Year of the Dragon

Lunar New Year
GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!!!
Chinese New Year begins February 10, 2024 and is the Year of the Dragon.

There are traditional celebrations and festivities for Chinese New Year, which include:

Plants and Flowers
Every traditional Chinese household should also have blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one’s career. Lucky is the home with a plant that blooms on New Year’s Day, which foretells a year of prosperity. In more elaborate settings, plum blossoms just starting to bloom are arranged with bamboo and pine sprigs, the grouping symbolizing friends. The plum blossom also signifies reliability and perseverance; the bamboo is known for its compatibility, its utility and its flexible stems for furniture and other articles; the evergreen pine evokes longevity and steadiness. Other highly prized flowers are the pussy willow, azalea, peony and water lily or narcissus.

The Chinese firmly believe that without flowers, there would be no formation of any fruits. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to have flowers and floral decorations. They are the emblems of the reawakening of nature; they are also intimately connected with superstition and the wish for happiness during the ensuing year.

Oranges and Tangerines
Etiquette dictates that you must bring a bag of oranges and tangerines and enclose a lai see when visiting family or friends any time during the two-week long Chinese New Year celebration. Tangerines with leaves intact assure that one’s relationship with the other remains secure. For newlyweds, this represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children. Oranges and tangerines are symbols of abundant happiness.

Candy Tray
The candy tray arranged in a circle or octagon is called "The Tray of Togetherness" and has a dazzling array of candy to sweetly start the New Year. After taking several pieces of candy from the tray, adults place a red envelope (lai see) on the center compartment of the tray. Each item represents some kind of good fortune.

Kumquat symbolizes prosperity (gold)
Coconut symbolizes togetherness
Peanuts symbolizes long life
Longan symbolizes many good sons
Buddha's Hand given as gifts to represent good luck and fortune for the year
Mandarin Oranges represent wealth.
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) encourages youth and wealth
Lettuce also symbolizes wealth
Mushrooms represent coins signifying riches and prosperity
Green Onions symbolize brilliance and intelligence
Won Tons are served to guests as a blessing for good fortune
Asian Noodles are served to represent long life… the longer the noodle, the longer the life

Anyone can participate in Chinese New Year festivities. Be sure to celebrate with these traditional fresh fruits and vegetables, available from Melissa’s.

February is here, bringing us colder weather, the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day. And don’t forget Idaho Potato Lovers Month and American Heart Month, too.

The Big Game
Super Bowl Sunday is February 11th and will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. This beautiful stadium was built in 2020 and holds about 65,000 fans! Watch the Kansas City Chiefs battle it out with the San Francisco 49ers! Food and drinks are also a highlight; look for some healthier concessions featuring Melissa’s Produce to enjoy while at the game. And while you’re in Las Vegas, check out all the many amazing restaurants that also feature Melissa’s produce on their menus.

If you’re going to be watching the big game on TV, be sure you are prepared with plenty of delicious and healthy snacks. Melissa’s is here to help. Charcuteries are the trending entertaining foods today, so try putting a tray of finger hors d’oeuvres together with cut cucumbers, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, and hummus dip. Our Clean Snax® are perfect for any gathering – so many flavors to choose from! Your guests will be happy and so will their waistlines!

Valentine’s Day
The next big February celebration is Valentine’s Day. February 14th is considered the “most romantic” day of the year. It is definitely one of the busiest days for restaurants, with couples trying to have a romantic dinner together, but instead get frustrated waiting for their reservation in a crazy-busy atmosphere… so instead of waiting for hours to eat, enjoy a special evening filled with good food and romance at home. Melissa’s has some great Valentine’s Day suggestions to make your dinner better. Did you know that fresh chiles release endorphins and add a boost in mood and energy? Try adding a little heat to your Valentine’s Day meal by cooking with Melissa’s fresh chiles. Be sure to make your Valentine’s Day meal HOT by using plenty of fresh chiles. Add them to any recipe with some fresh seasonal vegetables, like pearl onions, Asian veggies, and fresh and dried mushrooms to create a simple vegetable sauté. Try a new recipe using our Hearts of Palm Pasta in place of regular pasta; tastes great and it will leave room for the dessert you’re going to enjoy next!

Melissa’s Crepes make a sweet dessert; stuff them with fresh berries and cream and top them with our delicious dessert sauces. Crepes are perfect to set the mood at the end of the evening. Strawberries have always been a romantic fruit. Try some fresh organic strawberries to add to your dessert crepes. Or try them in salads, desserts or sprinkled with a little sugar.

Another “romantic” ingredient is the Goji Berry. These little berries are packed with nutrition and are considered an aphrodisiac. You will find them dried, and you can use them in recipes like you would use a raisin. They are mildly sweet with a little tartness. Try some for a little added romance.

Pomegranates represent fertility and reproduction. Eating these on Valentine’s Day has couples believing they will start or add to their family in the coming year. Depending on Mother Nature, you will find whole pomegranates or pomegranate arils to use in your recipes. They are perfect for adding to salads or sprinkling on plates as a garnish to add color.

And last but not least, the most coveted romantic ingredient: Fresh truffles. Add fresh truffles to your favorite pasta dish, chicken or beef. They are so aromatic and pungent, and will add so much flavor.

Idaho Potato Lover’s Month
Celebrate every day with potatoes! Melissa’s offers several delicious, low-fat recipes to create the perfect potato dishes. Dutch Yellow® potatoes have a creamy texture and are delicious mashed. Dutch Red®, Dutch Blue®, Baby Russets, Baby Reds, Gemstones®, Fingerlings and Peewees are perfect for side dishes and sautés. Potatoes are super versatile. Try the trending smashed potatoes, bake, mash, broil, grill or use as an ingredient in soups, casseroles and salads. They can be enjoyed with the skin on or peeled off.

American Heart Month
American Heart Month lasts the entire month of February. Learning about heart-healthy foods will help you feel better and live longer. Start off eating your ten servings of fruits and vegetables every day. It’s so easy with all the convenient products we offer, from vacuum-sealed legumes to pre-packed vegetables. Our new clam-shells with pink pineapple or fresh mango are sure to be a hit in any fridge!

Eating foods that are high in omega-3 vitamins like salmon and tuna, as well as chickpeas, raspberries, walnuts and high fiber foods, will help keep your heart in good shape!

February is a great month to celebrate!