Happy Year of the Rabbit

First of all, don't forget to eat crepes on Wednesday February 2. It's Candelmas Day (and Groundhog Day and tradition says if you eat crepes on Candlemas you will enjoy wealth all through the year. Then Thursday, February 3 will mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year (4708), the Year of the Rabbit.

Here's a Chinese New Year dish, taken from Epicurious.

Poached Chicken with Ginger and Scallion Sauce
Epicurious | January 2001
by Michael Tong
Shun Lee Palace, New York, NY

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 3 1/2-lb. Chicken
• 1/2 cup sesame oil
• 6 tablespoons peanut, vegetable, or corn oil
• 1/4 cup finely shredded fresh ginger
• 3 scallions, green part included, trimmed and cut into fine strips, 4 inches long
• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon dry sherry or shao hsing wine
• 1/2 teaspoon monosodium glutamate (optional)
  

Preparation

1. Place the chicken in a covered stock pot filled with enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to a boil and simmer about 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the chicken stand in the cooking liquid until just warm. Drain, reserving the broth for another use. Rinse the chicken under cold water, pat dry, and rub lightly with sesame oil.
2. Cut the chicken into pieces. Arrange neatly on a platter.
3. Heat the peanut, vegetable, or corn oil in a small saucepan, and when it is hot add the ginger and scallions. Cook about 30 seconds; remove ginger and scallions with a slotted spoon, leaving the oil in the pan.
4. Scatter the ginger and scallions over the chicken.
5. Add the remain ingredients to the oil, bring to a boil and pour over the chicken. Serve at room temperature.