WeLoveBlog#028: Moonlit Celebrations: Crafting Memories with Healthy Mooncakes, Bunny Lanterns, and Full Moon Feasts

This Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a time for family reunions but also a wonderful day to experience the beauty of traditional Mid-Autumn customs through hands-on activities with your loved ones. In this festival symbolizing harvest and togetherness, join us in making low-sugar healthy mooncakes, bunny lanterns, and “Full Moon Steamed Eggs,” adding a touch of warmth and ceremony to your Mid-Autumn night.

Handcrafted Wellness: Low-Sugar Mooncakes

Every year on Mid-Autumn Festival, families gather to enjoy various mooncakes. Mooncakes are not just traditional delicacies but an important symbol of this festive occasion. However, traditional mooncakes are notoriously high in calories — a single lotus seed paste with salted egg yolk mooncake contains as many calories as three bowls of white rice, with up to 40 grams of sugar, which is equivalent to 10 sugar cubes. Clearly, high-sugar, high-fat, and high-calorie mooncakes are no longer the best choice for those pursuing a healthy lifestyle. So, this Mid-Autumn, join us in crafting low-sugar, healthy mooncakes that blend tradition with modernity for a healthier choice for your family.

Ingredients:

200g whole wheat flour (or oat flour), 50g coconut oil, 30g maple syrup, water as needed, red bean paste, green bean paste, chopped nuts, date paste (choose based on preference), mooncake molds

Steps:

Prepare the filling: Mix your chosen filling well and divide it into small balls. Each ball should weigh about half the weight of the dough.
Make the dough: Mix the whole wheat flour, coconut oil, and maple syrup, gradually adding water until a smooth dough forms. Divide the dough into portions equal to the number of filling balls and flatten them.
Shape the mooncakes: Wrap the filling with the dough, seal the edges, then press into the mold and gently unmold.
Bake: Preheat the oven to 180°C, bake the mooncakes for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.
Cool and enjoy: Let the mooncakes cool before sharing with your family.

Moonlit Nights: Bunny Lantern Crafting

On Mid-Autumn Festival nights, the full moon graces the sky, casting its soft glow over everything below. The bunny lantern symbolizes light and hope, carrying people’s wishes for a bright future. Lighting a bunny lantern is not only a way to pass down traditional culture but also adds a touch of warmth and playfulness to the peaceful evening with your family. Here's a simple guide to crafting this adorable bunny lantern with your children!

Materials:

Cardboard, colored paper, glue, LED light, scissors and craft knife, string

Steps:

Make the lantern frame: Cut two identical bunny shapes from the cardboard to create the front and back frames, and connect them with four equal-length strips to form the lantern structure.
Decorate the lantern: Cover the frame with colored paper and cut out shapes for the bunny’s eyes, ears, etc. Use different colors to decorate.
Install the LED light: Fix the LED light inside the lantern, ensuring even light distribution, and attach the string to the top for hanging.
Display: Once finished, hang the lantern or carry it proudly.

Full Moon Blessings: Steamed Egg Delight

As the saying goes, “Wishing us longevity and sharing the beauty of the same moon from miles apart.” During this time of reunion, the full moon represents completeness and unity. This Full Moon Steamed Egg dish, with its smooth and delicate texture, symbolizes harmony and family togetherness. Adding BROTH’s organic chicken essence enhances both the flavor and nutritional value, making this dish a heartfelt expression of the warmth of family reunion.

Ingredients:

4 eggs, warm water, salt, seaweed, cucumber peel, ham slices, soy sauce, sesame oil, BROTH organic chicken essence

Steps:

Prepare the egg mixture: Beat 2 eggs with salt and a packet of BROTH chicken essence, mix with 1.5 times warm water, strain to remove foam.
Steam the eggs: Cover the bowl with cling wrap, poke holes, and steam over boiling water for 12-15 minutes. Let it sit for 3 more minutes.
Prepare decorations: Separate the egg white and yolk of 1 egg, fry the white into a flat sheet and cook the yolk until crumbly.
Create the moon design: Press the egg white into a round shape for the moon, place cooked seaweed as tree branches, cut cucumber peel into leaf shapes, and sprinkle the egg yolk crumbs as osmanthus flowers.
Make the bunny: Flatten a boiled egg, add ham slices to form the bunny’s ears, eyes, and mouth, and place on the plate.
Plate and season: Arrange all the decorations, then mix soy sauce, sesame oil, and warm water to make a sauce and drizzle it over the steamed eggs.

Reunion under the Moon: BBQ and Moon Gazing

Mid-Autumn Festival nights are often celebrated with family barbecues, which have become a cherished tradition for many. Whether in the garden or on the balcony, lighting up the grill and cooking family favorites while enjoying music and laughter brings everyone together. Barbecuing is more than just cooking; it’s a great opportunity for family bonding. Get the kids involved in prepping and grilling, making the occasion even more special. As the full moon rises, the family gathers to gaze at the moon and chat, savoring the warmth and togetherness shared over mooncakes and barbecue. Truly, the sweetest flavor of all is that of family reunion.

This Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a time for family reunion but also a unique opportunity to bond with your loved ones while experiencing the joy of tradition. With the grill’s warm glow and the moon’s soft light, sharing homemade treats in the garden brings a sense of tranquility and togetherness. Every moment under the full moon is filled with love and warmth, making this Mid-Autumn Festival even more special. BROTH wishes you and your family a joyful and prosperous Mid-Autumn Festival!