Chinese New Year

TWD @ Chinese New Year:

Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread

The onset of Chinese New Year brought truckloads of opportunities for baking and feeding the crowds craving for a little piece of sweet nothing even after their more than satisfactory meals. In all respect of the nature of this week's TWD challenge as posed by Heather of Sherry Trifle (check out her blog for the recipe!), I decingingly baked the Fresh Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread as a tea time treat for the Aunties visiting my Dayima's house on new year's day. To be honest, the recipe was a real hassle, requiring freshly grated ginger, ginger powder, melted chocolate and chopped chocolate bits. All a little too much for lazy me of course. But the end result made it all worthwhile. What burst out of the fridge after a quick blast to set the chocolate glaze was a ligh, moist and subtly spiced cake balanced by the inclusion of everyone's FAVOURITE... chocolate. I could live with this combination forever!

With the lovely confection transported to the aunt's house without a taste test on my part.. i was strangely confident that this would be a hit over with the aunties. And truth to be, upon reaching the gates of the house, with my freshly baked crostata di mirtillo e cocco in tow, I was greeted by praises that the cake went down lovely with a cup of tea. Destination: Cloud 9...

So I would like to pose a major thanks to Heather for picking this week's recipe! Sure was a winner in my books!

for more versions of this beauty. please tune in to the TWD blogroll!

Moving on.. Here are some photo collages from the many Chinese new visits to my relatives houses that I thought would be nice to share. Tumultous amounts of loading up on foods.. new year goodies. It's no wonder many go back to work/school after the festivities with an extra paunch. ARGH...

at my dayima's place on New Year's eve. Stupid Brother had to pick some silly game for all of us to play. And of course I can recognise my own mother's face blindfolded!!! haha.

the next day @ my er-yi's place for steamboat. I swear that the amount of food purchased was enough to feed at least 30 people! to think we only had 15 at the table.. haha. That's the thing about CNY, MORE! but never less... haha.

then a little midnight shopping with Babe and his family @ Mustafa Little India. The spice alley.. oh my gosh!!! I just get so excited thinking about it!

The next day was spent at my ah-ma's house for lunch and then dinner again at Dayima's house with the extended family. No photos to show though. Had my taste of chinese new year again after a continous run-away from the hustle and bustle over the past years, Kuantan in 2006 and Pulau Lang Tengah in 2007 (still one of the most spectacular island scenaries I had ever seen). A taste of family gatherings and nonstop reunions from house to house, guess I would be suffering from withdrawal effects. And after pushing away the notions that I had once hated Chinese New Year for its mundaness, I actually enjoyed myself this year. How often do you get to see all your relatives, (catch up on the latest gossips), enjoy good food and what not in a short span of 2 days?! What more could I ask for seriously.. haha.

More visiting to do today though.. sigh. Do come back for a slice of my crostata di mirtillo e cocco later!

Thank you dear for being with me through all of the rough times,

riding the waves together...

You're my solace.