I began to learn cooking Chinese food from my mom when I was 9. I was able to know the difference between ginger and garlic and how to use a pancake turner.
When I was 12, I began to help my aunt in the kitchen (this was how I paid for my school clothes and supplies). My aunt was a very famous chef in town. Actually she was like the local chief chef and was invited to cook for all the major events, feasts and wedding parties held in town. She taught me everything about cooking - selecting ingredients, balancing nutrition, 6 key techniques in Chinese cooking, 8 Chinese cooking styles and even table etiquette.
I still remember one day when I was 15.
"Hui (my nick name), I don't have anything to teach you any more." My aunt said after a graduation feast. I guess that's when I graduated from Chinese cooking school.
In the past 10 years, I never stopped learning cooking. I always bring my favorite Joyce Chen wok with me whenever I move to.
But I never thought of coming up with a cookbook until February 3rd, 1997 - my aunt passed away because of cancer. I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to her face to face because I was going to college far away from hometown. I was thinking of doing something for her. Nothing is better than writing a cookbook.
After one and a half years of work, I came up with the Chinese version cookbook in 1998 and got it published with a national publisher. About 560,000 copies have been sold since then.
In 2000, my friend suggested that I should translate my cookbook into English and bring it to all people around the world who love Chinese food. In order to let this book be suitable for most people, I visited all the major Chinese restaurants here in Ohio and studied hundreds of restaurant menus. I talked to scores of doctors about healthy eating and nutrition. I subscribed to several major health publications and read health news regularly. After two years of research, I came up with my English version e-cookbook "Real and Healthy Chinese Cooking".
So this is NOT an ordinary cookbook. It is a cookbook packed with:
A master chef's 45 years of cooking experience
20 years of my Chinese cooking practice
Almost 4 years of cooking, writing and research
And of course, my love for my aunt for my whole life
You will be delighted to find this cookbook.
Chinese Food IS the Solution:
Healthy & Balanced Food for You!
Ancient Chinese philosophy has a very important influence in Chinese food culture. Let's first look at a very interesting picture:
Yin and Yang
This is the traditional symbol for the forces of yin and yang, sometimes described as two fish swimming head to tail. The left half is yin and the right half is yang. Taken literally, yin and yang mean the dark side and sunny side of a hill.
People commonly think of yin and yang as opposing forces. However, it is really more appropriate to view them as complementary pairs. The Chinese believe problems arise not when the two forces are battling, but when there is an imbalance between them. Floods, divorce, or even a fire in the kitchen - all can be attributed to disharmony in the forces of yin and yang.
How does the concept of yin and yang relate to food?
A basic adherence to this philosophy can be found in ANY Chinese dish, from stir-fried beef with broccoli to sweet and sour pork. There is always a balance in color, flavors, and textures.
However, belief in the importance of following the principles of yin and yang in the diet extends further.
Certain foods have yin properties, while others have yang properties - Cooling or warm, fat or non-fat, high-calorie or low- calorie, and etc.
Almost no foodstuff is purely yin or yang - it's more that one characteristic tends to dominate. It also reinforces that it is not so much the individual ingredients, as the the balance and contrast between ingredients in each dish, that is important. Interestingly, cooking methods also have more of a yin or yang property, as the list below demonstrates.
Cooking Methods:
Yin Qualities
|
Yang Qualities
|
| Boiling | Deep-frying |
| Poaching | Roasting |
| Steaming | Stir-frying |
Types of Foods:
|
Chinese food emphasizes on consuming a diet that contains a healthy balance between yin and yang. You'll find most Chinese dishes are made of a mixture of ingredients and each meal is made up of a combination of dishes.
That's why:
You always get a cup of steamed rice for every entree
There is usually vegetable mixed with meat entree
A fried dish usually comes with a steamed dish or soup
I know you have already realized that Chinese food is healthy and balanced food that is good for your health.
Actually according to a survey held by the food industry,
72.4% people think that Chinese food is healthy
89.3% people like Chinese food
67.8% people would like to cook Chinese food if they know how
Before you start looking for vitamin pills or supplements, start eating a health and balanced diet from today.