Nian Gao

My favorite part of the Lunar New Year, aside from the obvious red envelope, which I don't get anymore 'cause im an old fogey, is eating nian gao. I freakin' love that stuff. My grandma used to make it for me all the time. Sure everyone else would eat some, but I knew she really made them for me.

Traditionally, nian gao is eaten on the Lunar New Year, at least if you're Chinese. Usually I'm too lazy to make them myself, but my mom will at least make them as part of the festivities. It's actually quite easy to make. Buy a cake of nian gao from an Asian supermarket and slice it up. (Hmm, I still have a whole cake of it in my freezer.) Mix some flour and eggs and dip the slices of nian gao into the batter. Heat up a good amount of oil in a pan and lightly fry the nian gao. You don't want to leave it in too long or the whole thing will turn too gooey/soggy. It should still be firm when you remove it from the oil, because the residual heat will still melt it through. Yum!

Well, happy new year. We should get the day off. I think we deserve to observe at least one Asian holiday.

EVERY YEAR HIGHER AND HIGHER