Every Chinese family has a traditional must-have dish at the family reunion dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve. Mine is my mother's "popiah", a traditional homemade fresh spring roll, that she makes for Chinese New Year. She has been doing that ever since I can remember as a kid. She makes her famous popiah only once a year! Relatives, family friends and neighbours come to visit her on Chinese New Year day. My mother will return their kindness by making her popiah one at a time to serve our guests, and giving "ang-pow" (Chinese red packet filled with cash inside) to the young ones.
To carry on her tradition, she will be 84 this year, I've learnt how to make her popiah for the first time this year, "Year of the Metal Ox". I also learnt how to make my own fresh "popiah puih" or spring roll wrapper using plain flour (known as all-purpose flour in America).
I love to hear from you..what is your family's favourite and traditional dish for Chinese New Year?