Warm time in the cold winter
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
We started the year 2026 with very cold weather. It was the coldest winter since I can remember living in New York City. Two big snowstorms and frigid temperature plus wind created mounds and mounds of snow. When it snowed, the city was beautiful. The streets were quiet; you could only hear the howling wind that came with big flakes of snow. White snow covered the ground and made everything white and clean. Benjamin enjoyed the snow, and the smell of other dogs lingered in the snow piles. After the first snowstorm had melted down, another snowstorm came in. Finally, March came, and the temperature were warmer, and all the snow melted away, and we could really see signs of spring we saw a groundhog standing in a daze, basking in the warm sun; dozens of deer roaming around which Benjamin chased and disappeared for a good 45 minutes until he came back with a limp. But winter remains my favorite season. I love the quiet, bright, sparkling white snow; the cold and fresh air filled my body with real happiness. I felt warm inside my heart. We had many memorable moments and events.
Scenes from both snowstorms, David shoveled the snow in front of our building.
Upstate was the most beautiful; I think New York State is one of the most beautiful states in the US. Walking with Benjamin in winter months was so peaceful; the pictures do not capture the true beauty. Coyote footprints on the frozen lake showed how cold this winter had been.
Sarah's Story
In contrast, Sarah enjoyed an unusually warm winter with an average temperature in the 50s and 60s. Colorado experienced a drought with no snow and Florida like weather. She had two collegiate figure skating competitions. One in San Jose, California in late January, she skated there once in the national showcase two years ago. This was her first competition with the school. She competed in three categories and won 2nd and third in 2 of the events, helping her school rank fifth in the Pacific Coast Division. They needed to be in the top four in the final competition held in Denver in mid-February. In DU Open (Denver University Open). The hard work of the team paid off and the University of Boulder ranked first in this final round. Sarah won one gold and one bronze medal from the three events she competed in. This was one of her proudest moments. She was a part of a winning team and qualified to go to the National Collegiate Figure Skating Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah, in mid-April. We are the proudest parents as well.
At DU Open in Denver.
Sarah and her skating team took a three-hour drive to skate on a beautiful frozen lake. This was one of the reasons Sarah picked the school; she fulfilled one of her wishes to skate out in the wild. She told us about her amazing, incredible experience: lying down on ice and listening to the sound of ice cracking. While skating, the ice made cracking sounds with the skates' blades. It sounded like a surreal experience.
Sarah was back in New York early February for a short weekend to compete at Sky Rink to qualify for a 2026 National Skating Showcase in August in Denver. She won first in both categories, making the trip worthwhile. She arrived on my birthday, February the 13th, and it was the best present I received to see her so soon.
I made an apricot cake and David made a salmon dish over sushi rice.
My birthday
Another year, time flew by like a winter snowstorm. I celebrated early with Dawit and Kurt at Aquarelle. The restaurant interior was vibrant and interesting. We ordered a whole bunch of food and had an amazing time as always with Dawit and Kurt.
On my birthday this year, Sarah arrived in the evening, and we already had a plan to go out with Grace and Paul. We went to a Michelin-star restaurant in Tribeca called Huso
The restaurant was inside Marky's Caviar in Tribeca. The food was amazing, and the service was impeccable. We will definitely take Sarah there. Once she is back for summer.
We had an amazing time at Huso! After we finished our 12-course menu, we were brought to tour the kitchen downstairs and served a light smoothie, we left with a mission to visit again.
Chinese New Year
This year Lunar New Year came early, marked by a full moon on Tuesday, February 17th. It's the year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of forward movement, independence, and endurance. This is David's zodiac animal sign, hoping plenty of energy, good health, and a speedy New York Marathon run this year.
Senina and Alex had us over for a Chinese New Year dinner. Senina is from Shanghai, and her family is still living there. Senina's cooking is Michelin-star quality. We were so impressed and asked her to share two of the recipes she served that day.
Senina shared the ribs, and garlic shrimp recipe below. I made mooncakes and brought them as desserts.
Senina's recipes:
Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs
Ingredients
• 500g pork ribs
• 1 tbsp cooking wine
• 3g salt
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 4 tbsp white sugar
• A few slices of ginger
Instructions
1. Rinse the ribs and blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes. Drain well.
2. Heat a little oil in a pan, add ginger slices, and sauté until fragrant.
3. Add the ribs and stir-fry briefly.
4. Add cooking wine, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. Mix well.
5. Add enough water to just cover the ribs.
6. Simmer over low heat for 30–40 minutes until tender.
7. Increase the heat to reduce the sauce until thick and glossy.
Tip: The perfect balance of sweet and sour is key — adjust sugar and vinegar slightly to your taste.
Dry-Rased Prawns
Ingredients
• Fresh prawns (shell on for better flavor)
• A splash of cooking wine
• Salt and sugar (to taste)
• 1–2 tbsp tomato ketchup
• 1–2 tbsp fermented glutinous rice
• Finely chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic
Instructions
1. Clean and devein the prawns. Pat dry.
2. Heat oil in a pan and sauté scallions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant.
3. Add prawns and stir-fry until they turn pink.
4. Add cooking wine, ketchup, fermented glutinous rice, a pinch of salt, and a little sugar.
5. Stir well and cook for a few minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the prawns nicely.
The flavor is slightly sweet, slightly savory, and very aromatic.
Thanks, Senina and Alex, for having us; this was a very memorable meal worthy of a year of the Fiery Horse. Xīnnián Kuàilè ( Xīnnián kuàilè (新年快乐) means "Happy New Year")
David's Annual Ski Party at The Wintergreen
The ski party this year was held the day before the second snowstorm hit the New York area. The theme this year was Celebrating the birth of the United States of America, 250 years.
David was in charge of the meat for the BBQ. The Winter Olympics had just finished, so he was in the Olympic-themed outfit. For me, I borrowed one of Sarah's sweaters with an American flag. Most people in the party wore red, white, and blue clothing, it was like celebrating the 4th of July in the middle of winter.
We rushed back to the city the day after the party to avoid the expected snowstorm. We made it back before it hit NYC that night.
Even though February was a short month with 28 days this year, I had many memorable events and am looking forward to spring with daylight saving time beginning on Sunday, March 8, when clocks spring forward one hour. My favorite season might be over Spring will bloom soon and mild weather are something to welcome.
I will end with foods David and I made in these cold winter months.
Dan dan noodles, both soup and dry versions; mooncake with lotus seed and red bean fillings; chili; mascarpone prune cake; Thai candle cookies with mung bean filling; soft pretzels; a chocolate Guinness cake; lasagna soup dumplings; shrimp with lobster sauce; spaghetti with meatballs; banana bread; apple and pear tart; roasted red pork; and a sourdough brioche loaf.
Happy Fiery Horse Year! Happy end of winter and welcome spring!
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