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CNY Cookies Are Back - 2

 

I finally found time to visit one of my favourite shops selling CNY cookies and as you can see, they have rows and rows of cookies for you to choose from!  In addition, they also have special CNY gift packs with a variety of goodies inside.  I settled for Potato chips and Almond Green Bean Cookies (made with mung bean flour) in the end.  The recipe for the latter originates from Macau and each little round cookie melts in your mouth, that's why they are so special .  Apart from cookies, the shop also sell nuts, local Chinese biscuits and snacks as well as "bak kwa" (dried meat, usually pork).  More pictures below:

Special gift packs

Macau Almond Green Bean Cookies

Dried "bak kwa"

It's still early, that's why the shelves are still full, but if I were to come back say in a week's time, I don't think I'll find any cookies left!

Wishing you in advance a prosperous Year of the Snake filled with good fortune, health, and happiness!

(Pictures courtesy of "Oloiya")

CNY Cookies are Back!

When I first saw these little titbits, they reminded me of worms but they're actually Chinese New Year cookies baked in the shape of "Loong" or dragon!  I was told that they were made by an enterprising elderly lady who had come out with a range of her own cookies.  They're made from good quality butter and contain less sugar.  Well I decided to buy a bottle to try and they are indeed less sweet, very good for the health conscious.  

Meantime, in other shops, I see endless rows of CNY cookies on the shelves ..... ya, CNY is down the road, so time to get ready, throw out the old and make room for the new!  

Happy New Year 2025

 

Pulut Pisang

 

On my latest trip to the market, I bought these two Pulut Pisang, a wellknown Nonya dessert.  It's glutinous rice with a piece of banana inside, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed.  I hadn't had it for some time and couldn't resist buying it.  However, my 90 year old aunt says that the

kueh nowadays cannot match the kueh of yesteryears.  "They're all out to make $ only and don't care about quality now," she quipped.  I must say I am inclined to agree with her.

Merry Christmas

....AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy Dongzhi Festival

 

Today, 21st December is an auspicious day in the Chinese calendar.  It's the Winter Solstice Festival or Dongzhi Festival.  

I had almost forgotten about this festival until a friend reminded me.  So this morning I bought some tang yuan for worship.  My mum, if she were alive today, would have been very upset, even angry if I had forgotten about this festival!  It has been celebrated for around 2,500 years and traditionally it is the time for families to come together to make (or buy if you can't make!) and eat tang yuan (glutimous rice balls), which are symbols of reunion and prosperity.  

According to my research, the tradition of eating dumplings on Winter Solstice began when a physician named Zhang Zhongjing noticed that the poor were suffering from chilblains on their ears.  He started making dumplings with lamb and other ingredients to distribute to the poor. (Lamb is thought to warm the body and strengthen it against the cold weather). 

Incidentally, the elderly still insist that one is a year older righst after the Dongzhi celebration instead of waiting for the Chinese New Year.  

Well, don't let that spoil your day, enjoy your tang yuan!  

Whatever will be, will be.

Christmas Blessings for All

 

Christmas is for giving

And for showing that we care,

For honoring the Christ Child

With the loving gifts we share.

The wise men gave of riches;

The shepherds, faith and love.

Each gift, in its own measure,

Was smiled on from above.

Let every gift be treasured;

Not always size or price

Determines the extent of love

And willing sacrifice

Handsome gifts with festive trim

Bring smiles of sweet content,

But modest gifts of humble means

are ofttimes heaven sent.

Whether it be large or small,

Each gift will share in part

The message of true Christmas joy

If given from the heart!

~ Iris W. Bray ~

 

Wise Words?

 

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

 

May the glow of the moon surround you and light your way to good health, happiness and prosperity!

(17th September 2024)

All About Mooncakes

 

Top L to R: Custard, Pandan, Lotus Seed Paste with
Single Egg Yolk, Lotus Seed Paste with Single Egg Yolk

Lotus Seed Paste with Single Egg Yolk

A friend has presented me with a box of delightful mooncakes of four different flavours.  This once-a-year delicacy is always welcomed and enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on 17th September this year.  Mooncakes are best eaten in small wedges with Chinese tea - a perfect combination - and this time I found they're not too sweet!  My friend told me she had bought them from a different shop this year and I guess their mooncake makers are aware of how health conscious people are today!

Here's a little writeup I saw in the net.

There is a folk tale about the overthrow of the Yuan dynasty facilitated by messages smuggled in moon cakes.

Mooncakes were used by revolutionaries in their effort to overthrow the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty, eventually resulting in the establishment of the Ming dynasty. The idea is said to have been conceived by Zhu Yuanzhang and his advisor Liu Bowen, who circulated a rumor that a deadly plague was spreading and that the only way to prevent it was to eat special mooncakes, which would instantly revive and give special powers to the user. This prompted the quick distribution of mooncakes. The mooncakes contained a secret message: on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, kill the rulers.

Another method of hiding a message was to print it on the surfaces of mooncakes (which came in packages of four), as a simple puzzle or mosaic. To read the message, each of the four mooncakes was cut into four parts. The resulting 16 pieces were pieced together to reveal the message. The pieces of mooncakes were then eaten to destroy the message.

(Story courtesy of Wikipedia)

Enjoy your mooncakes everyone and don't worry, there won't be any secret messages inside!

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