Simple V-Day snacks a kid can do... chocolate dipped strawberry and Tang Yuan

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Ingredient:-

I have not stated the amount because it is according to preference. 

Melted sweetened chocolate

Strawberries

Procedure:-

1. Hold the leaves of the strawberry. (Best way to do is to hold all the leaves so you have a stable grip)
2. Dip the strawberry into the melted chocolate, careful not to coat the leaves.

                   




















3.  Wait till the chocolate stop dripping and transfer onto a plate. Make sure to space the coated strawberries apart. Chocolate liners are optional.

4. Put in the fridge for half an hour.

Tah dah!!!

Tang Yuan

I actually wanted to make Yuan Xiao instead of Tang Yuan. However, due to having the wrong equipment, I have to abandon the plan and make Tang Yuan instead. Little one is helping me out to roll the read bean paste and hazelnut filling into balls. She did the same for the dough.

I love playing  experimenting with food. I suspect Yuan Xiao and Tang Yuan would probably taste the same.
Yuan Xiao's skin is coated by rolling the fillings on high side tray or large flat bottom serving bowl. As for Tang Yuan, it is made by rolling the dough into balls instead. In my personal opinion, making Tang Yuan is less messy and easier to make. Attaching a video to show the process of making Yuan Xiao.

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Below are my trial and error result for Yuan Xiao Making. After which turn into various variety of making Tang Yuan

Red bean and Hazelnut paste

Try mixing flour in a 20cm bowl 

Try mixing in a 20 cm plate yields better result

Very lightly coated, powdery coating makes them look like mochi

After steaming.... it's a no wonder they say need to coat more than 10 rounds.

In the end make Tang Yuan instead. The middle one is Xiao Yuan.

Dump all the 7 balls into the soup... and after 10 mins... what happen to my Yuan  Xiao? It had dissolve completely in water, turning the water brown!

My very big boiling Tang Yuan

Steamed Tang Yuan 

Steamed Tang Yuan and Muah Chee

I don't really like Celebrating V-day...

I don't really like celebrating Valentine's Day 
While I was in Secondary, Valentine's Day (V-Day) is friendship day to me. We make or send little gifts to friends. (Okay, I do enjoy celebrating then but I don't do it every year. Strange, isn't it? )

Somehow, over the years, V-Day just get too commercialised that I do not feel like celebrating outside nowadays.

A lavish romantic dinner can easily cost a hefty $60 for 2. (hmmm... what if we have to bring the little one along? How much more to pay for her dinner?)

Roses are particularly expensive during this period of time. I had always wanted some during V-Day when we were in courtship but it never happen. The only flowers I received was that bouquet during our ROM. It was enough. That was one of the sweetest moment in life. Maybe when a thing is scarce, it is precious.

How to make it special?
Today is a Special Day. Even more special that the Western Valentine's Day (falls on 14th February each year) coincides with the Lunar Lantern Festival, which is also known as Chinese Valentine's Day (元宵节, falls on 15th of the 1st lunar month) Celebrate with your loved ones. It is not necessary to spend hundreds on this day. It can be achieve just simply by doing a card, a craft or even a simple dinner. What is most important is share the love. Listing down the reasons why you love each other can be very sweet.

Now that I am  Stay- at- Home mom, we have to spend money even more wisely. Banquets die within a week. Why not save the money for the little one or for emergency? Try making felt roses like this one below.

Little one is growing up and we are teaching her love. Love is free and it doesn't cost a thing.
As today is Lunar Lantern Festival, we would be making Yuan Xiao (Sweet dumpling made of glutinous rice flour) to celebrate as well as to signify reunion and happiness.

And yes, I am thankful for my husband. Grateful for all the support he has given me. Yes, let's make it work!

We are likely to stay indoors this Valentine. However, readers, if you plan to go to somewhere near Esplanade tonight, you may want to consider the following event.
Love ♥ Songs 情歌
Date : 14 FEB 2014
Time: 7.30pm , 8.45pm & 10pm
Venue : Outdoor Theatre
Cost : Free

What is it?
A variety of popular Mandarin love ballads, performed by HuiBing, Junxiong, Jixiang, Boon Chye and Peter

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Valentine and Lantern Festival | 5 Valentine Crafts + 1 Lantern Craft

This year,Valentine's Day (14th of February) falls on the same day as Spring Lantern Festival 元宵(the 15th day of the 1st Lunar Month). Probably you are not aware, Spring Lantern Festival is also known as Chinese Valentine's Day. The Chinese does not celebrate the same way as the Westerners but as globalisation starts, there could be a mix of East and West culture. Traditionally, the Chinese would eat Yuan Xiao （元宵）on this day, paper lanterns would be display around the town. This marks the end of celebration of the Chinese New Year. This is one of the few occasion, young ladies especially from rich families are allow to roam the street to enjoy the lights. Lantern riddles are attached beneath lanterns and the literate young men would be guessing the riddles. This is also the time young men get to meet young ladies. And hence, the Spring Lantern Festival is sometimes referred as Chinese Valentine's Day.

As both Valentine's Day are approaching, I am sourcing for crafts to do, if  I could afford the time. Surprisingly, I have yet to find a East meet West fusion kind of gift idea... hahaha...  Now sharing some of my favourites. Please click the link to the various tutorials.

5 VALENTINE CRAFTS

1. Heart Felt Flower Hair Clip

I simply adore these hairclips! All are made from heart shapes felt! Perfect for Valentine. And I think they would look great on little one's hair!

2. You blow my heart up

Wow! A statement with impart! Check the craft out! And it comes with a printable tag!

3. Heart wreaths

If only I could get some lovely long twigs, maybe I could do one to decorate my home. If you have Pussy Willow 银柳 as Chinese New Year decoration at home,  probably you can do with that.

4. Window Dollies

This craft is simple to make. It's a pretty sight at the window. Suitable for toddlers to do.

5. Fingerprint Frames

This frame is Fabulous! I simply love it. Little kids can join in the fun too!

1 LANTERN CRAFT

1. Chinese Red Lantern

This look a bit like the usual paper lantern we used to do in school but this is made from Paper Cup! Click to read the tutorial. Seem relative easy to make!

If you do find or have any idea on fusion crafts to make for Valentine's Day, feel free to drop me a comment!