Even though New Years has already passed over a month ago in America, it's still a recent event in Taiwan because Chinese New Year was celebrated on Feb. 1st according the lunar moon calender. Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is one of the most important days in Taiwan and other parts of Asia just like in America. Family and friends get time to enjoy with each other and celebrate. Its a time where people pay respects to their ancestors and Gods and decorate their houses to get ready for the new year. Many families and friends travel to each other exchanging good wishes for the new year and decorate their houses with paper scrolls saying "good fortune", "wealth", "longevity", etc. On New Years Eve, families will have a huge dinner, where each food has a different meaning such as the radish rice cake that means "prosperity" or dumplings that will help you amass fortune and wealth. After that, family members will hand out red envelopes to elders and kids filled with "lucky money" to bring in the new year. The days following after are filled with worshiping their Gods and performances from lion and dragon dancers on the streets. The ending festival is on the 15th day of the first moon and known as the Lantern festival, where lanterns decorated with birds, beasts, historical figures are carried by children and adorn temples. Here's the recipe to make your own Taiwanese New Years rice cake:
Ingredients:
Native or Thai rice 600g
Radish 1800g
Dried shrimp 38g
Dried shiitake mushroom 6 pcs.
Bacon 1/2 cup
3 cups of water
Cooking sheet, 1 sheet
Seasoning:
3 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon of pepper
1 teaspoon of sugar
1.5 teaspoons of Aji-no-moto
4 tablespoons of salad oil
Wash rice and soak them in water overnight.
Drain water from rice.
Add 3 cups of water to rice and turn them into puree with a food processor.
(Divide into twice or three times depending on the amount)
Cut radish into strips.
Soak dried shrimps and mushrooms in lukewarm water.
The cut dried shrimp, mushrooms, and bacon into small pieces.
Put salad oil into a frying pan, and fry the ingredients and then the radish.
Add seasoning. Add 2 and mix them enough.
Spread a cooking sheet into a steamer basket and put 5 on it.
Boil water in a steamer pot.
After water comes to a boil, put 6 on the pot.
Steam for about an hour over a strong fire and enjoy!
You can eat it plain or you can fry it with oil to give it a more savory and crispy flavor.
sources: http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/culture/lunar-NY/, http://www.s-i-a.or.jp/english/mimitaro/38eng.htm
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