Mid-summer

The Dragon Boat Festival is around this time of the year, and the traditional food to eat for the festival is zongzi 粽子, or sticky rice dumpling.  Some have compared it to a tamale because it's wrapped in a leaf, such as a lotus leaf or a reed.  It's popular throughout Asian countries, and depending on the country, a different outer wrapping is used, which also gives it a slightly different flavor.  Also, depending on where it's made, it is folded in a different way and stuffed with a different filling.  In China, the northern 粽子 tend to be sweet and wrapped in a triangular (pyramid) shape, while those from the south tend to be savory and wrapped in a cone shape.

Tina's Mom made these, and they were filled with mild red bean filling, suitable for breakfast.

Yesterday Mark, Barbara, Joan, Tess, Sumi, and I had dim sum with Monica (lower right).  She used to work with us in the ELC then went to the University of Hawaii for further education.  She's back in town for a visit, and it was so good to see her smiling face.  We had 粽子 as part of our dim sum feast.