Chinese, Western, Malaysia best foods and recipes blog

Chap Goh Meh and Total Lunar Eclipse on 20th February 2008

The finale to Chinese New Year celebration is Chap Goh Meh or in Hokkien means 15th night. It is a day when fair maidens will go out for a night with their chaperon on a full moon night. Of course, I must mention that the Chinese Lunar calendar uses the numbers based on the moon. The first day of the lunar month is when the new moon appears. Therefore, on the 15th of the month or chap goh meh, we get a full moon.

However, do you know that on 20th or rather 21st for us over here in Malaysia, there is going to be a total lunar eclipse?

In the late night hours of Feb. 20, 2008, a total lunar eclipse will dazzle the night sky. And this lunar eclipse may be worth staying up for, because it will be the last one until December 2010.

Residents of the Americas, Europe and Africa will have the best view of this eclipse.

Here in the United States, the entire eclipse will be visible for the majority of the country. However, residents on the West Coast will miss out on watching the early stages of the eclipse, as it begins before moonrise.

(Source : NASA)

Unfortunately, or fortunately, we won’t be able to witness the lunar eclipse. Fortunately is because some fengshui masters said eclipse is bad luck. Whatever…

But what is most interesting on Chap Goh Meh is the orange throwing event by the sea. Long time ago, as in 60 years ago maybe, the girls were not allowed out of their homes to mix with boys. However, on Chap Goh Meh, they were let out of the home and they would throw oranges and make wishes. In Hokkien, it goes something like “Tim kam, chua ho ang” or “Throw Mandarin orange, marry good husband.”

Of course, no one throw oranges for that purpose anymore, I think? There is always online dating websites. LOL.

And the sweetest thing on Chap Goh Meh is the pengat which Penangites cook. I have the
recipe for pengat also on Food Haven. As a Penangite, I must insist again that Pengat is NOT bubur cha cha. Once you tasted our authentic Penang Pengat, you will know what I mean.

I have bought all the stuffs meant to cook pengat. There are still many ingredients which I haven’t bought yet. So, watch this space for the pengat recipe.

Popularity: 45% [?]

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Recipe : Chinese Sweet and Sour crabs

To make sweet and sour crabs that packs ooomph, you actually need only a few basic ingredients which are easily found in most kitchens. The key to make a tasty dish is to keep tasting it yourself. Very simple, right?

Here are the ingredients :

RECIPE FOR CHINESE SWEET AND SOUR CRABS

About three crabs or 600 grams
1 large onion, cut into quarters
2 tomatoes, quartered
1 stalk spring onions or Chinese celery for garnishing

POUND OR BLEND the below

2 red chillies

1 bulb garlic, peeled

1 large size ginger

1 tablespoon of fermented bean paste (taucheo)

FLAVOURINGS

1-2 tablespoon of white vinegar (you can get this cheap cuka buatan for mere RM2 and below, it has a very strong smell)
5-6 tablespoons of tomato ketchup
5-6 tablespoons of chili sauce
sugar, salt and pepper
Oil
One egg - beaten

I used flower crabs which is sweeter and although the flesh is not as solid as mud crab, this flower crabs make the best sweet and sour crab dish because it soaks up the gravy very well.

METHOD FOR SWEET AND SOUR CRAB

Heat some oil and stir fry the pounded ingredients till fragrant. Add in the crabs and continue frying. Add in the flavourings except the egg. Usually, it is not necessary to add water because the crab will have leave some juices. Otherwise, add just a little to cover all the pieces of the crabs. Leave to simmer for around 30 minutes.

Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add more vinegar, sugar or salt if needed.

Just before you turn off the fire, add in the beaten egg and give the crab a good stir so that the egg makes the gravy thick and creamy.

This is a very tasty dish, best eaten with white rice or toasted bread. Normally, we do not like order this dish when eating at seafood restaurants because it is really messy and disgusting to be seen sucking and licking those fingers covered with the yummy sauce. Anyway, I can cook an equally evil dish at home at a fraction of the cost outside, so that makes up for it.

The flower crabs are very expensive. The three crabs above cost RM26, at RM32 per kilograms. However, they are really fresh and the female crab is stuffed with roe.

Popularity: 30% [?]

Chinese almond cookies - Recipe?

Updated : The Chinese almond cookies recipe is over here.

I have the Chinese peanut cookies recipe which is the cookie normally baked for Chinese New Year. I wonder if I can use the same portion to make almond cookies, replacing the peanuts with almonds.

I had searched the internet and none of the recipe looks like they are what I want. Many of them add egg which usually is not meant for cookies like these. Egg will make the cookie expands, right?

So, anyone have any idea about how to make the almond cookies like the above? I bought a little jar for RM17. It is so crunchy and crispy and there is a little piece of almond inside the cookie. Nice!

Jars of kueh kapit at the shop. (This is from Ang Hoay Lor Restaurant. A girl sells these cookies outside the restaurant.)

BTW, if you like Chinese New Year cookies, now is the best time to indulge as they are freshly baked and you can start spreading the fats out instead of pigging out in the last few weeks. Hehehe. I spent RM70 on just three jars of kueh kapit and this cookies. My kids had finished one jar of kueh kapit already. RM18 in one seating. I told them it is time all of us learn to make kueh kapit already.

Popularity: 34% [?]