ROUSES_Winter2022_Magazine Pages Web

ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT LUCKY FOOD: Almonds ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT DISH TO TRY: You’d be hard-pressed to think of a sweet snack that smells more like the holiday season than sugar-crystalized, cinnamon scented candied almonds (known in German as gebrannte mandeln ). If you’ve gone overboard on the baking spices this season, though, let almonds be the star of the show in a big batch of Chinese almond cookies, which use whole almonds, almond flour, and almond extract, and are said to resemble coins for good luck.

YEAR OF THE HORSE Born: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

If a free-spirited, ultra-sporty, dream-chasing partner is who you’re searching for, then focus your dating apps in on someone born in the Year of the Horse. “A person born in the Horse’s year will be cheerful, popular and quick-witted although [their] changeable nature may cause them to be hot-tempered, rash and head-strong at times,” write Lau and Lau. “Earthy and warmly appealing, [they] are very perceptive, talkative … and are noted for their love of sports, outdoor activities and fondness for animals.” ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT LUCKY FOOD: Sweet Potatoes ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT DISH TO TRY: It’s said that the number of dumplings you’re able to eat during the Lunar New Year will predict how much money you’ll be making in the coming year, and if you’re gobbling down money bag dumplings, expect your riches to flourish. Unlike traditional, crescent-moon shaped dumplings, money bag dumplings resemble satchels of coins, and sweet potatoes make for the perfect golden-hued filling. If dumplings aren’t your thing, incorporate your lucky food first thing in the morning with a gooey plate of sweet potato cinnamon rolls. Gentle and compassionate, Sheep are marked by one major personality trait: their sensitivity. The most peaceful and mild mannered of all the Chinese zodiac signs, people born in the Year of the Sheep are drawn to both creative pursuits and helping others — even better if they can find a way to combine the two. Empathetic Sheep adore spending time with children and will always give everyone the benefit of the doubt (for better or worse). ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT LUCKY FOOD: Mushrooms ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT DISH TO TRY: Shitake mushrooms symbolize prosperity in Chinese culture, so you can maximize your good fortune for 2023 by whirring the ‘shrooms into a creamy soup to sip from a thermos while oohing and aahing at holiday lights. However, I’d suggest looking toward the future — and doubling down on good luck — by incorporating shitakes into a traditional Lunar New Year dish: longevity noodles. A celebratory staple, the spongy, stir-fried noodles are never broken by the cook (ever!) and if you can eat the noodles without biting in the middle, well, that’s even more auspicious. Long noodles, long life. The only mythical creature to come fire-breathing into the Chinese zodiac line-up, people born in the Year of the Dragon are as captivating, charismatic and confident as the powerful creature that represents them, easily achieving leadership positions thanks to a great deal of ambition, intuition and a little bit of luck. Dragons are widely considered the most auspicious of the signs. Because they’re often so career-focused, dragons tend to neglect their health, so it’s critical that they take time to recharge and find balance. (As a Dragon myself, I’m still trying to take my own advice.) ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT LUCKY FOOD: Spinach ARROW-CIRCLE-RIGHT DISH TO TRY: For a more classic spinach-based dish, you can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned creamed spinach or legendary River Road Recipes cookbook staple, Spinach Madeleine. But if you’re trying to turn a corner into a less cheese-filled existence in the new year, spinach dumplings with tofu and a cup of green tea are a surefire way to deliciously triple your healthy goodwill. Just make sure to arrange your dumplings in lines instead of circles on the plate; circles of dumplings indicate that a person’s life will spiral and never go anywhere during the new year. YEAR OF THE SHEEP (OR GOAT) Born: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 YEAR OF THE DRAGON Born: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

YEAR OF THE MONKEY Born: 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028

Witty, clever and predisposed to just a little bit of mischief-making, people born in the Year of the Monkey are some of the most intelligent in the entire zodiac. Monkeys love to make others laugh (no surprise there!) but can have an impatient streak

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