A Comprehensive Look at Snacks on the Winter Solstice Southern and Northern China's Winter Solstice Festival Foods

It's December, December, and there are always small expectations, such as it's almost the winter solstice, it's almost Christmas, and it's almost the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.Porridge It's almost the New Year, it's almost the Chinese New Year... and so on, with ordinary but extraordinary scenery, full of warmth. Everyone lives their lives in their own way, sometimes smiling, sometimes frowning, and thinking about what to do for family, friends, or themselves during each different small festival. Even a small, insignificant meal brings warmth.

As a homebody like me, of course, I'm also looking forward to the first winter solstice of December, and what new feelings it can bring to families in the north and south.

The winter solstice is also called the winter festival, and the customs in the north and south are different. The north usually eats wontons and dumplings, while the south eats glutinous rice balls. In fact, after thousands of years of development, different places have formed unique seasonal food cultures, such as wontons, dumplings, glutinous rice balls, red bean porridge, millet cakes and other dozens of dishes. Now, not only on the winter solstice, but also throughout the year. Ingredients: main ingredients: 200g of glutinous rice, appropriate amount of peanuts, appropriate amount of sugar

　　Steps:1. Wash and dry the mung beans, then stir-fry in a pot over low heat until cooked.2. Add the cooked mung bean powder to a food processor and grind into a slightly granular powder.3. Put the ground mung bean powder back into the pot and stir-fry over low heat (do not add oil during this process, otherwise the beans will burn). Add sugar according to your preference.4. Knead glutinous rice flour into a soft, ear-shaped dough. Let it rest for 15 minutes.5. Roll into balls according to your preference, then cook in boiling water (add cold water during cooking to ensure that the inside and outside are cooked thoroughly).

6. After cooking, add the cooked mung bean and glutinous rice balls and eat. In the Jiangnan region, there is a tradition of eating red bean sticky rice with family on the winter solstice. According to legend, there was a person named Gong, who had a son who was naughty and caused trouble, and died on the winter solstice, becoming a demon and terrorizing the people. However, this demon is afraid of red beans, so people cook and eat red bean rice on the winter solstice to ward off demons and prevent disasters.Ingredients: main ingredients: 750g of glutinous rice, 250g of red beans, appropriate amount of sugar Steps:1. Soak red beans overnight and drain. 2. Wash 750g of glutinous rice.3. Wash the red dates.4. Put the glutinous rice, red beans, and red dates in a pressure cooker.5. Add appropriate amount of water.6. Cook according to the usual method for cooking rice.7. After cooking the red bean sticky rice, add sugar to taste. Tips:1. Soak red beans overnight for better texture.2. Stir-fry over low heat to prevent burning.

　　3. Grind the mung bean powder slightly granular, which is better for the taste. 4. Eat while hot.Four, rice time The winter solstice is one of the 24 solar terms, but the people of Fuzhou have a tradition of celebrating the "winter festival" and "family reunion festival" on this day, which is known as "winter solstice is like the New Year."So how to celebrate the "winter festival" in Fuzhou? In the past, people would gather together on this day, and before the ancestral tablets, they would rub "rice time" (a single character, xi ).The people of Fuzhou would also place a bamboo basket on the table, with a few red oranges, a pair of red chopsticks, and a paper flower. Rubbing "rice time" also means gathering together and celebrating, and "rice time" symbolizes "good luck".The people gathered around a round table, singing songs such as "Rubbing rice time to gather, the festival is like the New Year, adults have blessings, children have more, rubbing rice time together, I love you, I love you, I love you, brother..." Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

　　Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

　　Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

　　Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

　　Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

　　Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings. Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

Many of these songs have meanings of harmony, more children, and more blessings.

8. Bring water to a boil in the pot, add the wontons and stir to prevent sticking.

Add water twice during cooking to ensure the wontons are cooked through, then add the prepared green vegetables. and blanch them.

9. Prepare cold water, and remove the cooked wontons and blanched vegetables to serve.

10. Mix together red oil, chili oil, soy sauce, seafood sauce, and a cold dressing to create a flavorful sauce.

11. Pour the sauce over the cooked wontons and serve.

　　Tips

1. Cooking is a process of experimentation and creation. Try using salted vegetables as filling, which turned out to be a great combination of savory and delicious, especially during summer, it is not greasy and gives a refreshing feeling.

2. Vegetables cooked with sauce are also delicious.

3. The winter vegetables contain salt, so you don't need to add more salt.

　　Three, Dumplings Pumpkin Dumpling

Eating dumplings on winter solstice is a traditional custom in China, especially in the Jiangnan region. There is a saying that "Eating dumplings makes you one year older."Dumplings are also called "dumpling balls". Eating dumpling balls on winter solstice is also called "Winter Solstice Dumpling Balls". In the Qing Dynasty, people in the Jiangnan region used glutinous rice noodles to make dough, which was used to make bread and fillings, such as meat,apples, sesame seeds,radishes, etc. Winter Solstice Dumpling Balls can be used for ancestor worship, and also for exchanging gifts between friends and family. Old Shanghai people are most particular about eating dumpling balls. They would enjoy freshly made sweet white wine, flower cakes, and glutinous rice noodleson a family dinner, and then use meat to make a nest on a plate for ancestor worship. As a saying goes: "Every family makes dumplings on winter solstice, to celebrate the arrival of the new year."Dumplings are also a traditional delicious food in China. There are many famous dumplings in the north and south, such as Ningbo dumplings with thin skin and rich fillings, Changsha sister dumplings with pure white and crystal-like appearance and sweet taste, and Wenzhou County dumplings with carefully selected ingredients, sweet and fragrant. In addition, Taiwanese meat dumplings, Chengdu Lai dumplings, Guiyang eight-treasure dumplings, and Anqing Weijia alley dumplings are also delicious and unique. Nowadays, not only on winter solstice, but also all year round. Main ingredients:

