Mid Autumn Festival -September 22nd

It is that time of year again! Time for Mooncakes! I love red bean paste mooncakes....but my pre-k peeps don't seem to like them as much as I do:) Here is a kid friendly mooncake recipe that Sophie brought to school last year and will bring again to school this year along with a story about the Mid-Autumn Festival. We decided on this book this year for Sophie's 4 year old preschool class.


Easy Mooncakes

Needed:
1. 1 Can Pillsbury "Grand rounds" refrigerated biscuits
2. Strawberry preserves (do not use jelly)
3. 1 egg

Here is what to do:
1. Wash your hands

2. Open and separate biscuits.

3. Working on a floured surface, press the biscuits flat into 3 inch circles, leaving the middle a little thicker then the edges.

4. Put a teaspoon of preserves into the center of each biscuit.

5. Pull the edges up over the filling and squeeze them together to seal. Make sure they're well sealed or the filling will leak out!

6. Roll the biscuits into balls and put them 2 inches apart on a greased baking sheet with the crimped side down.

7. Flatten them down gently with your hand until they're about 1/2 inch thick.

8. Beat the egg with one tablespoon water, just until it is mixed. ( I left this off due to a friend in Soph's class having a egg allergy)

9 Brush the mooncakes with the egg mixture.

10. Bake as directed on the package or until golden brown.

11. Put on racks to cool when done.

12. When cooled toss mooncakes in a gallon ziplock bag with some powdered sugar.

ENJOY!

Not to be missed!

No Hands But Ours has a listing of adoption related programing coming up in the next few months including Wo Ai Ni Mommy ( I have seen clips of this film and have some "opinions" but won't share those until I see the entire movie). Set your DVR's

Working on some stuff...

Hello All! I have pictures and stories to share from our latest "Summer Sisters" gathering. It was tons of fun and so cool to see all of our girls and one cute little boy running around the yard! Right now I have a house full of family but I promise more pictures later!



Sadly back to school is quickly approaching. Check out this site for cool back to school stuff! Click on the button and happy shopping!

I WON!

Ok I'll be honest I wish I was announcing that I won the lottery....but no dice. Gotta play in order to win:) BUT I did win a very cool Bento Cookbook from Lisa at Maisie Eats Bento. I have made lots of yummy food from Lisa's cooking blog Cook Lisa Cook. I highly recommend the mint fudge brownies, the lasagna soup...I love that soup, red curry soup and lots more. Lots of yummy stuff.

Thanks Lisa!!

Still Around...

I am still around. I am still reading blogs but not really commenting. I am ready for a fun and busy summer. I have had to put comment moderator on....weird sites leaving comments.... believe me you don't want to link to from here.....Hope everyone is doing well.

I'll be back when I have something funny or interesting to share:)

Peace

I Spoke to a New Mom on the Phone Today

It was truly the best phone call ever! Today my good friend became a Mom. I can't wait to meet their little polar cub! Now I will get to write a welcome home baby letter! The wait for a child does all kinds of things to friendships and truly who you are as a person. The particular waiting mama has touched my heart in a way that I can't explain. I cried when she called with her news! It is one happy day for many families who have endured this wait....but I am extra happy for this mama!


For Polar Cub and Mama Bear

Chinese New Year Dinner Menu

We will be getting together with friends next weekend to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. To be honest, for me all holidays revolve around food:) The Lunar New Year is no exception! This is what I have planned so far....please leave me your suggestions. One of our friends that will be coming has a daughter from Vietnam and a son from Korea. They will be bringing some yummy traditional dishes for each of their kiddos birth countries. We will of course have some Chinese dishes as well as some Indonesian dishes ( my mothers birth country). Looks like we will have lots of Asia covered next Sunday!!

On the menu so far:

• Nian Gao. Chinese Sticky Cake. This cake is said to make people advance towards higher positions and prosperity step by step....hey it's a recession we need all the help we can get!
  
• Chinese Tea Eggs- I can't wait to try these! My friend Liz will be bringing this to dinner!
• Char Siu Bau. Chinese steamed buns with BBQ pork. I bought these at an Asian market but this recipe looks good.
• Pangseet-Indonesian fried wonton. My kids loooove these!
• Bami Goreng-Indonesian noodles-this will be our Long life noodle dish. I am going to use long Chinese egg noodles.
• Chicken in black bean sauce- Yummy and shhhh I can make this in the crockpot:)
  
• Kerupuk- I grew up eating these at my Oma's house. You use them to scoop up rice and meat. They are yummy! My kids call the "Chinese Chips"
• Scallion pancakes- Did you eat these in China? I love these!
• Beef Randang- A spicy Indonesian beef dish
• Rice and lots of it!
• Oranges and tangerines
  

We will have a Vietnamese dish and and a Korean dish....can't wait to try those too! I need another chicken dish, maybe I'll make sate with peanut sauce, the kids love it.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!