Panda cake: an animal-shaped moon cake I've written about mooncakes before. If you want to know their historical significance, check out my past blog post. Yes, it's time once more for the mid-Autumn Festival. This year it's happening on October 4th. I couldn't resist tasting this animal-shaped panda cake, though. It's got a traditional filling of lotus seed paste but in a super cute shape! Fun fact: I grabbed my box from a nearby Costco. That's right, now you can stock up! … [Read more...]
Moon Viewing
September 28, 2015 4 Comments
“You will soon witness a miracle.” Okay, so it’s not quite a miracle, but it hasn’t happened in 33 years. I was already primed to watch the night sky because of the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon is supposed to be big and bright. (It's also a fun time to eat moon cakes.) The blood moon was just one more reason to take a peek last night. As an aside, friends tell me they can see the lady in the moon when they look up. There's a Chinese myth that says the lovely Chang'e saved … [Read more...]
Spiral Mooncake
April 17, 2015 2 Comments
Spiral mooncake: puff pastry version of the mooncake Sometimes you can elevate mooncakes into works of edible art. When I first discovered these spiral-shaped pastries, I was fascinated. I have a love-hate relationship with mooncakes. Some taste just okay, but I love the symbolism behind them. Usually eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival, they're circular, dense treats. The beauty of spiral mooncakes is in their fluffy layers. Think: phyllo dough. Shaping the dough requires skill, and I … [Read more...]
The Importance of Moon Cakes
September 23, 2013 8 Comments
"It is easy to dodge a spear you can see, difficult to guard against an arrow shot from hiding." -Chinese proverb Moon cakes were the arrows in hiding, the secret weapons behind a historical Chinese revolution. These dense cake-like treats are filled with red bean or lotus seed paste. People enjoy moon cakes during the mid-Autumn festival. The moon is supposed to be the largest and brightest during this time of year, and it's an occasion for families to gather together. This year, August 15th … [Read more...]
