We had a huge dinner in celebration of Polish Peter’s new daughter, Feng Feng. And by huge I mean I don’t think I’ve been to a dinner that big since the Weifang City Foreigners Banquet.

On the way to dinner I had a rather interesting run in with a new student. Julie, Charlotte, Roina (Charlotte’s beautiful baby daughter) and I ran into one of my students as we were waiting to catch a cab. I had volunteered to push the stroller as we were in our complex and never even contemplated how it might adversely affect my reputation. My student approached me and quickly began oohing and awing over Roina. She introduced herself as my student, they are are all new so I had no idea so I just smiled and nodded, that is until she started directing Roina’s compliments at me. I quickly pointed the finger at Charlotte vigilantly naming her the mother. Just what I need a rumor around school that I have a baby. So I guess pushing the stroller will no longer be an option even within my own complex, and I thought moving off campus equaled freedom. So if and when pictures of a baby girl begin showing up on my blog lets make this clear. I did not sign up for a second year to hide a pregnancy. And if you happen to hear such a rumor please squash it. Remember this is Kayte you are talking about the longest I stay in the presence of a single child is about an hour, two of a good day.

My new Dinner Pal

With that said the Dinner.

The next part might come as a shock goodness knows it did to me. Peter now has two daughters, the eldest is Monica, who for some strange reason has taken a liking to me. Whenever we go out for dinner I’m her playmate and dinner partner. Mind you the first time we met she wouldn’t speak more that two words to me but now I get rather enthusiastic Chinese and just enough English to catch her drift. Thank goodness she knows Polish is only for her father because that would be completely out of my element.

Julie is in the corner.

The dinner was to celebrate Monica’s new sister and the unofficial meet the new foreigners dinner. I was shocked at all the new faces when I walked into the room. Good thing Brad reserved the BIG room.

L-R Andrew, Manuel (German), John (American), Brad, Didn't catch his name, Leah, Ryan is leaning over Mary-Chris

There are two more pictures of people but wordpress isn’t cooperating. Needless to say there were tons of people many of whom I didn’t know. The night was filled with talking and food. Have you ever seen a Lazy Susan that big! We decided with the effort it took to turn that thing we’d call it Work-Out Susan, it wasn’t really suited for lazy people.

Monica and I had a fun evening playing with my pearls although she was disappointed I didn’t ware my separating butterfly ring, sometimes I think she only likes me for that piece.

Dinner was delicious. I walked home this evening with Charlotte and Roina. The weather is finally cooling off and it was a pleasant stroll.

Are there any side effects I should know about?

One of my favorite dishes to order when out is edamames. The other day when shopping at my local vegetable stall I noticed they sold fresh edamames. As the dish always seemed simple I figured I’d give it a shot. Unfortunately I couldn’t get across I only wanted a small portion. So before I knew it the assistant had a generous bag on the scale and priced for purchase. Rather than muddle through an explanation I took them home and started looking up recipes. My assumption of an easy dish was soon confirmed when the average recipe suggested steaming 5-10 min then salting. I can do that.

The results was delicious and full of protein to boot. This treat has quickly become an afternoon habit. Hey it beats munching on fried potato puffs, umm don’t know how else to describe the terribly unhealthy snack I’ve become addicted to as of late.

It has only taken 22 years for me to figure out that Veggies are an acceptable snack food.

Supposedly if I did this correctly there should be a video below.

A Chinese Birthday Candle. Doubt it would be approved in the States.

Peter to the end! Left to Right Peter, Mary, Leah, Brad

 We had Peter’s goodbye dinner tonight. He’s off to Sweden to achieve the lofty goal of world peace and all – international conflict resolution masters program. But for all that we are down a Brit. I have no idea where I’m going to turn for my British English explanations now. I guess my students will no longer get the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong on British grammar. Sorry kiddos it’s Yankee English only until another Brit shows up in my circle.

So I’m in love! Yes you read that correctly, Kayte Reagan has fallen and fallen hard. The object of my affection is a gift of the gods, the ultimate in take out food and the one thing I shall spend the rest of my life craving. The direct translation is Fire Hand!

The woman who started it all...

Yumm street food, just thinking about it makes me hungry. Hou Shou 火手is a sandwich of sorts that comes in a myriad of varieties. My two favorites, egg & pork and beef & chilies.  The filling is stuffed in a pita like bread that has been warmed.

I'd devoured half before I thought of taking a picture.

Outside of the middle school I teach at on Monday and Tuesday is the most delicious Huo Shou 火手. The woman is there every morning with here cart that is attached to her scooter. She fires up the grill and we’re in business. Plenty of grease, a herb mix to die for and a I”m in heaven. For Y2 really can you ask for anything more?

I few few weeks ago I decided to branch out and try a new variety. I think it might have eclipsed my love for egg and pork. It is juicier and the bread is always fresh rather than rewarmed.

Okay now I want one...bad.

The beef and chili is sold by the vendor next to the other woman but I’m pretty sure their related so no hard feelings for the switch.

At lunch they are not there so I go for a deep fried chicken version, smack, delicious. Oh yes, I’m in love.

The Qingdao Beer Company had a three week mini festival outside of Jusco this month. Kelly and I finaly went to check out the festivities, come to find out, on the last night. Now I know and boy am I looking forward to next year, I’ll be there everynight! The BBQ is amazing and cheap!

The entire area in front of Jusco was taken up by a massive stage and surrounding stalls.

