As is the case in many cultures, food is a major part of Chinese celebrations. For Chinese New Year, different foods can act as holiday symbols or represent wishes for the new year. Sweet rice cakes are one such food. The Chinese name for the cakes, nian gao, translates loosely to, "Every year, may you reach higher and higher," according to Steamy Kitchen. The cakes are eaten in hopes of "sweetening" your new year and bringing prosperity.
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Crack 3 eggs into a large mixing bowl. Add 2 cups granulated sugar; beat with a wooden spoon.
3. Add 2 1/2 cups milk to the bowl, pouring in a little at a time and blending the contents with the spoon.
4. Add 16 oz. glutinous rice flour the same way you added the milk in Step 3. Keep mixing until the ingredients are blended.
5. Mix in 1 tsp. baking soda.
6. Add 1/3 cup vegetable oil a little at a time while constantly stirring the ingredients. Keep stirring until the oil is completely combined with the rest of the cake mix.
7. Add 1 tbsp. vanilla extract and blend.
8. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with butter.
9. Pour the cake mix into the baking dish.
10. Bake the cake for 50 minutes.
11. Remove the cake from the oven. Let the cake cool completely before slicing it into bars and serving.
Tags: baking dish, Chinese Year, little time