Chinese New Year Treats

Last weekend, we celebrated Chinese New Year at our flat and in the run up to that there's plenty of work to be done. If I was at home in Malaysia, I think my mom would usually be doing most of the cooking. Haha. Hi Mom!

Pris and I wanted to feel like we were back home, so of course that meant a ton of prep for Chinese New Year. This also meant a lot of baking and working with pastry; something we're both not very experienced with. But you know, it was Chinese New Year, so we gave it our best shot :D

Oranges are pretty much a must at CNY, they're a symbol of prosperity and you never give just one orange because it's bad form. Also, giving two oranges is supposed to be more "balanced" or something - as in, yin yang and all that. 

Pris making the filling for the curry puffs! I was so happy when she told me she was making these. Curry puffs are just one of those things you grow up eating in Malaysia. I guess you can think of it as a Malaysian curry pasty, maybe? They sell them in school canteens and on the street, even in the Malaysian branch of Ikea! Well they used to, I'm not sure if they still do :/ 

Om nom nom. 

Learning to fold curry puffs - which was quite tricky. So they turned out a bit wonky, but who cares? They taste so damn good and you can't really tell once they're fried anyway. 

Thank you, Priscilla! 

I made some chocolate chip cookies from a recipe my cousin got me but they turned out just a little bit overcooked... That's really just an excuse to eat them all with milk :) 

They look pretty good I think. Haha. 

We also made mini cornflake cookies! 

Made 100 of these little babies.

And then we had a go at making the classic Chinese New Year treat, pineapple tarts!

Made the pineapple jam and pastry from scratch. The pastry turned out a bit thick but oh well. I think the jam was quite nice if I do say so myself :) 

First batch - before going into the oven.

Second batch - coming out of the oven. 

These were quite a challenge to make I think. Also, the second batch was much better than the first - a nice golden brown colour. The first batch was more pineapple scone than pineapple tart haha. Well, could be worse I suppose. And with that we spent CNY eve cooking up a storm and finally went to bed at 2am. Well worth the effort and I can proudly say that (although they need improving) I made pineapple tarts! Hurray!