citrus, herbs, slow-cooked cod for another new year Nowruz

3-16--22-2026

WHAT'S COOKING --- NYT RECIPE: Slow-Cooked Fish with Citrus and Herbs 

prep

3 leeks,  1 lemon, 1 mandarin, 

fresh dill, tarragon, 

6 garlic, saffron

cod fillet lightly salted and marinated

leek, citrus, garlic, herbs sauteed in olive oil stovetop 

transfer to baking pan, bury fish in between 

add more herbs and saffron water on top 

bake 300 degree 30 min 

serve with saffron basmati rice 

and cucumber with  mint yogurt 

homemade baba ghanoush with pita 

Mexican black beans with onion and tomato 

zucchini fritters 

homemade Shanghai steamed dumplings 

tofu soup with wood ear,

mountain yam noddle knot, tomato and mushroom

pan-fried pork cutlet, mustard greens 

Northern Chinese chive pockets 

achieving the sweet tenderness of pan-fried silver pomfret

3-9--15-2026

WHAT'S COOKING === 

pan-fried silver pomfret 

• brine overnight 
• air-dry 8h 
• pan-fry with ginger threads mid-heat covered 15 minutes
• add sofrito and scallion 

guacamole 

pasta with roasted red pepper and baby squid 

Norwegian smoked salmon 

curry threaded potato 

sauteed long beans, mustard greens 

ramen with shrimp, Chinese greens and kimchi 

taro roots with fried garlic chips 

grilled Korean style beef short ribs 

WHAT'S GOING ON IN GARDEN ====

early waking-ups 

mid-March snow 

something imagined 

prelude of a warm spring

3-02--08-2026

COOKING and BAKING--- 

home baked Russian black bread 

Norwegian smoked salmon with shiso 

pan-fried pork cutlet and stir-fried cabbage 

simmered kabocha 

rice bowl with vegetables and egg

clam soup with fried tofu, 

beech mushroom and mountain yam noodles 

 Mexican red beans and pulled pork with chocolate mole 

pasta with radicchio, garlic scape and sausage 

stir-fried threaded daikon

parboiled Chinese greens

scrambled eggs with tomato 

boy choy soup with mushroom 

baked Japanese sweet potato fries

pan-fried gyoza 

shanghai-style soup Ji-cai wonton 

GARDEN and ART  --- 

garden cleaning #1 

#2

swamp magnolia seed pot with ink 

ink drawing using the seed pot 

the first blooms of the year 

OPERA,  new season, new venue ----- 

National Opera at Lisner 

Jazmine the red skirt dancer and the ballet teacher