
Today is the 15th day of the Lunar New Year, which is known as 元宵节 Yuan Xiao Jie to the Chinese. To the traditional babas and nyonyas, this day also marks the end of the almost 2 month long preparation which started at 冬至 Tang Chek, followed by making kueh bakol for ari datok naik, Semayang Abu or ancestral prayers on the eve of the Lunar New Year, and then celebrations of the Lunar New Year itself. It continues on with ari datok turun on the 4th day, and then Semayang Teekong starting on the night of the 8th day of the Lunar New Year where kueh koo merah are made as an offering, and finally today, which is known as Chap Goh Meh to the Peranakan Chinese.
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February 22, 2016 | Categories: Food, Simple Eats | Tags: bijik sagu, bubur cha char, chap goh meh, chinese new year, green beans, gula melaka, kacang ijo, keladi, keledek, kueh bakol, pengat pisang, sagu gunting, tnee kueh | 1 Comment

八宝粥, literally to mean “Eight Treasures Porridge” is a traditional congee concoction enjoyed on 腊月初八 the 8th day of the 12th month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, hence giving rise to its other name, 腊八粥. Having it roots in Buddhism, the history of this dish can be traced back more than 2200 years back to the Han dynasty when it was generally used as part of prayer offerings and not consumed. Interestingly during the Song dynasty more than 800 years ago , the folks then began enjoying this porridge for themselves, causing it to evolve and change to reflect the culinary characteristics of each period in history, as well as in accordance to personal taste and liking.
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January 19, 2013 | Categories: Food, Simple Eats | Tags: black glutinous rice, chinese barley, chinese yam, 瓜子, 白果, 百合, 糖冬瓜, 糯米, 紫米, 红豆, 红枣, 绿豆, dried apricots, dried fruit, dried longan, dried winter melon strips, Eight Treasures Porridge, 腊八粥, 芝麻, 花生, 莲子, 葡萄干, 银杏, 薏仁, 赤小豆, 黑糯米, gingko nuts, glutinous rice, goji berries, green beans, hinese barley, laba porridge, legumes, lily bulb, lotus seeds, melon seeds, millet, nagaimo, nuts, peanut, pine nuts, pulses, raisins, red beans, red dates, rice, seeds, sesame seeds, walnut, wheat germ, wolfberries, 养生八宝粥, 坚果, 大麦, 小米, 山药, 杏脯, 松子, 枸杞子, 核桃, 桂圆 | 17 Comments