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Also known as Sticky Cake, this New Years dish is traditionally fed to the Chinese Kitchen God, so that he will give a favorable report on the family's behavior throughout the previous year when he returns to heaven.
Feel free to substitute other dried fruit or a combination of dried fruit and nuts for the jujubes.
Ingredients:
* 3 1/4 cups (1 400 gram bag) glutinous rice flour
* 2/3 cup brown sugar or 2 slabs (about 5 ounces) Chinese brown candy (peen tong in Cantonese; pian tang in Mandarin)
* 7 ounces boiling water
* 1/2 cup Chinese dates, softened in water, cut in half, pits removed, or 1/2 cup other dried fruit
* 1 tablespoon milk
* Water, as needed
* 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray
Preparation:
1. Prepare the wok for steaming.
2. In a bowl, mix the boiling water and the sugar, stirring to dissolve. (If using peen tong, break the candy into several pieces, so that it will dissolve more easily in the boiling water). Cool. Soak the Chinese dates in hot water for at least 30 minutes to soften. (You can also soften them quickly by placing them in a bowl with water and microwaving on high heat for 30 seconds). Cut the dates in half and remove the pits.
3. Place the glutinous rice flour in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and stir in the sugar and water mixture. Add the milk and begin shaping the dough. Add 1 tablespoon of water to the dough at a time, until you have a smooth dough with a satiny texture. Incorporate 1/2 - 3/4 of the Chinese dates, nuts or other dried fruit as you are adding water and working with the dough.
4. Grease a 7-inch square cake pan with vegetable oil or a non-stick cooking spray. Place the dough in the cake pan and spread it out to the edges. Decorate with the remaining dates, lightly pushing them into the dough. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
5. Steam the cake over medium-high to high heat for 45 minutes, or until the edges of the cake pull away from the pan. Remove the cake from the heat and cool.
6. Use a knife to loosen the edges, then remove the cake. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate overnight.
7. To serve: Cut the cake into quarters, and then into thin slices 2 – 3 inches long and 1/4-inch wide. You can serve the cake as is, or reheat it in the microwave (the amount of time will depend on the size and power of your microwave – start with 10 seconds and then microwave an extra 5 seconds if needed) or re-steam it for 4 – 5 minutes.
You can also pan-fry the cake, dipping the cake slices in an egg wash before frying. Use a small amount of oil so that the cake will not taste oily. Heat the oil on medium-high to high heat, then turn the heat down to medium and brown the cake slices briefly on both sides
