Sweets

Some of you may or may not know that Chinese New Year(also known as Lunar New Year) is coming up soon. This year it falls on February 14th, right on Valentine's day and this year is the year of Tiger! CNY(Chinese New Year) celebration usually begins on the first day of the first month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th day of the first month. As for the year of Tiger, there are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, one animal for each year. These are the animals, in order(which I've this memorized since I was little), The Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat/Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig/Boar. You can click on the links above if you would like to read more.


"So what do you eat on Chinese New Year day(s)?" I can already hear you asking that question.
Well, today I am going to talk about the Sweets/desserts for CNY. I will write a different post on the food later. For each sweets, I have included a link, in case you are interested in reading more.

From left to right(top): Nian Gao, Kuih Bangkit(white ones) & Honeycomb cookies(brown ones), Kuih Bahulu From left to right(bottom): Kuih Kapit, Dried Prawn rolls(little springrolls) & Peanut cookies, Kuih Bangkit Pictures taken from goseasia.about.com and knowingfood.com

1) Nian Gao - Also known as Sticky Cake, is made from Glutinous Rice(also known as sticky rice). Nian Gao can be eaten year round but is very popular during CNY. There are a few varieties of Nian Gao(from different regions) but the ones that I grew up eating is the Cantonese version pictured above. A fresh Nian Gao is very very sticky. It can be eaten as is, plain, or dip in coconut flakes. It can also be sliced(usually mom used stale hardened nian gao), dredged in flour and fried(then it becomes crunchy on the outside from the coating and gooey and sticky on the inside). We used to eat it by getting a chopstick(not a pair but just 1) and twirl it in the sticky mess(it will start sticking together and make like a lollipop), and eat it! Yum!

2) Kuih Bangkit - These cookies, I believe, are staples in the Southeast Asia around CNY time. Kuih Bangkit are made with tapioca flour and are usually made with a mold(for the pretty shapes). These cookies just melt-in-your-mouth. I have never made them before, so I may try making some this year.


3) Peanut Cookies - Oh, my all time favorite CNY cookies! Not to be confused with PB cookies. These cookies are made with grounded peanuts, instead of peanut butter. I have just found this recipe, might give that a try as well.


4) Kuih Kapit - Also known as Love Letters, are very popular during CNY. These cookies are a little similar to the traditional Italian waffle cookies, Pizzelle, but are made with a different type of mold and with rice flour and coconut milk. The end product is a very thin and crispy cookie. The making of the cookies are not as easy because it's hot and you have to move fast. You can check out here for some pictures. Making Kuih Kapit is definitely a family affair. We used to make Kuih Kapit together. Mom and dad would be in charge of the molds(adults or mature individuals only) because it involves sitting in front of a charcoal burning grill or devise and flipping and moving the molds so that the cookies don't burn. When it's done, peel the hot cookie off the mold and send it over to the "folder". We, the kids, are the "folders" as in cookie folders, folding the round cookies in half and then in quarter(to make the triangle shape). We would have to work fast as well because once the cookies cooled, it becomes crispy. So in order to get the pretty shapes, cookies have to be folded while still hot. Of course we used to purposely "messed up" a few so that we could snack on them. :)

5) Honeycomb Cookies - Also known as Kuih Bunga(Bunga means flower in the Malay language). These cookies are made with a special flower shape mold, hence the honeycomb/flower shapes.

6) Kuih Bahulu- These are really not cookies but little cakes, just like the Madeleine cakes.

So, are you drooling yet? How many pounds have you gained just reading this post?