The new year is here and the new year tradition is that I make sushi and won-tons. I don’t know why it has become a tradition but I do know that it just doesn’t feel like New Year’s unless we are eating some kind of Chinese or Japanese food. I think it is because growing up that is what we did.

My parents both spent some time in Japan and funny thing, I thought I was Japanese because of all the Japanese food we ate. They spoke in Japanese all the time to each other especially when they were trying to keep secrets from us kids. Rice was a staple at our house. Almost every meal had rice with it. There was teriyaki, curry, stir-fry, sukiyaki and rice!

I remember New Year’s Eve there would be a big pan of sukiyaki frying in the middle of the table and we would eat all night. Now that I am older I realize all of the work that went into that evening and I am sticking with a couple of my favorites, sushi and won-tons.

Won-tons have become a favorite of the kids too (they are not too hip on the sushi though.) They are fun to make and eat as a family. Maybe it can be your New Year tradition too.

Won-Tons

½ pound ground beef

1 can minced shrimp

2 green onions & tops, finely minced

6 water chestnuts

6 mushrooms, finely chopped

1 tablespoon soy sauce

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon sesame oil

70 won ton wrappers

Brown ground beef.  Add all other ingredients and mix together lightly.  Fill won tons. Place one teaspoon of mixture in center of won ton wrapper and wet edges with fingertip dipped in water.  Fold over.  Cook in hot vegetable oil until golden brown.  Drain on paper towels.

To Freeze, pack in plastic bags when cool.  To reheat, place on cookie sheet and bake, while still frozen in a 350 degree oven.