New 祝 (Zhū), New You

You know that feeling when your 妈 sends you a box of 红包, and you think "Yes! 钱 time!". But then you open the 红包 and, 糟糕, they're 空的?!

If you do, please leave a comment so Lindsey doesn't feel so alone.

But if not, then you probably also didn't know that today marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year! 2019 is the year of the pig (祝), which we decided to honor by pigging out on a traditional Chinese new year's eve feast.

If you can get over the idea of eating a fish with his head still attached, here's what you'll need:

One whole ass sea bass, scaled, de-finned, gutted

1/3 cup Ginger

1/2 cup Scallions

1/4 cup Soy sauce

2 tbs (that's short for table spoons) Canola oil

Salt and pepper

2 tbs Sugar

1/4 cup Rice wine vinegar

I'll be honest, I didn't partake much in the prep, which was probably in everyone's best interest. I did listen to the instructions afterwards, and I have relatively the same understanding I might have if I'd "done the reading" to "prepare for a class discussion".

Begin by cutting up the ginger and scallions (Lindsey calls it julian style, I say little sticks).

(look at my squishy little 奶奶)

Fill a pot with about two inches of water and set it to boil. We're going to steam the fish, which apparently means the water can't touch it. This will have varying implications for your next step. Maybe you own a steamer (I think it's an appliance you can get?). If this is the case, use it. But if, like us, you don't own a steamer, Lindsey says to place a metal bowl upright in the pot of water, and then put a pan on top of the bowl, to create a sort of two-tiered MacGyver meets Gordon Ramsey situation.

That might be our first actual college dining tip! Please hold the applause.

Now put your whole ass sea bass into the pan. For our vegan audience, rest assured- this method of cooking has been likened by some to a pleasant day at the sauna. He will feel no pain.

Let your fish (we named ours 大龙 or DaLong) steam for ten minutes. While he's gettin sweaty, pour the canola oil, ginger, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar into a saucepan, and set it to boil.

After ten minutes, take your fish out of the steamer. Game of Thrones honestly has nothing on what's about to come next, because you will now need to bravely cut open your fish and SHOVE some scallions and ginger inside. Lindsey recommends half the scallions and all remaining ginger... I recommend you apologize to DaLong in a low whisper when no one is listening.

Add the other half of the scallions into the boiling sauce, mix, and pour the sauce over the fish. The heat alone will cook the top half. Don't ask me to back that with evidence, at this point Lindsey could tell me too much ginger will cause DaLong to resurrect and do a little Irish jig and I'd believe her.

You did it! We also made some 饺子 (dumplings) and rice for our hungry hungry hippo friends. But before you eat, remember what 奶奶 Lindsey says: Don't eat the bones!~

With love,

Faith & Lindsey