White Moon Cakes

Description

Moon cakes are Chinese pastry cakes are regularly eaten during their mid-autumn festival called Zhongqiu. They are generally given to friends and family during such ceremonial events. They are often eaten with traditional Chinese Tea.

Origin

Moon cakes have a history dating back to the origins of their mid-autumn festival in which the moon goddess Chang-E, the goddess of immortality is worshiped.

Myths surrounding the Moon cake state that they were once used during the 15^th Century Chinese revolution to encrypt secret messages that were deciphered by cutting the moon cake into pieces then eating it to eliminate the message.

Recipe

Ingredients

Dry:

2 Cups Sugar

3 tsp. Baking Powder

3 Cups Flour

½ Tsp Salt

Wet:

2/3 Cup Butter

5 Egg Whites

1 Cup Milk

1 Tsp Vanilla

Directions

Cream the shortening. Add sugar and cream together slowly until the mix becomes light and fluffy. Add flour mixture with milk alternating one and then the other. Beat sufficiently after each addition into the mix. Stiffly beat egg whites, fold in and add to mixture, then add Vanilla. Bake in 2 layers in moderate oven (350 degrees) for 25 minutes. Spread Moon Glow Lemon Frosting (recipe follows) between layers then onto sides of cake.

Moon Glow Lemon Frosting

Ingredients

1 lemon rind, grated & fresh

2 egg yolks

4 tbsp lemon juice

4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

Add juice and lemon rind to yolks; Add sugar; Beat & Mix until frosting is smooth.