Stirring into the new year

Creekside Cookers try Chinese cooking with Ying Stoller

EDGEWATER – It’s February, and for those whose New Year’s resolutions have already faded, fear not – Chinese New Year just passed on Jan. 31, giving a fresh chance to set new goals.

The Creekside Cookers encourage their members and other residents to explore new culinary territory through Chinese cooking. Their meeting on Feb. 20, entitled “Happy New Year Again,” dives into this topic with guest Ying Stoller.

A native of northeastern China, Stoller has taught Chinese cooking for over a decade and now teaches at the College of Lake County and Kenosha Public Museum. In that time, she has also made frequent appearances on Chicago television, in local newspapers, and has hosted cooking demos in many area stores.

Stoller said students are often intimidated by Chinese cooking or frustrated because they cannot recreate what they taste in restaurants at home. Her goal is to show students just how simple and accessible Chinese cooking can be.

“When I teach them, they see how easy it is, and I think that really gives them confidence to go home and try it,” she said.

Attendees at the Cookers’ meeting will learn what Stoller calls a great introduction to Chinese cooking: stir fry. She will demonstrate the proper way to cut vegetables and chicken, and offer tips, like how setting the correct temperature for cooking oil can make all the difference.

Another big misconception Stoller finds is that Chinese food is unhealthy. She said many Americans know Chinese food as fried dishes full of salt and MSG. While there are deep fried dishes in Chinese cuisine, Stoller said they are just part of a much larger variety.

Stoller’s classes teach recipes for both traditional, authentic Asian dishes and Chinese-American favorites like General Tso’s chicken and orange chicken. What makes Stoller’s varieties unique, she said, is that she eliminates MSG, lowers the sodium, and avoids heavy batters.

“If you use my [orange chicken] recipe, that batter is very light and crispy,” she said.

February’s meeting marks Stoller’s third appearance with the Cookers. Club President Rosalie Bozan said when Stoller visits, it is always an informative night.

“She does a very nice presentation; the members really are able to ask questions and she responds and it’s just a nice social meeting when she’s there,” Bozan said.

Though she celebrated Chinese New Year 2014 on the road, Stoller said she enjoys marking the holiday with traditional food, like dumplings and sticky rice.

Stoller said the number eight plays a big role in celebrations because in Chinese, it sounds similar to the word for “prosper.”

As evidence of just how lucky the Chinese believe the number eight is, consider that when Beijing hosted the Summer Olympics in 2008, the opening ceremonies commenced on August 8, 2008 at eight seconds past 8:08 p.m. local time.

The Cookers’ meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2014. Not an eight in sight, but those looking for a well-taught introduction to Chinese cooking will be in luck.

Happy New Year Again
When: Feb. 20, doors open at 6 p.m., meeting starts at 6:30
Where: Creekside Lodge
More info: Contact Rosalie Bozan at bozanrw@prodigy.net, Sue Rowe at susan.c.rowe@comcast.net, or Maureen Hammond at reenie549@yahoo.com.

Ying Stoller
yingskitchen.com
847-403-7078
Ying’s sauces and marinades are available in many local grocery stores.

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