A successful pop up!

It was HUGE success as we SOLD out every single bao and mooncake in less than 3 hour time! I was able to attract many even before our stand was fully set up (the poster!) So all the hard work last week was well worth it….Here I am doubting myself again (｡•́︿•̀｡)

✨Thank you @cyc_sf and @onerichmondsf for having me today! I had a blast sharing my special edition of the Mid-Autumn Festival themed baos and my homemade mooncakes. 🥮🌕🐇 Grateful for the beautiful weather, the friendly staff and the smooth set up. Special thanks to my sister #1 who stepped in when we needed most! Ah Lo had basketball games throughout the day, so he wasn’t able to help. It all worked out and I couldn’t be more thankful!

All set up for another Pop Up today on one of the busiest streets in the city.

A homemade poster board…

Look at this poster I’m using for tomorrow’s pop up event! If it looks homemade, well, it is…(⁀ᗢ⁀)

I can’t afford some fancy colorful board, so I just printed some color images, cut and paste onto a black foam board I found in my crafts corner. I love everything about it. I hope it will attract more people to stop by!

A Mid-Autumn Festival steamed bun…

Mid-Autumn Festival season is the perfect time to make lanterns, reunite with loved ones, and eat some mooncakes with a side of your favorite steamed buns, of course! 🏮🥮🎑

It has been so fun sharing what the Mid-Autumn Festival is all about and what each character in this special edition symbolizes!

Another mid-autumn festival story…

The second bao in this Special Edition Mid-Autumn Festival Themed is…the Jade Rabbit! 🐰🎑

🥮 WHO IS THE JADE RABBIT?

The Jade Emperor was in search of someone trustworthy, responsible, and honorable to manage the elixirs and pills created for immortality. He didn’t trust humans, so he came to Earth and decided to choose 3 between animals: a fox, a rabbit, and a monkey. He disguised himself as an old man to test their their virtues. He told them he was too weak to find food. The monkey and fox quickly offered food; however, the rabbit couldn’t find anything. Feeling guilty, the rabbit offered himself and threw himself into the fire. The Jade Emperor was moved by his sacrifice and gave the rabbit eternal life and full responsibility for the immortality medicines.

🥮 HOW DID JADE RABBIT END UP ON THE MOON?

One night, the Queen Mother of the West came searching for the immortality elixir. She became upset and aggressive when Jade Rabbit denied her request. In fear, Jade Rabbit handed over the extra immortality pill to the Queen Mother. The Jade Emperor found out about Jade Rabbit’s action and was furious. He gave Jade Rabbit the chance to choose his own punishment to which Jade Rabbit promised he would go and live locked away in the Moon Palace, with Chang’e, The Moon Goddess, forever.

🐰✨ The Jade Rabbit now symbolizes selflessness, piety, and sacrifice.

A moon goddess…

The first bao in my Special Edition: Mid-Autumn Festival Steamed Buns is… the 🎑✨MOON GODDESS✨🎑

🥮 WHO IS THE MOON GODDESS?

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the ancient story of the Goddess of the Moon, Chang’e (嫦娥) and her husband, Hou Yi (后羿).

Hou Yi was a famous archer and one day, he made a journey to visit the Lady Queen Mother, who granted him an elixir that would guarantee immortality once consumed.

Hou Yi returned home and gave the elixir to Chang’e to keep safe. However, a man named Feng Meng had an evil plan of his own. When Hou Yi was out on on a hunt, Feng Meng broke into the couple’s home in search of the elixir.

Chang’e, unwilling to betray her husband, quickly drank the potion in order to keep it from Feng Meng. The elixir of immortality caused Cheng’e to rise off the ground towards the sky and into the heavens.

Hou Yi watched as Cheng’e flew and landed on the closest celestial body to Earth – the Moon.

Hou Yi celebrated his wife by cooking all her favorite foods and placing them on an altar. Chinese people now pray for Chang’e, Goddess of the Moon, for peace and good luck.

A mid-autumn festival themed steamed buns…

How’s this set for the Mid-Autumn Festival pop-up event?

A pre mid-autumn festival meal…

Here’s our Mid-Autumn Festival meal. The actual holiday is tomorrow, and we’re going to my in-laws for a big feast. Back home, I made something for us today to welcome this big holiday. I was worried we didn’t have enough food because I didn’t do any grocery shopping this week. I just put together what we had in the fridge. Phew! Glad it turned out nicely.

A preparation…

Mid-Autumn Festival is around the corner so let’s start prepping the main course! I must say, after a few years of making the mooncakes, I find it easier and more comfortable handling it. Though I only make these once a year, I should be getting more practice with it.

I’m been waiting to use this mold. I ordered it last year when the season was over, so I had to wait for the entire year. I loved how this turned out and can’t wait to see the baked product!

A mid-autumn meal…

Happy Mid-autumn festival everyone! Today is also the lunar 15th of the month which is my veggie day. I wasn’t planning to make anything fancy for tonight, luckily I had some vegetarian dumplings to go with this perfect meal!.

A homemade moon cake…

I made a handful of moon cakes to share this year. Work has been taking a big toll so I don’t have time to experiment with them much. My boys are a big fan of moon cakes, so I still manage to squeeze some time to make them since it’s only once a year. Yes, yes – I know I can always buy them, but I just can’t stand how expensive they are.