Introduction

Growing up in a Chinese family in America was definitely entertaining to say the least. I lived in a home with three generations of women where my grandmother, Yuan Chu, did all of the cooking. My grandmother is a stubborn, spit fire, yet loving lady all wrapped into her 4 foot, 84 year old frame.

Now that I have time and a family of my own (husband, dog, and future children) I think back to the variety of Chinese dishes that I miss from my childhood. I want to share these dishes with my non–Asian husband and my future children. I thought this would be a good way to spend time with my grandmother as well as learn how to cook traditional Chinese food. So I decided now is the time to learn, one dish at a time.

Old photograph of my grandparents