The coldest days of the year are generally during the Minor Cold solar term. Although the Major Cold term follows, meteorological records show that the coldest period is during Minor Cold. Because the solar term system originated in the Yellow River basin, Minor Cold corresponds to Minor Heat, and Major Cold corresponds to Major Heat.
The Laba Festival usually falls between Minor Cold and Major Cold. When Minor Cold arrives, it means the Lunar New Year is just around the corner. On this day, there is a custom in China of eating Laba porridge. This custom originated in Buddhist temples. Legend has it that Siddhartha Gautama, while practicing asceticism, collapsed from hunger and thirst. A kind shepherdess saved him by feeding him a congee with wild fruits. He then attained enlightenment. As this happened on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Buddhists began to cook congee to offer to the Buddha on this day, which came to be known as Laba porridge. This tradition was passed down to the common people and continues to this day. Northern Laba porridge includes yellow rice, red rice, white rice, millet, water chestnut nuts, chestnuts, red beans, jujube paste, and water-boiled ingredients, garnished with peach kernels, almonds, melon seeds, peanuts, pine nuts, brown sugar, white sugar, and raisins. Southern versions also include lotus seeds and longan, as these two ingredients are considered to have cooling properties and are not typically added to the northern congee.
As the saying goes, "Train in the three nines of winter." This is an excellent time to exercise and build physical strength, but it's important to pay attention to the methods. Outdoor temperatures are very low, causing blood vessels in the skin to constrict, blood flow to slow down, and the viscosity of muscles to increase. The elasticity of ligaments and the flexibility of joints are also reduced. Engaging in strenuous activity immediately can easily lead to sports injuries. Therefore, it's essential to do warm-up exercises before working out, such as jogging, rubbing your face, and patting your whole body. If you have time, you can hold your hands in fists with the tiger mouths touching and rotate them left and right. This can increase finger flexibility, prevent frostbite, and also help prevent colds.
During this period, although it is cold, 'yang' energy is slowly accumulating and rising, making it an excellent time for dietary supplements. However, do not overindulge in rich, greasy, or spicy foods. The climate is dry and cold, and eating too many rich foods can easily cause pimples. This time of year is best for replenishing 'qi' and moisturizing the body. If you have time, you might want to try the following dishes.
1. Yam and Mutton Soup. One pound of mutton, three liang of yam. Cut the mutton into pieces and blanch to remove blood water. Put the sliced yam and mutton into a pot of clear water, add scallions, ginger, cooking wine, pepper, and salt, and cook. After it comes to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until tender. Nourishes the spleen and stomach, and benefits the lungs and kidneys.
2. Kidney-Tonifying Dog Meat Soup. One pound of dog meat, a small amount of dodder seed, and a small amount of aconite root. Cut the dog meat into pieces and blanch thoroughly. Slice the ginger and chop the scallions. Stir-fry the dog meat and ginger together, add the ingredients to create a fragrant base, then pour everything into a clay pot. Put the dodder seeds and aconite root into a small gauze bag and add it to the pot. Add clear broth, scallions, monosodium glutamate, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for two hours. Warms the spleen and stomach, and tonifies kidney 'yang'.
3. Stir-Fried Three Shreds. Three shreds: shredded water-soaked shiitake mushrooms, shredded carrots, and shredded green peppers. Stir-fry in a hot wok, add cooking wine and sugar and stir-fry for a moment, then add broth and salt. After the soup boils, add monosodium glutamate, thicken with a starch slurry, and drizzle with sesame oil. Strengthens the spleen, resolves stagnation, and moisturizes the body.
4. Broccoli with Beef. Beautifies the skin and prevents acne.
5. Cabbage with Shredded Pork. Cabbage is Chinese cabbage, cut into strips. Chop the pork into a paste and marinate it with cooking wine, salt, and starch. Heat oil in a wok, stir-fry the cabbage, add a little water and cook until nearly done, then remove. Use the same wok to sauté minced garlic until fragrant, add the marinated pork and cook through. Return the cabbage to the wok, stir-fry until done, and add monosodium glutamate. Beautifies the skin and prevents acne.
6. Shitake Mushrooms and Snow Peas with Beef Strips also prevents acne.
7. Codonopsis and Lotus Seed Chicken Soup is beneficial for women with irregular menstruation and men with insufficient kidney 'qi'. Codonopsis 15g, sea buckthorn root 1.5g, snow lotus 3g, Job's tears 100g, a 1000g hen, appropriate amount of ginger and scallions. Clean and slice the Chinese medicinal herbs and put them in a gauze bag. Clean the Job's tears and put them in another bag. Clean the hen, remove the internal organs, and place it in a pot with water. Add the herb bags, scallions, ginger, and the Job's tears bag. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked. Remove the chicken, cut it into pieces, and put the Job's tears in a bowl. Add chicken broth and season with salt.