Dong Zhi Tang Yuan (Glutinous Rice Balls)

Happy Winter Solstice (Dong Zhi 冬至) everybody.


I got up early this morning to make some tang yuan (湯圓) which is enjoyed by many Chinese families, normally celebrated around 22 December.

Together with Hubby and the little one, we made some. To me they all turned out beautifully, does not matter that they are different or odd sizes but made as a family.


This is a simple recipe, made enough for three of us, please double, triple, quadruple...the recipe to fit your family. 

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Santa's Fruitcake

A Christmas fruitcake

I have a 20 year-old recipe shared by an elderly aunt. I've been making this fruitcake for the last 6 years for Christmas and Chinese New Year too.

It's not complicated, not too sweet or oily but flavourful and colourful. Don't worry if you don't have rum, I used brandy here. 

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Hello December 2011

Should be "Hello Christmas"… which is more like it! 

I’ve just got back my laptop after having it being classified “Requires Hospitalisation” for some major repairs. I wish I'm smarter then all I needed to do would be to hook it to a life-support machine, cut it open, change some organs, prescribed some antidote...run some tests and voila! 2 follow-up checks and everything will be fine...no more amnesia!

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Muffins...muffins again

Chocolate Chip Cranberries Nut Muffins and
Chocolate Chip Walnut Muffins


Using the same recipe here, I made more muffins with dark chocolate chips, dried cranberries and chopped almond (almond nibs).


Chocolate Chip Cranberries Nut Muffins

Same recipe
Substitute strawberries with
1/4 cup dried cranberries (chopped)
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips and another 1/4 cup for sprinkling on top
1/3 cup toasted almond nibs or chopped almond


I stirred in dark chocolate chips, dried cranberries and nuts into the dry ingredients before pouring in the wet ingredients.


Sprinkle with more chocolate chips on top before popping into the oven to bake.

These muffins are really good, soft and fluffy and have subtle crunchy nuts.


Another, variation : Chocolate Chip Walnut Muffins
Substitute Almond Nibs with toasted chopped walnuts

It's time to get some nuts into your child's diet... and not just for children but good for adults too. :-)

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