Hello, party animals! Sorry I didn’t mix and mingle as much as I should have last night. Bad, bad host! In my defense, I did warn you it was Chinese New Year and we were going to Chinatown. A trip to Chinatown always takes longer than you think. First of all, traffic was horrendous. Didn’t these people know I had a party to go to? Make way, people, make way, grr….
Then, of course, it took us half an hour to get parking. We could have gone to a garage and pay the big bucks I told you about, but after calling it ridiculous it’d be hypocritical to do it. I deserved to suffer like the rest of the PARP (people against ridiculous prices). It’s a new club I’m forming. There’s no fee to join.
Too bad we didn’t see the lion dance. Turned out the dance and parade took place on New Year’s Eve (Thursday), duh! But as usual, food was amazing. How is it that you can never replicate restaurant Chinese food at home? Restaurant Chinese food, especially the one from Chinatown, is always superior than home-cooked Chinese food. That doesn’t sound right, but it just is. And Sang Kee swore it didn’t use MSG.
I interrogated our waiter. He was adamant no MSG was used. I believed the poor guy. I think he thought I wrote for the papers or something, with my “professional-looking” camera. He was so serious while I was just playing around. I really didn’t care if they used MSG. It was Chinese New Year, and I wanted to eat well.
I hope everybody had a fabulous Friday. Did you guys mix and mingle while I was gone? I hope so, that’s what you’re supposed to do in a party. Strike up a conversation, get to know each other, etc. And since this is a blog party meant for us to SHARE what gets us in the mood, I hope you use this opportunity to comment on each other’s post. Give each other support to keep posting and blogging. I find that engaging in a conversation and connecting with my readers and fellow bloggers is the most sustaining part of my blogging adventure.
But if you didn’t have the chance to do that or if you didn’t come to the party last night, you can still do it in the next several days. We’re still partying!
In the meantime, your host here has to make more appetizers. People really gobble them up fast! And since I promised I wouldn’t do any cooking, I used the microwave to make these potato-stack appetizers. Microwaving is not really cooking, is it?
Microwave Potato-Stack Appetizer
Boiled potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Shredded cheddar cheese
Crumbled bacon
Paprika
Butter
In a microwave-safe dish, place a layer of sliced potatoes, sprinkle crumbled bacon and cheese on top. Repeat with another layer, and continue until all potatoes are used. Sprinkle top with paprika for color. Chopped herbs would be nice, too. Dot top with butter and microwave for 5 minutes, until cheese is melted.
You can hardly qualify that for cooking, can you? But some taste testing needs to be done for tomorrow’s Super Bowl party.
The Novice Gardener 
Hi Angie. I know you saw Jim’s Fiesta Friday post. It certainly did qualify as minimalist fluff. http://ourviewfromiowa.wordpress.com/2014/02/01/minimalist-fluff/
I haven’t posted yet and in fact might not this week. Between migraine hitting Thursday evening and company for dinner last night, I’m still not on my game.
New Year’s dinner with company: baked salmon with leeks and lemons, rotini pasta with broccoli and lemon cream sauce, and make-em-yourself sundaes. It was pretty good. Tonight we feasted on leftover appetizers: grapes, orange sections, smoked cheddar, and nice sesame crackers. It was enough.
Okay, just typing that wiped me out. Think I’ll go take more medicine and go to bed. Have fun at the party and I’ll catch up when I can.
No problem. Get better first, that’s far more important. Mr Fitz (one of Fiesta Friday participants) advises sucking on lemon with brandy for migraines. Not sure I would trust him, though. Your dinner sounds wonderful, especially the make-em-yourself sundaes. Now I want some! And I really need to investigate leeks. Haven’t cooked much with them. Okay, go rest. This is a weekly party, there’s plenty of time to catch up. XOXO
Hey, Angie. I can tell you why Chinese food tastes so much better at the restaurant than at home, and always will. My daughter went to San Francisco to attend the California Culinary Academy Cordon Bleu Program. When we were walking around the campus for a tour, we happened upon a class that was using professional woks. Boy. The flame reminded me of a jet engine blast – and I was in the Air Force! It’s the super high heat and probably the wok itself being seasoned.
See? Learn something new everyday.
Glenda, so glad you confirmed my suspicion. That’s exactly why I asked for a hand-hammered steel wok for my Valentine’s day present. Along with a kitchen blow torch. But maybe I should ask for one of those “jet engine” burners instead of the torch. Oh, well, who am I kidding? Hubby only thinks of chocolate and flowers around Valentine’s day. Don’t know how many times I told him I don’t need chocolate & flowers. Sigh…
Yeah! With you, I’m always partying!!!
This potato recipe is simple. I have everything at home except the bacon. Hmm, I’ll think of something. 😛 Fae.
That was not even a recipe, haha… But, once in a while, it’s ok to use the microwave. Actually, I use it all the time!! 🙂
Well, doesn’t this sound like fun! and Your little venture into Chinatown to celebrate the New Year sounds even funner though (yes, I like to use the word funner). I went out for Indian food last night…I don’t know why I didn’t think of going in to Chinatown..I’m kicking myself right now for that jk/lol. Happy Chinese New Year hun – welcome to the year of the horse! 🙂 X
Why aren’t you at the party? Maybe next week, then? And the next, and the next….We need friends from outside WordPress, too. And I can’t think of any non-WordPresser I’d rather be partying with! Happy CNY to you, too! Horses, btw, are my favorite animals. XOXO
I’m coming, I’m coming! Save some microwavy potato stacks for me! 🙂
Oops, they’re gone! Don’t worry, I’ll make more for you. No need to rush. There’ll be another party next week, and forever…lol, I hope I can continue to host. 🙂
Hei, I had noticed that you have added a print section with the recipe at your blog. How did you do that? I googled but didn’t managed to find any answer for a free wordpress.com platform. Only for wordpress.org, which is separately hosted not-free blog. Many thanks to you if you can help me with that.
No problem, always happy to help. You can find the instruction here:
http://en.support.wordpress.com/shortcodes/recipes/
wow! thank U a lot lot lot!
Hi Angie, sounds like fun! What a great idea. Enjoy la fiesta!!!
Join us next week? And the next, and so on… Won’t be as fun without you. XOXO
Wow, what a simple recipe! And so tasty too! These are the perfect recipe for a super bowl party, or party of any kind!
So simple I hesitated calling it a recipe! But every cook must have a few tricks up her/his sleeve. Please join our party! Bring one of those sweet treats you’re so good at making!
Haha thanks, I wish I could! Tonight I’ll be staying at home with the fam enjoying maybe a few too many sweet treats!! 🙂
My daughter, husband and two friends are in China. They were in Hong Kong for the opening of the New Year, and they all four had food poisoning from Thailand. Can you imagine the luck?
But these look easy and fabulous! Thanks.
How lucky to be in China, and so unlucky to get food poisoning! I have to say I’ve been pretty lucky to not suffer from any in my travels. Knock on woods! The potatoes are so easy it was almost a crime to call it a recipe! 🙂
This looks delicious!
Thanks, Jean! Join our party next week. Bring those awesome bento creations of yours! 🙂