Rice dumplings are a type of food for celebrating the Winter Solstice Day in China, and this is
the most important traditional festival for us.Every time we make rice dumplings, our family sits
together,sharing stories of the past and feeling the warmth of our heritage.
The rice dumplings are made from rice, green beans and pork, etc.(actually you can add
whatever you like.)It is wrapped with fresh bamboo leaves and straw rope.Usually we will make
a lot of rice dumplings at one time, about 50-100.So we need a cauldron to cook it.The first time
cooking rice dumplings takes more than 6 hours.After cook,you can see the leaves change to
yellow.When it come to cooler, you can store it to refrigerator.Next time, you need to reheat it
before eating.What you need to do—just put it into the hot water and boil for 15 minutes.
I know this food because my family will make rice dumplings before winter solstice every
year.And I was born in winter solstice. So,we eat rice dumplings to celebrate the winter
solstice and my birthday every year.I learned how to make rice dumplings from my
grandmother.I will teach my child to do that in the future.Because I think every rice dumpling is a
cultural heritage of a family.
Chinese foods including this one is very important to me because it reminds me of our origin
and home.These foods will forever keep our ethnicity and identity alive.Without these foods we
would lose a huge part of our culture. So, we will keep these foods a part of meals because it is who we are. 

– Y

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