Fortune Cookies...Barney's windows...

This is such a fun and creative window at Barney's in Las Vegas
to welcome in the Chinese New Year.

It sure would be good fortune to have a zero balance on one's credit bill at Barney's!

History of the Fortune Cookie

The idea of fortune cookies was introduced by Makoto Hagiwara at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, as a refreshment to be taken while strolling the tea garden. The Hagiwara family was not business oriented, and there was never a patent taken out on the fortune cookie in any form (name, rights, cookie itself, or otherwise). This confection is said to be based off of a Japanese food known as tsujiura senbei, which is associated with New Year festivities at Shinto Shrines.

The tsujiura senbei, several generations old, is not sweet like the fortune cookies that were designed to fit American tastes. The novel idea of receiving a fortune in a light senbei cookie is not widely known in Japan. The tsujiura senbei contains a tsujiura (a writing that tells one's fortunes) inside a senbei (Japanese crackers). This senbei is traditionally found in Kyoto.

The origins of the Fortune Cookie as we know it today were laid down by the Chinese 49'ers who worked on the building of the great American railways through the Sierra Nevada into California.

Work was very hard and pleasures were few in isolated camps, those hard workers had only biscuits with happy messages inside, to exchange at the Moon festival instead of traditional cakes with happy messages, and thus the Fortune Cookie was born. This became something of a cottage industry and as the Chinese settled in San Francisco after the railway and the Gold boom the custom continued. Today it is almost impossible to have a Chinese meal in America and Canada without finishing with a Fortune Cookie.

After WWII, a number of Americanized Chinese restaurants copied the idea. Fortune cookies became very popular, served as a dessert after every meal at many restaurants. In addition to a fortune, fortune cookies may also contain lucky numbers (used by some as lottery numbers) and a Chinese phrase with translation.

Although they are served almost exclusively in Chinese restaurants abroad, fortune cookies are almost unknown in China. Places that serve them call them "Genuine American Fortune Cookies."

Outdoor Wednesday...Chinese New Year...

To continue with the Chinese New Year celebration I wanted to share the photos that I snapped at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It is outdoor Wednesday but I thought since the weather has been so cold and snowy I could stretch the meaning of outdoors today and take you for a stroll to show you some colorful flowers that are indoors.

As you enter the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel guests are greeted with an amazing display of fresh flowers to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The Bellagio Hotel has a conservatory that changes with the seasons and holidays.
No trip to Las Vegas is complete to me unless I visit the dancing fountains and the conservatory.

I was not disappointed this year when I saw this massive statue of the most powerful God of wealth and fortune who welcomes you into the conservatory.

This folk figure is dressed in the opulent costume of a high official.

Traditionally, his image adorns doors and walls of Chinese homes, bringing prosperity throughout the year.

Yards and yards of beautiful intricate and colorful fabrics are incorporated into the costume of the God of wealth and fortune.

We are greeted by the tiger which represents just one of the zodiac signs.

This mechanical tiger head swivels delighting the young and the old alike.

Bamboo and pretty red and gold bridges adorn the conservatory.

A baby panda bear takes a nap among the colorful flowers.

Pretty lanterns and pagodas welcome us to sit and relax before we journey onto the next part of Chinese New Year tomorrow.

I am sharing these photos at at a southern daydreamer HERE.
Thank you Susan for hosting this fun weekly event and allowing me to fudge the meaning of outdoors this week.

Chinese New Year...Sesame Balls...

These delicious sesame balls of glutinous rice flour, are filled with sweet red bean paste and rolled in sesame seeds. They are especially popular during the Chinese New Year. What makes sesame balls special is the way they expand during deep-frying. I have to warn you to be careful frying these in hot oil and turn the balls carefully to retain their shape. According to Chinese tradition, this symbolizes the way your luck may expand throughout the New Year.

There are lots of recipes for this treat in cookbooks and they seem to differ slightly. I am still searching for the perfect recipe. If you have the perfect family recipe I would love for you to share it with me.

Chinese New Year...Year of the Tiger...Mosaic Monday

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This Mosaic was assembled from snap shots that I took this month at the
Palazzo Hotel-Resort- Casino in Las Vegas.

I invite you to follow along on my blog all this week as I celebrate the Chinese New Year, the year of the Tiger, with photos, information, and Chinese recipes.

Please visit our hostess Mary at the dear little red house for more Mosaic Monday posts HERE.

Valentine Atlanta Bloggers Tea...Mosaic Monday,Tablescape Thursday, Foodie Friday...

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This past Friday I had so much fun hosting a Valentine tea for all my wonderful blogger friends in the Atlanta area. There was enough delicious food to feed an army of bloggers. New and old bloggers spent the afternoon eating and chatting about their blogging experiences. Your ears were probably ringing since we all agreed that bloggers are the best ever! If you would enjoy an in-depth review of the tea and seeing more photos and the faces of those bloggers who attended please visit Sue at Rue-Mouffetard HERE.

I also want to say thank you to all the bloggers who attended for your help in bringing amazing treats to share and some amazing hostess gifts which were appreciated. You are all the best!

Mosaic Monday is hosted by Mary at little red house HERE. Please share in the fun by adding a mosaic of your own or stopping by and viewing this weeks mosaics.

Please visit Between naps on the porch HERE Tablescape Thursday.

Please visit designs by Gollum HERE for Foodie Friday.

Please visit bargain hunting with Laurie HERE for the Valentine Party.

Focaccia with Olives and Rosemary...Foodie Friday...

Focaccia With Olives and Rosemary

This is one of favorite Focaccia recipes. It is a big hit with everyone who tastes this and I never have any to take home. They always request a copy of the recipe. I originally made this for my Cooking Light Cooking group. I have to say that the recipe is quick to prepare but you must allow 3 1/2 hours. The dough needs to rise not once but 3 times.

I have made the following changes to this recipe:

I sprinkle a little Kosher/sea salt on the top.
Blend the reosemary and the olives into the dough so that it does not fall off.
Make sure you use ALL the olive oil in this recipe.
Depending upon your oven temperature you may have to bake this 3-4 minutes less.

The recipe can be found HERE at Epicurious.

To see more delicious recipes please visit our hostess designs by gollum HERE

Vegas...Elvis and Michael Jackson sighting...Outdoor Wednesday...

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And you thought they were gone forever?

Elvis may have left the building but not the streets in
Las Vegas.

Michael Jackson doing his moon walk shuffle on the strip.

The beat goes on!

Sorry to say the National Inquirer was not interested in buying my authentic photo!

For more outdoor Wednesday photos please visit our hostess Susan HERE
at a southern daydreamer.