February 10, 2013 marks the start of the Chinese year of the Water Snake.

According to ancient Chinese wisdom, a snake in the house is a good omen because it means your family will not starve.

People born in the year of the snake are intuitive, introspective, refined and calm.

Water snakes are known to be influential and insightful, motivated and determined to be successful.

They are very affectionate with their family and friends, but tend not to show their emotions to colleagues or business partners.

Career-wise, snakes make good analysts, jewellers, astrologers, investigators and restaurateurs.

Famous snake people include Ann-Margret, Henry Fonda, John F. Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Christie Brinkley, Elizabeth Hurley, Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Kim Basinger, Linda McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Try these two recipes when entertaining friends for Chinese New Year.

Peking Pork Rolls

Preparation time 15 minutes

Cooking time 15 minutes

Makes 20 rolls 

Ingredients:

• 400g Chinese red barbecue pork
• 1 continental cucumber
• 10 spring onions
• 250ml hoi sin sauce

Pancakes:

• 1 ½ cups plain flour
• pinch salt
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• 300ml soda water

Cooking Instructions:

1. Whisk together all ingredients for the pancake batter in a large mixing bowl and allow to stand for 10 minutes.
2. While mixture is standing cut the cucumber lengthwise and remove seeds. Cut the cucumber into 20 thin strips approx 10cm long, set aside.
3. Trim spring onions and cut in 10 cm pieces then slice each piece in half lengthwise, set aside.
4. Heat a small non stick crepe pan over a medium heat and spray pan with a little cooking spray. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of the prepared pancake mixture into the pan and cook for 1 minute on each side. Remove pancake and repeat with remaining mixture.
5. Lay pancakes on a flat surface and place 1 piece of cucumber and spring onion into the centre, top with 4 pieces of BBQ pork and a little hoi sin sauce. Fold the base of the pancake towards the centre, fold one side of the pancake towards the centre and roll to enclose filling. Repeat with remaining pancakes, pork and vegetables.
6. Serve with a little extra hoi sin sauce.

 Enjoy cooking and eating this succulent dish for Chinese New Year.

Twice cooked pork belly with ginger and honey sauce

Preparation time 15 minutes

Cooking time 2 hours 30 minutes

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

• 1.2- 1.5 kg pork belly, rind off
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 cup Chinese rice wine
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp five-spice powder
• 5cm ginger, peeled and chopped
• oil for shallow frying
• 1 cup honey
• 100g glace ginger, finely chopped

To serve:

• Steamed rice
• Shredded red capsicum
• Fried shallots

Cooking instructions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 160°C.
2. Combine soy sauce, chicken stock, rice wine, cinnamon sticks, five-spice and ginger in a small saucepan and bring to the boil.
3. Place the pork belly fat side up into a shallow baking dish and pour over the liquid and spices. Cover with foil.
4. Bake in the pre-heated oven at 160°C for 1 ½ hours. Remove and cool overnight in the pan. Weight the pork down with a plate and two cans of soup or beans.
5. Remove the pork from the pan and cut pork belly into 5 cm squares.
6. Heat the honey and glace ginger in a small saucepan over a low heat.
7. Heat oil in a deep sided frying pan or wok over a medium heat until it reaches 180°C. Fry the squares of pork until golden brown, remove and drain on absorbent paper and place in a large bowl.
8. Pour warm honey sauce over the pork belly and toss to coat.
9. Garnish with red capsicum and fried shallots serve hot with steamed rice.

Above recipes from www.pork.com.au

Look out for news on April Porkfest when Australian Pork is plentiful and at its best.

All the more reason to try out more Australian Pork recipes!