Leftover Fried Rice? Put an Egg On it!

Look at how big and bright and almost orange my pastured egg yolk is! 

Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái! That means "congratulations and prosperity" in Mandarin and is a common greeting during the celebration of the Chinese New Year, which starts today. I went to elementary school in New York City's Chinatown, and the new year's celebration was so fun! Dancing dragons, long noodles, and—perhaps best of all—a red envelope with a quarter inside. (This was the 70's and a quarter could go pretty far at the candy store!) 

Whether you're making our Cauliflower Fried Rice or just picking up take-out, you may end up with leftovers. And one of the yummiest ways to enjoy leftover fried rice is to put an egg on it! I like to re-heat the rice in a frying pan to crisp up and warm through; then I remove it and fry the egg in the same pan (less clean-up). Place the egg on top, break the yolk and you've got a delicious "sauce" for your rice. I also sprinkle on some more chopped scallions and a bit of salt and pepper.

Note: It is recommended that only fully-cooked eggs be consumed during pregnancy, but you can certainly add a scrambled egg to the dish. If you're already at the breastfeeding stage, enjoy these runny eggs!

Did I mention how much nutrition an egg adds? Eggs are a great source of protein, of course. And pregnant ladies, take note: egg yolks are a fantastic source of choline, essential for healthy fetal brain development and preventing birth defects. Yolks also provide Vitamin D, so vital to both mother and baby, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you have access to pastured eggs, from a local farm or farmer's market, I highly recommend them; I get mine from the fabulous Stone Barns, just a few minutes from my home.

Don't forget to have an orange or tangerine for dessert: their sweetness symbolizes wealth and luck! 

Have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!