I got busy making some dumplings for dinner and while I'm not sure if my fortune will be made, they were certainly delicious and brought happiness to all. They're simple to make; everyone can join in and help (because of this, they also symbolize family unity). As I steamed them, they're pretty healthy, too! That's fortunate.
PORK DUMPLINGS:
500 grams minced pork
1 (+) tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons spring onions, finely chopped
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 egg, beaten (don't need all - a bit more than half)
200 grams sweetheart cabbage, finely grated (if you have Chinese cabbage, great, if not, use one that isn't too stiff - regardless, you'll be grating it so it won't make much difference what type you use.)
wonton wrappers (find in Asian markets - defrost if frozen)
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together with a fork until they're well combined.
Lightly flour a clean dry work surface and lay out individual wonton wrappers. Use a teaspoon to gather up a small ball of pork filling and place on each wrapper.
Use a pastry brush (or your finger if you don't have one) to moisten around the outside edge of the wrapper.
Gather up into a parcel, bringing opposite corners together, and pinch edges together to seal.
2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil (or honey), 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar.
They're so good, you'll probably need a few batches! While waiting for round 2, make up some batter for Fortune Cookies! These are definitely tastier than the take out variety, plus you have the fun of writing your own fortunes.
FORTUNE COOKIES:
1 egg white,
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
1/4 cup plain flour
1/4 cup sugar
Heat oven to 200ºC/180ºC fan oven/400ºF.
Have your family write fortunes on small strips of paper.
Butter 2 baking sheets.
Have an empty egg carton handy, if you have one.
In a small bowl mix flour, salt and sugar together. Mix well or sift so there are no lumps.
Put the egg white and vanilla in a separate bowl and mix until foamy. Fold the flour mixture into the egg whites and combine well.
Place small spoonfuls of batter onto the cookie sheet, leaving lots of space between each. You will probably only get about 6 on each tray. Use the back of the spoon to spread the batter into a thin round circle.
Bake for 5 minutes. The edges should start to brown.
Remove 1 tray from oven and immediately flip a few cookies over onto a clean work surface. Quickly put a folded fortune into the center of a cookie and fold cookie in half. Before it gets too cool, fold in half again and put into the egg cartoon to finish cooling. The egg carton will help it keep its shape.
*I would only take 2 off the hot tray at a time. The rest of the cookies will stay hot while you're arranging the first few. If they cool too much, they'll split as you fold them.