The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

20110203 Chinese New Year Celebrations

Yippee's picture
Yippee

20110203 Chinese New Year Celebrations

   

This year, I was home for the Chinese New Year.  Therefore, I got the opportunity to serve the daikon cake (籮卜糕) for my kids in the morning and take pictures of it.  On that day, in addition to the many dishes I normally prepare for the New Year, I also explored a traditional Cantonese New Year vegetarian dish (齋), one of the nostalgic comfort foods which my hubby had been craving for in the previous few weeks. Though it was not perfect to my husband's taste, adding a new dish to my repertoire excited me.    I was very content to be able to start a New Year by doing things I enjoy and I certainly hope this was one of the signs of a great year ahead.

 

Here are the pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58821372@N05/sets/72157626016271836/show/

 

Comments

MadAboutB8's picture
MadAboutB8

Gong xi fa cai, Yippee, Happy chinese new year:)

Daikon cake looks great.

Sue

http://youcandoitathome.blogspot.com

Yippee's picture
Yippee

Or, Gong Hey Fat Choi as we say it in Cantonese, to you, too!

Yippee

teketeke's picture
teketeke

Happy Chinese year, too  Yippee! 

I never have tried daikon cakes, but I love daikon! Do you have the recipe that you recommend?  I want to try it when I grow them :)

Best wishes,

Akiko

Yippee's picture
Yippee

こんにちは, Akiko:

There are many many recipes for daikon cake, it all depends on what your preference is.  Do you like it tender, do you like it a bit firmer or somewhere in between?  I only make this once a year for the New Year so I go all the way fancy but the ingredients can be very simple as well. Then of course, more ingredients, more work.    

So let me know what you prefer, I can pick the right ratio of ingredients for you. Or if you like it as is, that's fine, too.  And please also tell me when you expect to have your daikon ready for harvest, so that I can take my time posting the recipe.  As you know, I am really not a very prolific blogger....  ;) 

Yippee

teketeke's picture
teketeke

你好, yippee :)

 I don't think that you are not a very prolific blogger, as I know, you are a very talented baker and yes, you are very prolific blogger, Yippee.  I saw your wonderful baguettes recently. :)

I will probably harvest daikons around october.  I like tender one more than harder one, I guess. I appreciate your thoughtful response :) 

Now I am going to make banana shake for my daughter, she can't wait :)

Happy baking,

Akiko

Yippee's picture
Yippee

Hi, Akiko:

Here’s the recipe, I hope this has come in time for your daikon harvest.   

 

For a 10-inch round cake pan filled to 80% full

 

A. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3-5 TBSP oil

2 (finely diced) chinese sausage 臘腸

 5 (X-L) Japanese dried scallops 瑤柱(soaked until soft and pull apart like pulled pork)

 1 oz Virginia ham 金華火腿(finely diced)

 1 oz (medium) dried shrimp 蝦米 (soaked until soft and finely diced)

 optional:  rehydrated (dried) shitaki mushroom 冬菇(diced), cured Chinese pork belly 臘肉 (diced) 

 Stir fry the above ingredients until fragrant

 

B. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6 oz rice flour  

6 oz cornstarch

 14 oz chicken broth (1 can)

 Mix well until no crumbs

 

 C. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3lbs daikon (peeled and grated)

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------A + B + C and cook until daikon’s soft, about 5-10 minutes

The consistency I prefer is viscous, lava-like.  Cook longer if too watery, add broth if too thick.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

 

D. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sugar (a must to get rid of the slight bitterness of daikon), and salt to taste

 white pepper powder – dash

 

E. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pour cooked mixture in greased cake pan, and seal it with foil

 Steam on high heat for an hour

 

F. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Slice and serve as is after it’s COMPLETELY cooled, or

 My preference: 

 Pan fried with oil until golden brown and serve with Lee Kum Kee Chilli Sauce (李錦記橙色辣椒醬)

 

Enjoy!

 

Yippee

 

teketeke's picture
teketeke

 Hi Yippee,

You really remember it, and taking the time to write up for me. I appreciate your kindness.

I totally forgot to plant the daikon seeds this year... I have been occupied with 5 chicken ( one of them has been suffering from pendulous crop since she was born, so we keep her inside the house.) and a new large dog White German Shepherd that we got in 3 month ago beside other 2 small dogs.   I think that I try to plant the daikon today.  It may be okay to grow the daikon yet.

I will let you know when I try your recipe!  It sounds very good, Yippee. Thank you again.

Here is the sick chicken's picture, and some of them are with one of our dogs.

 

  Very best wishes,

Akiko

Yippee's picture
Yippee

Hi, Akiko:

What a warm, cozy, and harmonious scene you are presenting to us! I like the pictures of your pets (I suppose you don't raise your chickens for eating! :-)). One day, I'll show you mine! It sounds a lot of work if you're planting the daikon just to make a cake. To me, it'd be easier to buy some from the market to try out the recipe. Either way, I hope you'll enjoy it. Take care.

Yippee

teketeke's picture
teketeke

  Hi Yippee!

I am glad to hear that you also raise chickens!!  I'd like to see yours, of course!!

LOL...  Absolutely... I don't raise any chickens for EATING!!   Some of our friends including my husband teased me to cook the pendulous crop chicken to make a barbecue chicken for dinner sometimes because they know I really love her.  Her name is Bumpy. :) Every Chickens have a lot of personality, don't they?   I love all of our chickens.  Our chickens ( 4 Leghorns and 1 Dominique chicken) are 6 month old and the 4 chicken except Bumpy started to lay an egg when they were only 4 1/2 month old or so.   Their eggs are delicious.   How old are your chickens?   

Thank you for your advice about buying daikons!   When I found some good ones at the Korean store, I will buy them and let you know how it turns out!   I didn't plant the daikon seeds at the day.But, I am going to grow the daikon inside our house instead of planting outside for Daikon miso soup mainly.. If It grows well, I will make your cake, too.  

Take care, too!

Akiko

 

 

Yippee's picture
Yippee

Akiko:

I'm already pulling my hair chasing my kids around. I'll be insane if I also have chickens in my house! :-))

However, I do know what it is like when chickens are raised at home, cos my grandparents did that when I was a little kid. I still remember ploughing out the eggs under their nest and seeing the yucky stuff stuck on the shell ;-)

What I wanted to show you is something else, also edible if you choose to, but NOT chickens.

Anyway, I'm trying to find a girl friend for this relatively new pet in our house and start a family for him. I'll take some pictures of him and show them to you later.

It's always nice 'talking' with you.

Yippee

teketeke's picture
teketeke

  Hi Yippee,

You made me laugh!  I understand your situation of your children!  

It is quite busy to take care of the chickens and dogs and my children....  more cleaning and cleaning and cleaning

I usually get clean eggs though.. Although I see some eggs are dirty like you mentioned, and sometime there are blood dots on the shell and sometimes I see a blood spot in the egg yolk..       I had some chickens when I was little, too ( my grandmather didn't have chickens but PIGS!).  I didn't like to eat the eggs for some reason at the time... I remembered it..  Surprisingly, my 5 year old daughter doesn't like to eat our chicken eggs!      

I am looking forward to seeing your recent new pet !!  Very nice to hear that you are trying to find a girl friend! :)

I also enjoy to talk to you every time!

Talk to you soon,

Akiko