Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year!

Actually, Chinese New Year (CNY) begins on February 17, 2007, but our local FCC (Families with Chinese Children) chapter in Gainesville had their 2nd annual CNY Celebration on February 10, 2007 in Gainesville.

This is year 4705 by the Chinese calendar which is a calendar based on the lunar rotation whereas our calendar in the West is a solar calendar. This is the year of Ding Hai or the year of the Pig (boar).

According to legend, being born in the year of the pig means that you are chivalrous, strong, gallant, and tremendously honest. Those born under the sign of the boar do not make many friends but those they make are for life due to their loyalty. Here in the Register clan, we have a rat (Connor), a ram (Spencer), a tiger (Huey), a snake (Linda) and a monkey (Mikayla).

We had a great time at the CNY celebrations. There was food, crafts, activities, a silent auction, and a finale of a dragon parade, firecrackers, and a stage show. The stage show began with 10 adorable little Chinese ballerinas, followed by a Chinese story reading, and progressed to a Chinese folk song performed by Jen Mei (a student at the University of Florida). The night finished with a group shot of all Asian children and the receiving of a red gift bag full of goodies for all our newly aged children.

(click on the collages to enlarge).

Chinese Moon Cookies

With the Chinese New Year officially just one week away, I decided to try out my recipe for Chinese Moon Cookies. These are a traditional favorite during the Harvest Festival and Chinese New Year (CNY). I am told that these cookies often have a filling inside as well, but I thought it best to crawl before I tried to run. Hence, I made just the basic cookie.

I purchased two traditional wooden molds to use on our cookies. I followed the recipe carefully and lovingly tapped out my batch of Chinese Moon Cookies (with Daddy's help). They were brushed with egg white and sprinkled with colored sugar and baked at the directed temperature and for the directed time.

Since I have never tasted the authentic product, I will assume that they have turned out correctly. They are a different type of cookie than we are use to but that really doesn't matter. All that matters is that Mikayla knows her culture is one to be honored and observed.

Oh, and by the way, the boys have discovered they taste great with some icing on the top!

Okay, so Chinese Moon Cookies with American Icing....we could be on to something!