Foodie Friday: Kok Chai

Kok chai: golden fried puffs filled with sweet peanut bits Yes, the Lunar New Year feasting is still continuing in my household. I got a batch of homemade kok chai delivered to me (thanks, fam!). These golden pastries are also known as mini peanut puffs. If you’re a peanut lover, these are an excellent snack! They’re like fried dumplings but instead of being filled with meat and vegetables, they have sweetened peanut bits. The ones I ate also had yummy coconut pieces mixed … [Read more...]

Lunar New Year 2022

Happy Lunar New Year 2022! It’s time for snacking! Honestly, some of my favorite treats pop up around this season. I’m a sucker for those nut-embedded and sesame-studded sticks. They have that winning combo of crunchy and sweet. Tang yuan balls are also fun to eat. I didn’t grow up having these around Spring Festival, but I enjoy their glutinous chewy exterior and hidden interior treasure. (It’s no surprise that, of course, I like the tang yuans with peanut butter filling—see above … [Read more...]

Foodie Friday: Sesame Sticks

Sesame sticks: rectangular sesame treats If you haven't already heard, Monday marked the beginning of Chinese New Year. It's the Year of the Monkey in 2016 (the fire monkey, to be exact). Overseas, people get seven days off to celebrate the holidays. When we were visiting Taiwan, people looked at us funny because kids don't get winter break there--their time off is consolidated around the lunar new year. Besides meeting up with family, New Year is a great time to eat tried-and-true treats. … [Read more...]

Lucky Red Envelopes

"An avaricious person is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant." -Chinese proverb Nevertheless, a laisee always cheers me up. In fact, the upcoming lunar new year (January 31, 2014) has me thinking about these lucky red envelopes. They're given away on special occasions or holidays (especially the Chinese New Year). For years, fascinated by their beautiful designs, I kept a collection of them. (As you can see, I still have a couple stowed away.) A few fun facts about the … [Read more...]