Today is Bak Chang Day. (Bak Chang means Pork Dumpling in Hokkien).

Duanwu Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival (or Tuen Ng Festival (in Cantonese pronunciation) is a Chinese traditional and statutory holiday. It is a public holiday in China and Taiwan, where it is called the "Duānwǔ Jié" and a public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau, where it is called the "Tuen Ng Jit". In English it is also referred to as "Dragon Boat Festival", after one of the traditional activities for the holiday. (info from Wikipedia)

I call it Bak Chang Day because the festival is associated with Bak Chang. You see a lot of Bak Changs hanging around in households and many will make the Bak Chang yesterday itself or much earlier. Lots of exchanging Bak Changs too from one household to another.

Lots of auntie auntie were buying last minute stuffs at the market yesterday to make the bak chang. It was like Chinese New Year. They were excited and chattering about like little birds. *lol* As clueless as i am always, i didn't know it was going to be Bak Chang day today. (i wasn't called a banana for nothing)

My mom used to make one of the nicest sweet smelling Bak Chang's ever. I never did find any other Bak Chang close enough to hers. She used to make a lot of Bak Changs when we were little. We'll have it for breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner and supper. After a few days of eating Bak Changs, you'll even start dreaming of Bak Changs falling on you. *lol*

It is a very tedious affair. She'll wake up real early and get all the stuffs ready. Lay all the stuffs on the floor in bowls, plates and the glutinous rice in a big tub. She needed to sit on the floor because the strings to tie the Bak Changs were hanging on the door handle. hehehehe

When we woke up, we all all surround her like a surround sound system... and play with the stuffs. I never like the black eye peas (not the band Black Eye Peas) so i'll always have special orders. I'll tell her i want this and that.. and no black eye peas. Mom will wrap it up and tie a small string to indicate that is my order. After a while, we will start to disturb her to let us try to make our own Bak Changs. She'll give in and let us try. Usually we get too greedy and pack too much in the leaves. When we try and fold it back, it will burst! *LOL* Then she'll shoo us away.

I never did learn how to make Bak Chang when i grew older. Mom stopped making Bak Changs when we were older. It was way too tedious. And there's not so many of us around to eat it too.

Since today is Bak Chang Day or Duānwǔ Jié, i'll share with you what we have for dinner. Its not a feast but its our usual stuffs plus the Bak Changs i bought from the auntie in the market. That is me trying hard to keep up with traditions. Maybe i'll even attempt to make Bak Changs next year if i hear the aunties chirping a bit earlier about Bak Chang Day *LOL* I got to go consult an expert cook of an aunt first :D

Tadaaaa...

fried fishes

stir fried ladies fingers and kacang botol

old cucumber soup

bought Bak Chang to substitute rice
Mundane stuffs but its already a feast for the three of us. I think one of my sisters will be salivating over this food. *LOL*
Happy Duānwǔ Jié to those that are celebrating :)
Ops! I almost forgot.. i found this on Youtube this morning from The Star. If anyone is attempting to do this Bak Chang... here's how...

21 woofs:

Anonymous said...

I am salivating here...not only the 'bak chang' but all the dishes you cooked. Wow! Wish I was there to taste them. Mmmmmmm....
I remembered those days when mum used to make the 'bak chang'. How I missed those moments and wish we could turn back the clock!!!

Rozella said...

Wah got special order some more! So nice lah your mom! The dinner looks good I am sooooo hungry lah. Cepatlah lunch time!!!!! Hehehe

booahboo said...

i know either u or May will.. hahahhahahaaa
naw.. we can never go back.. live for today :) and just remember the memories.

booahboo said...

Yalaa Rozella.. i always got special orders cos i hate black eye peas and i hate red beans.. hahahaha.. i am so hungry too now.. u and i better go eat :D

Spiff said...

Wah Annyboo, am I invited to your house for dinner ah? The food looks yummy :D

And I love Bak Chang. Can courier some to me ah? Don't let that glut Hobbes know though!

booahboo said...

yummy ah? photography can tipu one la.. hhahahahhaa

err.. courier ka? i didn't make any.. i only bought 3.. one for each of us.. :) now all in our tummy.. and coming out soon :p

Nessa said...

Neither did I, I mean I had no idea yesterday was Bak Chang. Well, I guess I can be excused cos I'm not Chinese... but my neighbors are and I certainly didn't see them buying Bak Changs nor exchanging them... :)

I like the slightly sweet Bak Chang, not keen on those chestnuts and big peas. But I love the salted egg yolks :D *salivating*

Nessa said...

BTW, do you know how to cook ladies fingers without the glue oozing out?? I love ladies fingers but every time I cook them (sambal style), they're much too gooey.

booahboo said...

Ur excused for not knowing.. hahaha.. but i am no excuse :D

the slightly sweet ones i think are the nyonya ones.. or is it the yellow ones? smaller ones which u dip in gula melaka.. yums!
Bak Chang is available all year round now.. can just buy it in some restaurants.. :) go buy some :)

booahboo said...

u can roll roll it without oil in the wok first.. to lessen the gooey.. tats what my aunt told me to do.. before she cook the ladies fingers in curry..
my stirfry.. i fry it a bit longer.. less gooey.. but best is to just steam it.. and put some fried garlic n shallots.. tats the best :)

yoon see said...

I just have three yesterday.
I want more. I hope to eat as many as possible.
You are so good in cooking, you must organise one blogger meet up Anny!

TH said...

I ate them :) hehe.. its all the way from Porst Dickson.

TH said...

dont really like the fat meat.. eat it.. feel want vomit.. haha.. but not always like that..

Rozella said...

Come, come, come! Where you wanna go? I have a craving for northern indian food. Kekekeke And ice cream! Ohhh...maybe that pearl milk tea thing also. Hahahaha HUNGRY!

booahboo said...

wahhhhh.. u can eat three at once Yoonsee? thats a lot!
naw.. i m not good in cooking.. this is photography tricks.. *LOL*

booahboo said...

all the way from Port Dickson TH? wah.. ur Bak Chang got to come from so far.. hehehe

u shud try the Malacca nyonya ones since ur already at Port Dickson..

booahboo said...

too much fat in the meat also very yuckky to eat too.. hehe.. no wonder u feel funny TH

booahboo said...

North Indian Food? i like i likee... esp if i am eating with my fingers :D

booahboo said...

bubble tea ka Rozella? the pearl milk thingy?

Unknown said...

That bachang looks yummy for sure...but I think I should slow down on eating these for the moment...

booahboo said...

welcome to my blog Kate
yea.. go ez on the changs.. but its really delicious.. esp the home made ones :)

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