'Dong Zhi' Festival

Today is 'Dong Zhi'. 'Dong Zhi' is the last celebrated festival on Chinese lunar calender. The Chinese words 'Dong Zhi', refers to 'the arrival of winter'. 'Dong Zhi' is the celebration of good year one has had. 'Dong Zhi' also known as 'tuan yuen jie' meaning reunion festival and one of the customs is eating the rice flour dumpling. The rice flour dumpling is also called as 'tang yuen' which means full reunion. Thus, eating 'tang yuen' on 'Dong Zhi' represents family reunion and harmony. Click here or here for more info.

Ingredients Dumpling Dough :

*

500gm glutinous rice flour

1-2/3(1-3/4) cups warm water

For fillings : chocolate chips, raisins & chopped palm sugar.

Method :

- place glutinous rice flour into a large bowl.

- slowly stir in warm water and mix untill became a dough.

- then separate into 2 or 3 portion for additional colouring.

- wrap in any filling as desired or just go plain.

- boil all the glutinous rice ball in another pot of hot water untill float.

- then remove the rice ball to the syrup water pot.

Ingredients for Syrup water :

3L water
sugar cane rock (sweetness as desired)
1/4 cup sago pearl (tapioca pearl)
pandan leaves
a few slices ginger

Method :

- boil all ingredients(except sago pearl) together.
- add in the sago pearl about half way of boiling time.
- off the heat when sugar is completely melted.
- place in all the glutinous rice ball and serve.
- for preparation of tapioca pearls click here for info.

My kids love having this kind of sweet dessert especially with palm sugar filling! While I, can at least take 3 bowls of this...hehehe.... I like drinking the ginger flavour syrup, taste really delightful! Hope you all will enjoy this.