BUDDHA JUMPS OVER THE WALL RECIPE BOOK: A colorful cookbook that is also a cartoon manga? No way! This clever paperback written by Ying Chang Compestine and illustrated by Vivian Truong is a fun peek into kitchens and campfires of emperors and peasants during various Chinese dynasties. Your eyes will feast upon the cute characters in this graphic novel-turned-recipe collection. You’ll be amused with the back stories of the familiar and not-so-familiar dishes from provinces all across the country.
Did you know that beggar’s chicken is baked in clay because a beggar once stole a chicken, hid it in the mud, and then baked it over the fire because he was too exhausted to wash it off? Or that the Sichuan dan dan noodles are named because the vendor who made them would sell them in baskets on a bamboo pole? Dan dan means bamboo carrying pole in Chinese. The cartoon frames provide step- by-step illustrations, instructing even the novice chef on how to make all 26 dishes. Do pick up a copy for yourself or a friend. You will learn Chinese etiquette and how to make classic recipes while smiling from page to page. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes, 183 pages, published by Chronicle Books, $24.95. See www.chroniclebooks.com for details.
CLEAR TRULY WIRELESS EARBUDS: Love being outside while listening to music? Or want to listen to your stuff while in the same room with your loved ones watching their movies on the big screen? The new wireless open earbuds by ILive and Digital Products Inc. are a set of earbuds that bring clarity to your senses without breaking the bank. Priced at $89.99, the Bluetooth-supported innovation is designed to hang over your ears and enable you to move about freely. You can sweat and not worry about wetness affecting the product. A tap of the ear bud increases the volume and another tap decreases it. Clear Truly Wireless comes in either black or white and features a small, hard shell carrying case which also recharges the buds. Some users have complained the volume is not high enough, but I found it fine for my needs. You can also carry on conversations, so you can receive calls on-the-go within 59 feet of your phone.
I found that the ear hoops were a little klunky to set onto my ear, but once I got used to it, it was okay. With many competitors on the market, this unit provides features that may cost double with other vendors, so it’s worth a consideration. Your basic charge lasts between 5 – 6 hours depending on the volume. Take note there is training time to figure out how to use it, but if you have the inclination and desire, test drive and tune in. Clear Truly Wireless Earbuds (Model IAEBTO34B), $89.99. Go to www.iliveelectronics.com for details and purchase.
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