by Hsiao-Ching Chou and Meilee Chou Riddle
“Without intention, holidays can become afterthoughts,” writes Hsiao-Ching Chou in her latest book, Feasts of Good Fortune, written with her daughter, Meilee. Together, they share approachable home-cooked recipes and menus that bridge the gap between holidays, between their home in Seattle and their roots in Taiwan, and the meals that bring their loved ones together to celebrate. The book ranges from Lunar New Year through the winter solstice, and includes recipes from simple stir-frys to more elaborate projects like traditional mooncakes, tang yuan and zongzi.
The book is interspersed with commentary from both the 17 year-old Meilee (“Meilee Says”) and Hsiao-Ching (“Mom Says”), sharing their different perspectives and food memories in ways both plucky and sincere. In between each major holiday, the women give suggestions for celebrating around the table every day, especially within a “forever hyphenated culture.” We’ll be sharing a few recipes from the book in our monthly newsletter leading up to Lunar New Year on January 29, 2025, so be sure to sign up.
- Feasts of Good Fortune released on December 3, and can be found at mychinesesoulfood.com/feasts-of-goodfortune.
