Happy early Chinese New Year

Had a nice lunch today at my co-worker Nick's house. His wife, Iru, is Taiwanese and cooked an authentic Chinese New Year meal. Lots of dumplings and then a boiling pot of broth heated by Sterno in the middle of the table. You dip raw beef, pork, lamb or tofu into it, along with spinach, bok choy and cabbage, then pull it out about 30 seconds later. Garnish with spicy peanuts mixed with freeze-dried fish bits, add various sauces, and eat. Despite the novelty of it, the kids gobbled it up. Lincoln LOVED the dumplings and Greta even tried some of the boiled meat. Maybe it helped that they were promised ice cream for dessert.