Much More to Eat than Chocolate this February Fourteenth

About author / Amy Powell

World traveler; gourmet 30 minute meals; lover of exotic ingredients; winner on FoodTV's Chefs vs City; graduate French Culinary Institute. Her recipes will tantalize your taste buds.

Just when you thought December was the busiest holiday time of the year, along comes February 2010. Of course, there is everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday, Valentine’s Day. But in case roses and chocolates are not your thing, there is not one, not two, but three other holidays you could celebrate beginning February 14th, this year.

For history buffs, there is President’s Day, the joint observance of Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays which falls on February 15th this year. February 14th officially kicks off Chinese New Year, which is traditionally the second new moon after the solstice. And if those weren’t enough reasons to celebrate, Mardi Gras, the ultimate glutton-fest, has already been in full swing for several days and will continue on until Fat Tuesday, February 16th.

There aren’t a lot of food traditions associated with US presidents but there is one fruit in particular that is associated with George Washington himself: the cherry. Whether the story of Washington cutting down a cherry tree in his youth to test out his new hatchet is real or simply a morality story, I’d like to think that a boy who couldn’t tell a lie would put those fallen cherries to good use in something like a pie.

Since cherries are not in season during Washington's birthday weekend, some type of preserved cherries will have to suffice. If canned cherries are all that's available, look for ones packed with sugar and water instead of corn syrup and avoid the maraschino variety at all costs. Frozen cherries work well for everything from filling for pies to the main ingredient of a sweet and sour sauce to accompany seared duck breast. If all else fails, check out a natural foods store or Trader Joe's for dried cherries to give some tangy sweetness to quick breads and muffins.

In addition to drinking Hurricanes and throwing beads, Mardi Gras is little more than an excuse to over-indulge on decadent foods. For a week leading up to the appropriately named Fat Tuesday, the streets of New Orleans are filled with revelers, drinks in hand, noshing on Po’ Boy sandwiches made with fried crawfish, oysters, or clams. Beignets, the signature New Orleans doughnut, are eaten out of brown paper bags, powdered sugar clinging to sticky fingers. Bowls of Cajun gumbo and jambalaya are dished up to soak up the sugary liquid swirling in partiers stomachs and give them the sustenance to keep the party going all night, and all week long. At home, we might not make it through a week of partying, but one weekend day of fried food and blender drinks couldn’t hurt, especially if you don’t have to go to work Monday morning.

While New Orleans is raging and Americans celebrate President’s Day with long ski weekends, Chinese are kicking off their most important holiday of the year: Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year is celebrated from the 1st to the 15th days of the lunar calendar and is marked by numerous traditions ranging from presents to decorations to food. Recognized as an official holiday in China for centuries, the tradition has left its mark on numerous other Asian countries with Chinese influence, from Vietnam to South Korea to Singapore.

Food traditions surrounding the Chinese New Year abound. Every food eaten during the two week celebration has significance designed to wipe away bad luck from the past year and usher in a new year of prosperity. Dumplings, with their resemblance to small packaged gifts, are served to bring wealth and good fortune. Long uncut noodles, as well as any number of whole fruits and vegetables, are consumed to promote health and a long life. Whole fish, eggs, oysters, prawns, turnip cakes, seaweed and numerous other symbolic dishes all find their way into the day's eating to get the new year off on the right path.

Chocolates and romantic dinners are all well and good on February 14th, but if you are without a Valentine or just looking for another excuse for a party, no need to limit yourself this year. Mardi Gras, President’s Day, and Chinese New Year all bring plenty of excuses and tons of food, enough to keep you partying for the days, if not two weeks to come.

Serves/Makes: 4

• 1 English cucumber
• salt
• 4 bundles soba noodles
• 4 eggs
• 2 medium carrots
• 1 bunch green onions
• 1 cup kimchi
• 1/2 bunch cilantro
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons chili garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil, plus extra