Katiebug's Journey: February 2008

Here are some recipes that were given to me for Moon Cakes if anyone would like to try them!

MOONCAKES

The Traditional Recipes350g fine white soft wheat flour from Hong Kong (sold in some Chinese provision stores) or good quality top flour

200 g Golden syrup

4 1/2 tbl vegetable oil

1/2 tbl alkaline crystal water (available from shops selling cake ingredients or from Chinatown

10 salted egg yolks

1 egg

1 1/2 kg lotus seed paste (called Ling Yong) 1. If you buy whole salted eggs, discard the whites and steam salted egg yolks for 3 minutes. Cool.

2. Sieve the flour onto a table. Make a well in the centre. Add the syrup, oil and alkaline water into the centre and slowly incorporate the flour into the mixture from the outside in.3. Mix till a soft dough is formed and knead well for 1 minute till the dough does not stick to your hands. Leave to rest for 15 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees C (300 degrees F).4. This dough will make 12 to 14 large mooncakes. Shape the dough into a roll and cut into 12 equal pieces.

5. In the meantime fill the mould with lotus seed paste - Remove it and weigh. Subtract the weight of a single portion of dough and the egg yolk and you will get the weight of the lotus seed paste that you need for each mooncake. Weigh the filling for each mooncake.

6. Enclose an egg yolk into a portion of lotus seed paste, shape into a ball. Flatten 1 portion of dough and place the lotus seed ball on the dough and then shape the dough around the ball.

7. Press the dough ball into a well floured mould and press it to fill the mould completely. Turn the mould over and hit it hard three times against the side of a table. On the third hit, the mooncake should pop out of the mould.

8. Put the mooncake on a well oiled baking tray. Sprinkle more flour into the mould and continue making till all the dough and filling is used up.

9. Brush some tap water onto the top of the mooncake. Bake in the centre of the oven for 5 minutes, remove, brush water once again over the top, bake a further 5 minutes before brushing beaten egg over the top. Bake 3 minutes.

10. Turn heat up to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F) and bake a further 20 minutes till the cakes are a deep golden brown.

11. Remove and cool overnight, turning the cakes upside down so that the oil from the lotus seed paste will seep to the top, making the pastry shiny. Turn the cakes back to the right side again. The cakes can be eaten on the second day.

LOTUS SEED PASTE

600 g dried lotus seed, washed and drained
450 g sugar
2 tbl Chinese treacle called Ma Ah Thong available at Chinese provision stores in Chinatown
2 1/2 to 3 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 tbl alkaline crystal solution 1. Put the lotus seeds in a large container, sprinkle 1 tbl alkaline water over the top and stir well to mix. Pour over enough boiling water to immerse the seeds and leave 1 hour.

2. Drain, knead the seeds to break them up. Wash seeds till clean, drain and add the remaining alkaline water. Mix well. Steam for about 1 hour till the seeds are very soft. Put into a food processor to make a fine paste.

3. Heat a wok (non stick will be ideal for beginners), add 4 tbl oil and half of the sugar. Cook till the sugar melts and caramelises into golden brown. Add mashed lotus seeds, REMAINING SUGAR and OIL and stir fry till sticky and thick. Add Chinese treacle and stir fry for a further 45 minutes till the mixture is very thick. Use a medium heat.

4. The paste should look shiny. Keep for 3 days before using. This can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 months.
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Chinese Moon cakes (home-style)

This simplified version of the traditional moon cake recipe is adapted from "Festive Food of China" by Deh-Ta Hsiung (Kyle Cathie Ltd., London, 1991).

4 cups flour, sifted
1 1/2 cups vegetable shortening or lard
2/3 cup water (approximately)
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pound sweet red bean paste (available at Chinese markets)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease two baking sheets.

Put 1 1/2 cups flour into a bowl or food processor and cut in half the shortening. Knead till smooth. Set aside.

Cut the remaining shortening into the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour. Work in the water, then the sugar and salt. Knead till smooth. On a lightly floured surface, roll into a sausage and divide into 24 pieces. Roll each into a round ball and flatten into circles with a rolling pin.

Repeat with the flour-and-shortening-only dough, making slightly smaller circles. Place these on top of the larger circles and fold four edges of the bottom pastry over the top one to make a square. Roll out gently into a rectangle. Fold the two ends into the center to make a square again and then lightly roll out into a circle, fairly thin.