　　200g glutinous rice flour, pumpkin, andpeanuts in appropriate amounts, and red sugar in appropriate amounts. Steps

　1. Put glutinous rice flour in a bowl.

2. After crushing and frying fragrant peanuts, add a little red sugar and mix.

3. Peel and slice the pumpkin and add it to the

microwave at high temperature for 3 minutes, then mash with a rolling pin. 4. Pour the pumpkin puree into the glutinous rice flour and mix well.

5. Roll the mixed glutinous rice flour into long strips and cut into equal-sized pieces.

6. Take a small piece of glutinous rice flour, press it with your thumb and turn it, and form a small nest.

7. Add the filling.

8. First, seal the edge, then slowly roll it into a ball.

9. Place the finished dumpling balls in a tray that has been greased.

10. After the water in the pot boils, put the dumplings in, and cook for about 3 minutes.

11. Pumpkin soup is nutritious, delicious, and beautiful.

Cooked.Tips 1. If the glutinous rice flour is too hard, you can add a little water to your hands to make it easier to roll.

　2. This time, we directly made the glutinous rice flour, which proved that the texture of the dumplings made with it is a bit rough. It is better to soak the glutinous rice flour in water and then make a batter. The dumplings made with the filtered glutinous rice flour will be more delicate and smooth.

3. The glutinous rice flour I made this time contains a lot of pumpkin, so I put the pumpkin directly in the flour, so I didn't need to add any water.

Four, Rice Balls---Winter Solstice Rice Balls

Winter solstice is one of the twenty-four solar terms, but the people of Fuzhou have set this day as "Winter Festival" and "Family Reunion Festival", and they say "Winter Solstice is as big as a year."

　So, how should the people of Fuzhou celebrate the "Winter Festival"?

In the past, people would gather together on this day, and before the ancestor's altar, they would make "rice balls" (one character, xi fourth tone).

When Fuzhou people make rice balls, there is a bamboo basket on the table, and there are red oranges, red chopsticks, and paper flowers. Making rice balls is also called "making dumplings", which symbolizes family reunion. The "rice balls" symbolize "turning over". The whole family would sit around a round table and while making rice balls, they would sing: "Let's make rice balls, let's celebrate the festival, let's have a happy life, let's have more children, let's make rice balls together, let's cherish our parents and siblings, let's cherish our brothers and sisters, let's be single and find a partner..."The lyrics all have meanings of harmony, having children, and longevity. Main ingredients:100g dried yellow beans, 220g glutinous rice flour, and appropriate amount of sugar.

　　Steps1. Soak dried yellow beans in cold water overnight, and place them in the refrigerator if it's hot.2. Wash and dry 750g of Thai glutinous rice. 3. Wash appropriate amount of red dates.

　　4. Put the washed Thai glutinous rice, yellow beans, and red dates into a pressure cooker.

5. Add appropriate amount of water.

6. Cook the rice according to the mode of cooking a large amount of rice, about 40 minutes.

7. After cooking, you can add a little sugar to the cooked yellow bean, red date glutinous rice.

Tips:

1. It is best to soak yellow beans overnight before using.

2. When frying, make sure the fire is small, otherwise the beans will burn and not cook through.

　　3. The yellow beans that have been fried will be more fragrant, and it is better to grind the yellow beans to a certain degree, so that the texture will be better.

4. It is best to eat it while it's hot.

Five, Red Bean Rice Balls

Rice

---Red Bean

Red Dates Glutinous rice In the Jiangnan region, there is a custom of eating red bean glutinous rice on winter solstice.Legend has it that there was a man named Gong Shi, his son was not talented and did evil, and he died on winter solstice. He turned into a ghost and continued to harm people. However, this ghost was afraid of red beans, so people cooked and ate red bean rice on winter solstice to ward off ghosts and prevent diseases.

Main ingredients:750g glutinous rice, 250g red beans, and appropriate amount of red dates. Steps

　　1. Soak red beans in cold water overnight.2. Wash and dry 750g of Thai glutinous rice.

　　3. Wash appropriate amount of red dates.

4. Put the washed Thai glutinous rice, red beans, and red dates into a pressure cooker.

5. Add appropriate amount of water.

6. Cook according to the mode of cooking a large amount of rice, about 40 minutes.

7. cooked red bean, red date glutinous rice. You can add a little sugar when eating.

Tips:

It is better to soak red beans overnight before using, so that the cooked texture will be softer.

Cooked red bean, jujube and sticky rice, add a little white sugar when eating.

　　Tips:Red beans are better if soaked overnight, so the cooked texture will be softer.