| Chinese cooking night is a wonderful tradition that my | | | | world but was used to create American-Chinese |
| family has created over the years and one that we | | | | dishes such as sweet and sour chicken when it was |
| have all come to love! On this special night once a | | | | introduced in America. Along with sweet and sour |
| month, my aunts, grandmas, parents and even my | | | | sauce, some other types of sauces used in America |
| two brothers and their families clear their hectic | | | | to enhance flavor in popular Chinese foods such as |
| schedules and gather around the family kitchen to | | | | noodles, fried rice and other Chinese dishes are chili |
| whip up a savory and delicious meal straight from the | | | | oil, oyster sauce and garlic sauce. |
| Orient. Why Chinese food, you ask? Of all the | | | | Chinese cooking with its tasty dipping sauces is also a |
| different cuisines we have tried throughout the | | | | fun way to liven up a meal and something that my |
| years, Chinese recipes are easy to follow, the food is | | | | children love! Try serving the dipping sauces in a small |
| delicious and Chinese cooking sauces have become | | | | bowl along with the meal to accompany Chinese |
| our favorite. Their adaptability and variety of flavorful | | | | appetizers like pot stickers, spring rolls and egg rolls. |
| spices is loved by the whole family. | | | | Let the kids have their own bowl to dip and watch |
| One thing we learned very early on is that Chinese | | | | their faces light up. One of the main reasons my |
| food and Chinese cooking are greatly complimented | | | | family loves Chinese cuisine is that there are so many |
| by the key ingredients of the sauces. You can see | | | | different types of flavors that can be easily |
| this very easily in the American Chinese food cooking | | | | incorporated into everyday meals. Some of the most |
| trends. It is mainly a mixture of vegetables enhanced | | | | famous are chili oil, sweet and sour sauce, hot |
| with Chinese sauces. These cooking sauces are used | | | | mustard and garlic sauce. Chili oil is made from chili |
| as garnishes and in preparing many types of delicious | | | | peppers and is normally used in stir-fry and to |
| authentic recipes. Most of our favorite Chinese | | | | enhance the flavor of other dishes such as noodles. |
| dishes, like noodles and fried rice are made with a | | | | Another favorite and one that has been used for |
| variety of spices and sauces making them very | | | | many centuries in China is sweet and sour sauce. Its |
| popular and savory meals. | | | | main ingredients of sugar and wedding vinegar make |
| In America, Chinese food has been used in ways that | | | | it a very popular choice and one that adds savory |
| are non traditional and has taken on some of its own | | | | flavor to Chinese dishes when combined with tomato |
| new traditions. Their sauces have become famous as | | | | sauce. Garlic sauce and hot mustard sauce are great |
| dipping sauces and cooking sauces that are mainly | | | | sauces that work well with a variety of Chinese |
| used for different types of meat dishes like pork or | | | | appetizers. Any of these sauces are easy to make |
| chicken. Sweet and sour sauce was originally used as | | | | and will give your meal that special oriental flavor |
| a simple sauce for fish dishes in different parts of the | | | | your family will love! |