恭喜发财 Kung hei fat choi

Happy New Year!  Today we're gonna celebrate the Chinese New Year; we're now in the year of the horse.

If you haven't kept your New Year's resolutions, look, you can start again at this point!  Yay.

We are going to look at Chinese food and music and see what it's all like (the former I only know from Chinese restuarants, we haven't really done much beyond stir fries at home).

Brought to you by the letter T

This evening we wanted to make Tamales.

I have tried to think of a groovy theme to go around that and I am just going with the letter T.

In the picture Cookie monster is telling us about the letter T via the medium of the story of how he was so hungry he wants to eat his hat (that's a T).  I hear where he's coming from.

So food and music beginning with T.  Not inspired, but whatevs.

Green Day

A green day is a wasted day smoking weed.  I am far too old for that, but in my mind, a green day is one where you truly set out to accomplish nothing.  Not in a depressing bad way, more as in there's nothing to achieve and just do pointless stuff and no chores.

I think everyone can benefit from one of those, and especially people like me who are too frenetic.

Green Day are obviously a band, and one that fits into the pop punk genre that Ian likes.

Duets

This week we're looking at foods that go hand in hand and music where a couple of people are duetting.

Off the top of my head I can only think of duets being a cheesy thing to do and can't think of anyone cool who has partnered up.  I hope to be surprised.

Hustle

e is writing this week.

We are going to look at the conmen of the food world. She's been watching a lot of the TV series Hustle this week - hence the title.

Can't go wrong with a cheeky con.

Red pepper or scary monster? -->

Thanksgivukkah

Last night was both Thanksgiving (US) and the first day of Hanukkah.  Apparently they won't overlap again until 2070.  So I am sure we'll celebrate then too.

I don't know much about Jewish traditions, only odd things like you shouldn't have lasagne as it has both meat and dairy (they can have tuna lasagne which sounds delish anyway).

Dog days

Tonight's theme is dedicated to man's best friend.

Today we bought a dog.  I have been wanting a dog for a while and narrowed it down to a beagle being the dog of choice.  After thinking and researching and thinking yet more about how our lives would change, we brought Cooper home today.

We decided on a name a few week's ago, making it all a bit more real.  His full name is Cooper Black Bold, which is after an iconic font (you may know it from the Easyjet logo).  It's an awesome name I think.  And more people and dogs should be named after fonts.

He will be more of an observant of this FridayDateNight as I don't think he is partial to themed cocktails.  I am sure he appreciates the sentiment of the playlist dedicated to dogs and food around his heritage. Or, you know, doesn't notice at all.