Tangerine Macarons and Happy Chinese New Year (大吉大利馬卡龍+恭喜發財)

January 31st marks the first day of Chinese New Year (CNY).  I’ve been busy baking, cooking, and testing out new recipes while re-visiting some of my all time favorite traditional Chinese New Year must haves.  To celebrate the occasion, I baked these Tangerine Macarons (大吉大利馬卡龍).  The pronunciation of tangerine in Chinese (大吉) sounds exactly like lucky, or fortune as well.  That’s the reason why tangerine is one of the symbols, and must-have's, for CNY celebration.



We have some relatives visiting us from overseas, so, I’ll keep this post nice and short.   I’ll try to post the recipe for these macarons on a later day, so please stay tuned.  Meanwhile, please check out other delectable CNY recipes at the bottom of this post if you’re interested.  As we say goodbye to the Year of Snake and welcome the Year of Horse this Chinese New Year, I want to wish you all good health, great fortune and have a wonderful celebration with your family and loved ones.  祝大家身體健康, 龍馬精神, 大吉大利, 與家人和親友有一個美好的時光。







Traditional Chinese New Year Recipes:

1) Chicken Pot Stickers:
The crescent shape of these Pot Stickers resembles the shape of a traditional gold nugget, in Chinese called (元寶). The dumplings represent wealth for the family.  (Please click here for the recipe and video demonstration)




2) Coconut and Azuki (Red Bean) Glutinous Rice Cake 椰汁紅豆糯米糕:
Rice Cake in Chinese (年糕) sounds exactly like "grow (taller) every year", these rice cakes symbolize growth and improvement for the year to come.  (Please click here for the recipe.)





3) Vegetarian Chop-Suey (羅漢齋):
As we enjoy many meat and fish dishes for the Chinese New Year, this Vegetarian Chop-Suey (羅漢齋) is a must have to balance out the diet.  (Please click here for the recipe)





4) Matcha Shortbread Cookies (抹茶酥餅):
A great homemade gift to bring when we visit our relatives during the CNY celebration.  (Please click here for the recipe)

  

5) Butter Cookies:
A great homemade gift to bring when we visit our relatives during the CNY celebration.   (Please click here for the recipe)






6) Homemade Fruity Pork Jerky (自家製果汁豬肉乾):
Meat Jerky is a popular treat for CNY in many Southeast Asia Countries. (Please click here for the recipe)