Divide the red bean paste into 24 pieces, rolling each into a ball and flattening slightly. Place one in the center of each pastry and pull the edges together to enclose the paste, brushing with water if necessary to stick. Press a design into the top, if you like.

Place on the baking sheets and bake 20 minutes, till golden. 24 cakes.

China is in the midst of some of the worst snow storms in their history and the orphanages are suffering. Power and water supplies have been wiped out for as many as 8 days in some orphanages. They have no coal, running out of food, diapers, medicines. They are in desperate need of blankets. Orphanage nannies are having to walk for hours on icy roads and in freezing temperatures to get to the children, many of the nannies falling on the ice and getting hurt.

It is a very dire situation and getting worse. Snow is continuing to fall, buildings are collapsing under the snow, some orphanages are getting so desperate as they are considering doling the children out to anyone in the community who will take them in order for them to be safer and warm.

Banks are closed in China so funding can not be wired directly to places in need. Orphanages that have funding are using it up quickly as prices are soaring for necessitites as transportation of goods is shut down with many areas having roads that are inpassable.

There is an organization that helps orphanages in China called Half The Sky. They are not affiliated with every orphanage in China but can assist the ones that they are affiliated with. They have sites all over China and can purchase things in country or reimburse orphanages for what they have to buy to deal with the emergency.

If you are so inclined to donate to a cause, please consider giving to Half The Sky's Little Mouse Emergency Fund. Please click on the link to read the needs of the orphanages they have been in contact with. It's a very scary time for these children and staff. If you are able to donate, please check with your employer and see if they have a matching program, many will match the donation that you give.

Update on China's Spring Festival Storms
Here’s an update on conditions and needs at the institutions we've been in contact with. We’ll provide further information regarding these and other orphanages needing help just as soon as we have it. In general the needs are for fuel, food, disposable diapers, warm clothing and bedding. Prices are soaring because no goods can be shipped and cold weather has destroyed all winter crops. Half the Sky is responding to the emergency by getting funds directly to the institutions in a variety of ways.

Beihai, Guangxi – Although ill-prepared for the bitter cold, the institution has so far managed to keep the children warm and fed.

Changzhou, Jiangsu – suffered the largest snowfall in Jiangsu Province.
Several buildings have collapsed. But the institution rushed to prepare for the cold and the children are fine. UPDATE: The orphanage now reports they are running out of diapers and need 750 diapers per day for an estimated 10 days.

Chengdu, Sichuan – is experiencing the coldest winter in memory. They need a large room heater, diapers, shoes, socks and winter jackets. UPDATE: Chengdu repeats their request for a large heater and disposable diapers. They also request 80 warm quilts.

Chenzhou, Hunan – still facing the most difficulties of the orphanages we’ve reached. They’ve had no electricity or running water for 8 days and there is almost no possibility that power will be restored before New Year’s Eve (the 6th of February.) Because of the blackout, the hospital is closed. 20 children are ill and being cared for by institution staff as well as they can. The banks are closed so staff is contributing personal funds to buy food, coal and diapers. Prices are skyrocketing as all roads to Chenzhou remain impassable. UPDATE: The largest hotel in Chenzhou is running on one emergency generator and townsfolk who’ve been without power for days have filled all rooms and lobbies. There are very few places in town with even emergency power now. Hopes are to get some electricity by next weekend. UPDATE: The 20 sick children are being cared for by doctors from the local hospital (which is closed.) They are receiving IV's and medicine. Shi assures us that the children will be fine and that they will recover. They will feed the children and keep them warm no matter what. There is still no power. Families in Chenzhou are now rationed and can only buy 4 packages of noodles per family. The Civil Affairs Bureau delivered 3 sacks of rice to the institution. The are using candles but the cost per candle has gone from 20 cents to 5 yuan per candle. They are using coal to keep warm but the price of coal is skyrocketing. Two old people at the institution died. There are 800,000 migrant workers trapped in town that can't get out to see their families for Spring Festival. They expect another heavy snow tomorrow. We are in daily touch with the orphanage. They know that everyone is thinking of them and determined to get them the help they need.

Chongqing – warm and well, despite the terrible cold. UPDATE: Temperatures continue to drop - request warm blankets and floor mats.

Chuzhou, Anhui - has both water and power. Only public transportation has failed. HTS nannies and teachers are walking to work. They are leaving home extra early to be there for the children. UPDATE: Reports that their industrial clothes dryer broke down two days ago. They've tried to repair but it is still not working and they have no way to dry clothes and diapers in the cold. They ask for purchase of a new dryer and for disposable diapers.

