Chinese New Year goodies

It's been a while, I know. This year started off so busy. Chinese New Year came and went and all I have left are these fond memories of making a dozen pies of Lor Bot Go, (or LBG as I like to call it). Lor Bot Go is a savory steamed turnip cake with Chinese sausage, mushrooms, dried shrimp, and topped with chopped cilantro or scallions. You can eat it steamed or pan fried, hot or room temperature. It's one of those things you can find at dim sum, a delicious brunch item that goes great with tea.

The ingredients: Fresh white turnips (or daikon radishes), Chinese sausage, dried mushrooms, and dried shrimps

A food processor is extremely useful for shredding the turnip. Otherwise a cheese grater works. Boil shredded turnip in salted water.

Dried mushrooms are great. Just soak em overnight and save the water for cooking.

Dried shrimps are salty and pungent, and adds a nice dimension to the turnips.

Dice up the mushrooms, shrimps, sausages and stir-fry with some garlic.

Rice flour for the "cake" part.

Mix all ingredients into a sloppy slurry.

Divide and steam until solid. The best thing about steamed cakes is that there's no such thing as over baking.

Same thing for steamed cakes, (but that's a different post!)

A little Happy New Year card, a nice ribbon, and there you have it! A nice traditional little food gift for friends and family!