Watch Out, Max. It's Chinese New Year!

I have two daughters from China, and Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) is a big deal in our home. Lots of friends and family, home-cooked Chinese food and fireworks.

You may have heard that the Chinese eat dogs, and it's true, at least in southern China, where my younger daughter is from. So in honor of the holiday -- and as a warning to Max that he'd better behave -- here's a recipe for stewed dog.

Stewed Dog

Serving Size: 30

Preparation Time: 3 hours

6.5 pounds dog meat (Lamb may be substituted, but don't tell Max)

1 1/2 cups vinegar

60 peppercorns, crushed

6 tablespoons salt

12 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 cup cooking oil

6 cups onion, sliced

3 cups tomato sauce

10 cups boiling water

6 cups red pepper, cut into strips

6 pieces bay leaf

1 teaspoon tabasco sauce

1 1/2 cups liver spread

1 whole fresh pineapple, cut 1/2 inch thick

1. First, kill a medium-sized dog, then burn off the fur over a hot fire.

2. Carefully remove the skin while still warm and set aside for later (may be used in other recpies)

3. Cut meat into 1″ cubes. Marinade meat in mixture of vinegar, peppercorn, salt and garlic for 2 hours.

4. Fry meat in oil using a large wok over an open fire, then add onions and chopped pineapple and saute until tender.

5. Pour in tomato sauce and boiling water, add green peper, bay leaf and tobasco.

6. Cover and simmer over low flame until meat is tender. Blend in liver spread and cook for additional 5-7 minutes.