A Sweet Ending

 

Bowls of sweet Bubur Cha Cha to end off the Chinese New Year.  

Happy Chap Goh Meh and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year Ahead!

Loh Hei - Tossing Up for Good Fortune

 

Organizing a reunion dinner can be very taxing and this year, my aunt who hosted the dinner, said she was stressed out making calls to the restaurant, checking their menu and reserving a private room.  Thanks to her efforts, we had an early reunion dinner on 26th January (to accommodate her children and their busy schedules). My aunt had chosen a fairly new restaurant in town to try them out and we were not disappointed.  The food was good and delectably presented.

We began with Loh Hei (tossing of yee sang) to the shouts of auspicious words which was fun and set the right mood for a reunion dinner.  A relative took a video of us in action but unfortunately my aunt has not sent it to me yet.

Some pictures below:

We call it "Yee Sang".  The restaurant's version is black truffle salad with whelk,
jelly fish, veg and mixed fruit

Roasted piglet 

Braised South African 5-head Abalone with
mushroom and broccoli

Other dishes (not shown) included double boiled superior shark's fin soup with fish maw and scallop, steamed leopard coral fish with soya sauce and wolfberries and braised noodles with lobster and scallions.  The dessert, chilled avocado with coconut and hashima ("snow jelly" ) was heavenly and to round up, we had new year "nian gao" with coconut shavings on top.  

 

Our grateful thanks to our aunty for arranging this dinner and may she be blessed with added strength and stamina for next year's dinner! 😆😆

The Rush is On!

With Chinese New Year around the corner, the rush to get ready for the big event is on!  I see dozens of people at the market and of course finding a place to park is a big headache. This makes me think back of the time when Mum was alive.  It was amazing how much energy she had going to the market everyday before the advent of the new year and buying everything she needed from a to z, (mainly for the altar at home).  Here are some pictures of her hard work in decorating the items for worship.  But she enjoyed every minute of it because to her, the Gods deserve the best!  I miss you, Mum!

Wise Words?

 

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?