Tang Yuan or Winter Solstice Soup

Most people know December 21st as the first day of winter but did you know, according to old Chinese traditions, mostly celebrated in Southern China, it is also the night to make “tong yuan”, winter solstice soup for dinner. I’m usually not home for this, but this year, my family waited and made it on Christmas Day so I could partake. I’ve always been known as “soup girl” in my family because I love soups of all kind. This one is really a simple broth with just a few ingredients but the real beauty of it lies in the tradition of our family sitting around the table rolling out balls and then enjoying it together. It’s clean and light, yet comforting and tasty.

The name “Tong Yuan” literally means “ round balls in soup.“ The main ingredient of the soup, the “yuan” are small balls made of rice flour. They are chewy, almost like gnocchi but stickier. Some people have them sweet but our family always serves them savory. In olden times, the arrival of winter meant the farmers could stop working and celebrate at home with their families and a big feast. Some also say the celebration’s roots can be traced back to the Chinese belief in yin and yang, which represent balance and harmony in life. On the longest night of the year, the yin qualities of darkness are the strongest but also signifies the turning point, giving way to the light and warmth of yang. The round shape also reflects the togetherness and reunion of family. In Chinese culture, almost everything, and especially food, has a meaning - the name, the shape, when you eat it, etc.




Soup
Homemade Chicken Broth
3 daikon /turnip (“Law Bok”) peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
Shitake mushrooms
3 lap cheong (Chinese sausage) sliced
Fish Balls or Fish Cake sliced

Mix together, bring to boil, let simmer

Yuan
1c of gutinous rice flour
Roughly 4T warm water



Place rice flour in a mixing bowl. Add water a little at a time and knead to form dough. Dough should be sticky but not enough to stick to fingers. Take a section of dough and roll back and forth into long rolls, then pinch off a marble-sized dough and roll it between hands to form a ball, place on plate, but do not let them touch.  Try to keep the balls about the same size, although in my family since we all work together we end up making all different sized balls.








Boil a pot of water. Drop in dumplings and add 1c cold water to prevent sticking. As soon as they float, they are done, add to soup and serve with cilantro garnish.

Finding Inspiration in 'The Help'

As I began writing my book, I thought about the books that I read and noticed a trend in the themes I enjoy most - cultural stories, strong women, family, and history. I like to be transported to another time or place with strong characters that I admire and invest myself in. Of course, it makes sense that this would be the type of book I wanted to write. I recently read a great book, that fits these same characteristics. The Help by Kathryn Stockett tells the story of maids in the 1960s segregated Jackson MS. The families they help raise, the friendships they develop, the discrimination they face, the hardships they overcome. Beautifully told from the perspective of three different women, the Help is Stocketts first novel, based on her own experiences growing up. A story that she never got to tell until now. It’s inspiring to read someone’s debut novel about personal experiences from an untold perspective - and being so successful at it.

The Help tells the story of Eugenia “Skeeter” Pheelan, a recently graduated white woman and aspiring writer who begins collecting stories of the black maids who raise the children and run the homes. And Abileen, an African american woman who’s lovingly raised 17 white children. And Minny a tough outspoken maid who can’t stay employed, despite being an incredible cook. The book she writes is scathing and shocking and puts their lives at risk , but brings pride and hope to the black community who dream of a different world and gives Skeeter the courage to break boundaries and stand up for what she believes, while pursuing her dream. It’s an uplifting hopeful book, full of history, telling of a time period that is often written about, but not from this perspective.

The details are amazing, you can imagine the people, smell the food, feel their hope. Although times have changed, anyone can relate to the relationships, the hypocrisy and discrimination, the hope for a better world. It shows us how far we’ve come and yet how far we still need to go. And yet, the book isn’t one-dimension, they also show the real love they hold for the children, the hope they will grow up open-minded and the employers who treated them like family. For there were some of those as well.

It was a beautiful, well-written, inspired and inspiring book. It’s exactly what I needed to get back into my writing. What do you read to be inspired? What are some recent books you'd recommend?

A Chinese-Cuban-American Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to share with family, reflect on what you’re thankful for and eat delicious food. The first Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 by the Pilgrims when they had a successful fall harvest after a hard first year in the New World. By working together with their one time enemies, the Native Americans, the Pilgrims had enough corn, fruit, vegetables and meat to survive the winter, built sturdy homes and lived in peace. Based on Harvest Festivals from England, this celebration included both groups sharing food together. Today this tradition continues of good food and sharing time with families and friends.

Since 1621 many other groups from different countries have come to America and have adopted this tradition. And like those original Pilgrims, they bring their own traditions to the table as well.

In our family, Thanksgiving is an event. With about 50 guests this year, our food is both plentiful and diverse. Starting about 10 years ago, my mom began inviting some of our Chinese born relatives to Thanksgiving dinner. They had never been before but embraced the tradition. We would make the traditional Thanksgiving food, which many of our family members had never eaten before, while they provided the Chinese food. And my grandmother and great-uncle would include Cuban dishes as well - just to make sure everyone’s favorites are represented.

This year, we only had one Turkey (down from 3 last year) but supplemented that with a ham and a pork roast. We had the traditional sides - mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, corn and cornbread. We also had Chinese vegetables, Chinese chicken wings, lo mein, fried wontons and spring rolls. On the Cuban side, we had yellow rice, black beans and tostones. We had both baked potatoes and Spanish yams. Our dinner table is a smorgasbord that represents my family. A mix that seems overwhelming and at odds with each other at first, but finds a way to complement each other. And I am thankful for every one of them.

Every culture and family seems to have their own unique Thanksgiving tradition or food. What unique foods makes it to your Thanksgiving table every year?

Welcome!

When I was in 7th grade, we were tasked with writing a biography about a member of our family. I wrote about my mom. I remember afterwards my teacher pulled me aside and told me, it was one of the most interesting stories he had ever read. Years later, as I move into my 30s and looking for something to inspire me, I decided it was time to revisit this and research and write about my family and where they come from. I decided to write a book based on my family's journey from China to Cuba and to the United States.

I'm still in the early researching stage, but I'm feeling an itch to write and based on all the tips I've read about getting started, they all say to write every day. So I've decided to write my first blog ever and share my process, as I uncover the stories and reflect back on growing up in a house that celebrated both 3 Kings Day & Chinese New Year, where we spoke our own language - a mix of Chinese, Spanish & English and enjoyed fusion Cuban-Chinese food, before fusion was even popular.

Welcome to my journey. May it inspire you the way my family's stories have inspired me.