Fuzhou, Jiangxi - lost power for a few days but now it is back to normal.
The snow stopped a couple of days ago but now is falling again. The directors and HTS staff have gathered all the children into one big room to keep them warm. They’ve bought New Years clothes for the children and will have a party no matter how bad the weather. This year, however, the foster parents will stay home to keep the children safe. The institution has enough food and water. They want us to focus on those in more serious trouble and ask us please not to worry.

Gaoyou, Jiangsu – Despite incredibly heavy snow, the children are warm and well.

Guangzhou, Guangdong – This city is truly unaccustomed to cold and it is getting more difficult to find necessities to keep children warm. They ask for 30 space heaters and warm bedding.

Guilin, Guangxi - has two broken HTS heater/air conditioners in the Infant Nurture rooms and they’ve asked us to replace. The rooms are very, very cold. They ask for more soft matting for the floors and also snow boots for our HTS nannies who’ve been slipping and falling in the ice and snow as they come to work. They are so ill-equipped to handle severe weather.

Guiyang, Guizhou – has seen ice, snow and now sleety rain. They need disposable diapers and some help buying food. UPDATE: Power is intermittant. They repeat the request for diapers and now understand that HTS has okayed the purchase.

Haikou, Haikou – Even sunny Hainan Island is experiencing a chill. The orphanage request a clothes dryer to keep the children in clean warm clothes.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang - Because of snow, they've been unable to get vegetables for several days. They request a subsidy to purchase food at higher prices and also ask for disposable diapers.

Hefei, Anhui – reports that they have everything under control and the children are warm and well-fed. UPDATE: The orphanage now realizes they will soon run out of disposable diapers. They ask for funds to purchase 7500 diapers.

Huangshi, Hubei – is in desperate need of disposable diapers. They ask for funds to purchase since goods can’t be sent to them right now. All heater/air conditioners have stopped functioning. They need quilts and warm clothes for the children. Several HTS nannies have fallen on the ice on their way to work and they need medicine to treat cuts and bruises.

Jiujiang, Jiangxi – had another heavy snow storm last night. Pipes have burst and the five boilers are broken. They are unable to bathe the children and are having trouble keeping them warm. They need quilts, bedding, warm shoes and space heaters. They need medicine for infant coughs and colds.

Lianyungang, Jiangsu – is doing the best they can despite the lowest temperatures in history. While they still insist we help others first, they do request winter jackets for the children, warm mats to cover the floor and bottles for babies with cleft lip/palate. The last item we’ll have to ship from Beijing as soon as we are able.

Luoyang, Henan – all is well. They are accustomed to the cold.

Maoming, Guangdong - This is the coldest, wettest winter in memory, but they have warm clothing and electricity. They ask for warm floor mats, 12 space heaters, warm blankets and some help purchasing food.

Maonan District, Maoming, Guangdong – In the sunny south, they have never seen this kind of cold and damp weather before. It’s been a month with another month in the forecast. They need space heaters. Local citizens have donated warm clothes and blankets for the children.

Nanchang, Jiangxi – asks for warm floor mats and disposable diapers. They need a working room heater. Their electrical supply has been sporadic and with only a small generator, they’re not confident they can continue to provide heat to keep the children warm. UPDATE: Their boiler for hot water supply has broken down. They ask for funds to purchase a new one.

Nanjing, Jiangsu – continues to manage, despite the heavy snows. They would like 200 children’s blankets but insist that we look after others with greater needs first.

Nanning, Guangxi – is experiencing its worst winter in 48 years. They are doing their best to weather the storm but could use 6 large space heaters,
86 warm quilts for our Family Village and disposable diapers. Like many places, they are having trouble finding affordable food right now and would appreciate a subsidy to help through this difficult time.

Qingyuan, Guangdong – Again, the lowest winter in history. Constant rain. The children all have colds and sniffles, no matter how many padded layers they wear. They ask for 7 space heaters and 55 padded jackets. UPDATE: With HTS funds, they have purchased 110 sets of quilts and padded jackets but have been unable to find heaters anywhere in Qingyuan. They are going to try to send someone south to Guangzhou to find heaters. UPDATE: They request 2500 yuan to purchase 8 heaters.

