It’s the run-up to Chinese New Year and I’m sure many readers would be looking forward to munching on some great new year goodies. Store-bought is great and adds a touch of convenience – but I’m sure that many will agree with me that nothing beats home-cooked!
Nin Gao - cc image by Ju-x
Chinatownboy shares his memories of some of the new year cakes he and his family used to make: Kueh-Nern-Koh and Huat Kueh.
And for prayers, Mum would also start preparing to steam the Chinese kueh-kueh. One was the Kueh-Nern-Koh (Kai Dang Kohl in Cantonese or literally read as Qi Dan Gao in Mandarin). We youngsters, full of energies would be the best candidate to help beat the eggs. Often, we would use a big glazed earthen pot, which looked more like a garden pot without the holes. With a beater (that looks like a spring with a handle), we would have to beat the number of eggs cracked into the pot – gosh how many were there – until it seemed to grow in volume. We could not stop until Mum said so.
Read more here. What kind of new year goodies are you looking forward to this New Year? Does your still make goodies for the new year? If so, what are your family specialities?
2 Responses
Thanks for putting up the link. This really brings back memories.
I grew up in a family where my grandmother would make love letters, ji dan gao, and other goodies on CNY, on top of cooking for an extended, 4-generation family! Sadly, the knowledge and diligence passed away with her, and none of her SIX daughters, my aunts, ever learnt, or continued the tradition.
We live in a world now where increasingly, parents feel the need to shield their children from the rigours of everyday life and concentrate on school and work. I believe that, more than anything, has contributed to the fading of these traditions.
Posted on February 12th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Hi noelbynature,
Thanks very much for your interesting blog. It’s always nice to see how people on the other side of the globe live, how they share the same joys and sorrows, what they do in their free time, etc.
I actually have a question about your blog. Would you mind helping us with a linguistic research project? We’re compiling data from various Singaporean weblogs. All it requires is checking a few boxes. If you want to take part and/or have more questions, drop me a note ( hack2301@uni-trier.de RE: Question ) so that I can then send you the ‘official’ project eMail. We’d really appreciate your help.
Thanks very much in advance!
Best regards,
– Fran
Posted on February 13th, 2010 at 12:16 am
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