. They're known to be studious and gallant with tremendous inner strength. They're steadfast and won't retreat from goals.

They're quiet but always well-informed. They choose few friends but are kind, affectionate and loyal for life. And they're compatible with rabbits and rams Sound like anyone you know?

Families gather for a huge, festive banquet on the eve of the New Year, with different foods symbolizing the good things in life. Noodles signify long life; whole fish represents togetherness and abundance; fried foods symbolize gold and prosperity. And as the celebrations continue, food takes center stage.

Ready to plan your own Chinese New Year celebrations? It's fun and easy! Just download our free Complete Guide to Celebrating Chinese New Year for oodles of ideas. Click here to find:

• More than two dozen traditional and contemporary recipes, including fragrant Fiery Orange Beef Stir-Fry; irresistible Empress Chicken Wings; and savory Snake Alley Noodles
• Easy tips to transform everyday ingredients into authentic Chinese specialties using Kikkoman sauces
• Decorating ideas to set the mood
• A guided tour of the 15 days of Chinese New Year
• The 12 Chinese zodiac animals with fun descriptions. Find your sign and see who you're compatible with
• And lots more!

If Chinese New Year inspires you to cook Asian, remember, it's really simple to create fresh, fabulous dishes in your own kitchen. All you need to get started are some reliable recipes, a well-stocked pantry, and a few special tools and techniques. Check out these basic tips and helpful resources to get you cooking—Asian-style.

Though it may seem exotic to some cooks, most Asian cuisine is simple to prepare by combining essential flavors and textures with a few basic techniques — like any cuisine. It also relies on the magic of intensely flavored sauces, marinades and condiments to transform fresh ingredients into mouthwatering meals.

• Start with fail-proof recipes — You'll find hundreds on Kikkoman's Home Cooks pages. And if you want to explore further, you'll also find a collection of popular Asian cookbooks on our Resources.
• Read before you wok — Carefully read through any recipe before you begin so you don't stumble over any "surprises" in the heat of cooking.
• Let Kikkoman do half the work — Rely on the "magic" of Kikkoman products for a full selection of authentic, must-have sauces and marinades for all your Asian dishes. Stock up and you're half way there. Just search through the drop down menu of PRODUCTS on the Navigation Bar above.