The gentle breeze brushed against our skin as we sat outside, admiring the full moon. White plastic chairs and folding tables were lined up on our driveway, with lanterns hanging from the fence. The evening was packed with dinner, chatter, laughter, and, of course, mooncakes for all of our friends and family! This was our Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節).
The full moon is supposed to be the brightest and fullest on this day, and is a symbol of reunion. Mooncakes, resembling the shape of the moon, are beautifully boxed to serve as gifts to friends and family. There are many different kinds of mooncakes with different fillings, but the one I like the most is the Snow Skin Mooncake (冰皮月餅) that my cousin makes.
Her snow skin mooncakes are more colorful than the traditional mooncakes, with a delicate skin dusted with glutinous rice flour. The texture of the red bean paste filling perfectly complements the soft crust, bringing you satisfaction with every bite without being too sweet. This is something I look forward to every year.
With the Mid-Autumn Festival coming around in just a few days, you’ve probably already seen some mooncakes lying around in your house or at the grocery store. How will you safely celebrate your Mid-Autumn Festival while enjoying your favorite mooncake this year?