Steven Ma's Family CNY Auspicious Dishes

"Auspicious Dishes" ＜家家行運菜＞第2集: Steven Ma demostrates a Ma family's CNY special dishe - Golden Scallops  (一馬當先黃金帶子)

S: I usually cook golden prawns for the CNY but prawn dishes are common so this time will cook golden scallops instead.  Ingredients: fresh scallops, cooked salted egg yorks, butter/magarine, broccoli, starch, flour + egg for batter

Steps:
1. Heat wok
2. Put some corn starch (Steven means on the scallops but Grace puts starch into the wok instead. haha)
Use fingers for even coating. Do it gently cos' scallops break easy. These scallops have been previously blanched in hot water so they are about 60-70% cooked already.

3. Add the batter onto the scallops - (egg + flour + water (?) Did not say how batter is made)

4. Deep fry each scallop briefly on medium fire until golden.

5. Blend butter and salted egg york on warm wok.  Butter's preferred cos' more fragrant than cooking oil.

6: Add scallops and coat each evenly.

And those dishes on the table? --- All done by Steven himself.

Tidbits on Steven's family CNY traditional food/dishes
When young, Steven's late mother made prawn crackers right after the clock struck midnight into the new year.  Since prawn chips expand (fa dai) when heated in hot oil so will wealth expand.

Auspicious dishes on the table pre-cooked by Steven.
1) Long Jing tea smoked chicken - can't make this dish at home -- (tn: cos' no smoke cooker?) any tea will do.

2) Braised pork knuckles with fatt choi (black seaweed) Steven learned to cook this dish from a master chef.  meat, veggie, seaweed, rock suger, star anise, ginger, scallion

related material: Steven's Golden Prawns recipe ; weibo link  2011-6-20 13:58
(link: symbolisms of lucky food/dishes for Chinese New Year)

Cook Away, Lady May (2) Episode 3

Steven as the guest in the 2nd portion of the show.
《May姐有請》
Date: 5/5/2013

Snippet on Steven's drive to learn

weibo 5/6 AIA

5/6 17:15  In mid month, on behest of AIA I will participate in its annual grand scale convention and exhibitions as a special guest speaker sharing my life experiences and my attitude and approach towards life. Apparently there will be over 2,000 in attendance, and all of them are AIA elite.  Wah! Looking forward to it!  On an aside, truly appreciate the design of their promotional poster, simple and clear; meaningful yet precise!  Praiseworthy! (date of speech: 5/18)

月中將會應AIA邀請出席在會展舉行的年度大型講座任特別演講嘉賓，分享一些人生經歷和處世態度。據知出席人數超過二千，且全都是AIA的精英份子，嘩，挺期待的！話說回來，真的很欣賞他們設計的這張海報，簡單明確，有意思，又到題！讚啊！

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TN: I'm so happy for Steven to be invited as the special guest speaker for AIA Hong Kong (American International Assurance) because it provides a huge opportunity for him to network with the movers and shakers of AIA.  And also because it gets him out of his comfort zone and have him mixed with people from a different profession.  Further it has been said that humans fear speaking in public more than they do death, so kudos to Steven.

Also, I must say I'm very impressed with Steven's efforts in broadening his social and network acquaintances through work, hobbies, his ambassadorial and charity work, his publishing work etc. 

Besides his acting, singing, and endorsement work related network:
Apprentice Chef hosting =  he not only gets to know the master chefs and restaurateurs in HK, but also the lowly food market peddlers and shopkeepers he bought fresh produce from.

Book of Words II = He gets to know Hong Kong U Chinese Language and cultures professors
As publisher = with other publishers and book distributors and agents

Playing golf is not just for leisures but also where deals are made informally, likewise playing badminton.
As badminton player = he gets to know the National Chinese badminton elite players, and other sport teams like the Chinese National Women volley ball players,  and the badminton communities in HK and Macao.

Ambassadorial and Charity works: He gets involved with different communities in HK as the ambassador for Regeneration Society, caring ambassador for guide dogs society, the ambassador for Central and Western District of Hong Kong, and the ambassador for Police Patrol.

Because his job encloses him within an exclusive entertainment circle, it is easy for Steven to get out of touch with real life, so he has to make efforts to not wall himself up in that small circle.