Kelly tried her hand at darts!

The stage - the tables were packed

There were a variety of performances, from the alto clarinet to very very bad karaoke.

At one point the MC turned into a auctioner, the scrolls were beautiful.

Good Food and Excellent Company

During the summer, BBQ restaurants pop up all across town. Wendy had told me, Peter and she loved the BBQs along Shui Ke Lu. Kelly and I joined them for dinner and had a wonderful time. The BBQ restaurants are really just huge tiled areas with low tables and folding stools out front. They are a cultural phenomenon. When the evenings cool off people head to the BBQs to socialize and eat, sometimes for hours. Wendy said a single restaurant can clear over ¥50,000 a summer.

The BBQ here is delicious, skewers of thin slices of meat, vegetables and tofu. Most of the BBQ’s come from the north western province of Xinjiang. The spices are an earthy herb mixture with plenty of kick. The meat is typically mutton or goat as Xinjiang has a high Muslim population.

The game in the background.

I was shocked to find the extreme enthusiasm for soccer in China. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a screen playing the games at night. It seems like I’m back in Argentina. The BBQ place had a projector out front and the tables were full with engrossed fans. Peter and I stumbled through a Chinglish conversation about of favorite teams. We both agreed on Argentina!

Our new favorite restaurant is a Uyghur Barbecue eatery down a back alley. Katie and Thomas have always been the adventurous ones for which I am most grateful. For their guts have introduced my stomach to some scrumptious food. The latest of which was this Northwestern Uyghur cuisine.     

Thank you for your adventurous side.

Nothing beats a great BBQ

The main dishes are skewers of meat and vegetables.  As the Uyghurs are typically Muslim there is no pork. The meat is typically beef or goat. The vegetableselection is varied but our favorites are the potato and eggplant.   

The restaurant uses a combination of spices that is mouth watering. It is all prepared in front of the restaurant. After 6pm the restaurant often remains packed until well into the night. It is among a few restaurants to remain up open until well into the mornings on the weekends.   

The cooks are constantly trying to keep up!

Tubs and tubs of prepared skewers are constantly being prepared. Once ordered the skewers are moved to the long BBQ in the the front. It is a long narrow channel that has hot coals continually added.   

The skewers are laid across the top, spices are added and then they are rotated to the perfect doneness.   

Anyone up for a game of pick up sticks?

It is not uncommon for the skewer count by the end of the night reach well over 100.    

And before my vegetarian family members comment on that count, its the veggies that contribute the most they come on double skewers.   

My latest favorite is the fried mantou (steamed bread). It’s the closest thing to toast I’ve been able to find in this county.   

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The following pictures are NOT for the faint of heart nor for non-meat eaters. I’ve added these pictures for completeness sake but warn, you view at your own risk.

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I'm pretty sure this was our dinner.

  The meat is often slaughtered and cleaned in front of the restaurant. This is a picture of the goat that would soon become our dinner.     

I had to take a double look when I first saw this.

In America we are often far removed from the animals we eat, in China this is not the case.   

To most American’s it seems meat is just a food group. As we are accustomed to boneless skinless meat that bears little resemblance to the original animal it is often hard for me to stomach meat here that still has the head attached or in this case in the front of the restaurant.

In China I’ve come to accept certain facts of life, the following being one of them…

There is the Original, the homemade rendition, then the jerry rigged-strange substitutions-something is definitely off China version of everything.

Hello, my name is Kayte and I'm a Chocoholic.

When I returned to China, among the exactly 99.6 lbs of luggage I brought back, I lugged a six pound bag of Toll House Chocolate Chips. I’ve yet to find Chocolate Chips in any import section in China and chopping up Dove bars gets expensive quickly. I’ve been hoarding my American food but finally realized if I don’t start eating it I’ll be home by the time I do.

So I went online found my favorite recipe and went to cook. I was soon back at my computer looking up substitutes when I realized I didn’t have baking soda. By some stroke of luck I lucked out inheriting a container of Glabber Girl Baking Powder with my last apartment and discovered that by tripling the baking powder it will substitute for baking soda, the taste will be affected according to the website but I didn’t see any other viable options.

Next the sugar. Finding a decent sugar in China is like trying to find a decent boy to date in Tulare. Okay that was harsh, there are some usable sugars in China you just have to hunt for ages then pray that brand will still be there the next time you go to the store.  Our current white sugar is on the moist side while the only edible brown sugar won’t pack, for all the tea in China. Once creamed it maintains its granulated texture and never fully blends with the butter.

I was smart enough to bring back my own vanilla extract another product not to be found on the import shelves at, Jusco, Tesco, Walmart, RT or Carefour. Eggs are still abounding in our apartment, although the bottom of the second box is beginning to see some daily light. Land o’Lakes butter has become a household name here thanks to our frequent visits to Qingdao.

yumm nothing says delicious like chocolate chip cookie dough

Once all was creamed and the dry ingredients added the dough lover that I am dived right into to the bowl. I know Mom, one day I’m going to die of salmonella p0isoning but not today. As if eating raw egg in the states wasn’t unhealthy enough you’d think I’ve strong sense to stay far away from Chinese raw eggs. But the allure of cookie dough is just too strong for this girl. So if I do die of salmonella one day at least I know I went out with a smile on my face and the great taste cookie of dough.

I’m still trying get the hang of our oven. I’m sorry I just don’t understand the Celcius system. But from experience the temperature dail straight up for 10  minutes makes for chewy cookies.