Saturday, April 29, 2017

Mugwort Steamed Cake 艾团/青团


Sometimes around Qing Ming/Tomb-sweeping festival, the Chinese will collect some Chinese Mugwort (艾草)to be hanging around the door, which is believed to be able to chase away unwelcome energy. It is also the main ingredient for the Chinese steamed cake Ai Tuan/Qing Tuan (艾团/青团)eate at or around the tomb sweeping festival.

My mom discovered a big patch of wild mugwort in the woods near my house during her visit few years back, she will bring back a bag full of the wild mugwort and boiled it down to be used for bath when she was feeling under the weather.

I have been meaning to make Qing Tuan by using the young wild mugwort nearby this year, since it is a wild plant and I want to make sure it is 100% safe to be eaten, I have done some research and found out that the wild mugwort near my house is the species Artemisia vulgaris, or common mugwort.

几年前我妈来美探亲时发现我家附近的树林里有一大片的野生艾草,她后来感冒的时候还摘了好些回来煮水泡澡。

清明前后是艾草春季出土的时节,我摘了一大包回家取嫩叶做青团,剩下的煮水给咳嗽的俊宝泡澡。

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Tea Smoked Chicken 【茶叶熏鸡】


I made this tea smoked chicken twice when I visited my family back home last month, everyone loves the richness in flavor and its juiciness.

Such an easy and delicious dish deserves a special place in my blog!

春节回乡时给家人做了这款茶叶熏鸡,大家都说非常好吃,后来又再做了一次,也是一上桌就吃光了。是道很省事,又很惊艳的宴客菜哦!