Sanya, Hainan – all is well in this southernmost tip of China.

Shaodian, Henan - HTS supports a Family Village here for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Due to the heavy snow and bitter cold, the children suffer from chilblains on their hands and feet. Water pipes have frozen and they are now able to get water only a few hours a day. Food costs are rising. Power supply is intermittant. They request heaters and cream for chilblains as well as a subsidy for food.

Shaoguan, Guangdong – needs disposable diapers for 27 babies. They need 3 large room heaters and warm mats for the floors. UPDATE: They request 21,500 yuan to purchase 2 large room heater/air conditioners, 25 winter quilts and enough disposable diapers to last 2 weeks.

Shaoyang, Hunan -has seen heavy snow every day for 20 days.There is sufficient water and, for the moment, there is power, so the children are warm despite daytime temperatures of -3C.However, 5 of 6 power poles have been downed by weather.Only one stands and the institution fears it will fall as well, leaving them without electricity.Much of the rest of the city is already dark. Children and caregivers continue to work and play together.High school students are cramming for exams and trying to ignore the cold.Everyone prays that the power pole will continue to stand. They request space heaters, warm clothing for 60 children and shoes.for the big kids. UPDATE: They request 14,775 yuan to purchase 15 sets of winter clothing, 35 pairs of winter shoes, 15 heaters and 1500 disposable diapers.

Wuhan, Hubei – is having a very hard time finding affordable food, “even cabbage.” They ask for food subsidies for the Family Village, 20 space heaters and 50 warm quilts. Heaters are working but there is no water for bathing. The local community has offered to take children in for the Chinese New Year and the institution feels this may be the best decision to keep them safe, so their requests are only for the Family Village.

Wuzhou, Guangxi – is enduring bitter cold. They need warm mats for the floors, disposable diapers, warm clothes and shoes for the children.

Xiangtan, Hunan - has had snow for the past 10 days. The main water pipe is “broken again.” There is no water for cooking right now but they do have electricity, coal and blankets. They are still able to buy food but prices have gone way up. Not all of the HTS nannies can get to work every day. They are keeping the programs going as well as they can and make sure that at least five nurturing nannies are there with the babies every day, along with the institution’s caregivers.

Xinyang, Henan – is accustomed to the cold and all is well. UPDATE: It seems first information on Xinyang did not come from director of institution. Today's news is not so favorable. It has been snowing since January 10 and temperatures are the lowest in history. Some heaters are broken. The institution has gathered all of the children together in the largest HTS activity room to keep them warm. Due to the weight of ice, the roof has cracked and there are leaks into some of the HTS activity rooms as well as the nurseries. They are installing a "temporary toilet' on the same floor as the big activity room so children and caregivers don't slip on the icy corridors and stairs. They ask for disposable diapers, winter clothes, cream for chilblains for the children's hands and feet. HTS staff continues to walk to work through the snow and ice; there is no public transportation. UPDATE: They request 66500 yuan to purchase 150 pairs of winter shotes, 12,000 disposable diapers and to repair the leaking roof.

Yangchun, Guangdong - r eports a need for space heaters and hot water bottles for 88 babies at two sites. UPDATE: Private orphanage on-site reports that they are making do with what they have and that, because others are worse off, to not make their request high priority. Will keep in touch.

Yibin, Sichuan – It’s a snowy day but it feels like the weather may be getting better. They’re not sure. They feel the county-level institutions are worse off than they are so the ask us to consider helping others before them. They keep the children warm in the bright rooms that HTS created and they say everyone is well so far.

Yiyang, Hunan – still has electricity but the water has been shutting off and on. They have stockpiled food for the children. The greatest challenge is for the nannies to get to work. Because the buses are down, they must walk on icy roads. UPDATE: They request 31,760 yuan to purchase 70 sets of winter clothing and shotes, 65 winter quilts, 20 space heaters, 3 boilers and enough disposable diapers to last 10 days.

Yueyang, Hunan - has no electricity. The one functioning power generator is being used in the children’s dormitory. They are relying on coal heat but the price has tripled in recent days. They are running out of food and have applied to the local Bureau of Civil Affairs for funds to buy more. Our HTS nannies have been walking for hours to get to work, often slipping on the ice, “even though they try to be cautious.”

To contribute to Half the Sky’s Little Mouse Emergency Fund to meet these emergency needs and others, click here Thank you again, everyone. You are just incredible! More updates soon.