Saturday, February 13, 2021

Chinese New Year Food: Oranges, Yu Sheng, and home made pineapple pastries

 


Oranges are sold in large quantities to give to friends and family and neighbours. I took two to give to a Chinese friend who met us for a day before Chinese New Year Reunion lunch on their day off work. I gave her the two oranges. She looked extremely pleased and then gave them back to me. Apparently that is ok, to reciprocate with the same, even passing back the same set. It is like replying to a Christmas greeting, or sending a Christmas card when one is sent to you.



We bought the Yu Sheng, a Singaporean custom. In the time before Covid-19, the Toastmasters club meetings used to have Yu Sheng in the food break.

Now in 2021 because of Covid-19, we are fanned from tossing the food in the air with the chopsticks (for good luck) and shouting greetings.


We bought Yu Sheng from the supermarket. It is delicious. So many ingredients, all different colours. Crunch sesame seeds. Sweet sauce. Shredded vegetables. 

Fish of your choice. We added smoked salmon on the second day.

We gave two oranges as a greeting to our Chinese neighbours in Singapore.

They reciprocated with pineapple tarts, home made by a family member.


Pineapple decoration in the condo complex by the swimming pool.


Pineapple tarts sold in bakeries and supermarkets.

 Pastry balls with pineapple filling.

We looked up the recipe on line. One pineapple can make as many as 50 to 100 tarts! You put ten in a box, so that would be 5 to 10 boxes to give to family and friends.



Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusheng

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pineapple_tart

https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/food/festive-food/types-of-mandarin-oranges/

About the Author

Angela Lansbury teacher of English (advanced and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, aspiring polyglot.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Member of many toastmasters  speaker training clubs and speaking contest judge.

Angela Lansbury, the author of 20 books including Wedding Speeches & Toasts, and Quick Quotations, has lived in the USA, Spain and Singapore. 
She  has several blogs and writes daily on at least two of the following:
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