Moon Pie versus Mooncake

This month the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in Singapore, a holiday usually feted by families getting together to eat Mooncakes while looking at the moon.  This is one of the most important festivals in China and Mooncakes are typically serviced in small wedges and eaten with tea while celebrating this holiday.

I told the kids that I was going to buy some Mooncakes for us to enjoy since they are being sold on every corner around us.  They are quite excited to enjoy this treat and are looking forward to the arrival of the mooncakes.  Today I went to the place most highly recommended for said Mooncakes - and bought what were the most ridiculously expensive little things for the family to try.  The gentleman explained the flavors to me and I had to laugh as I imagined the kids enjoying these tasty treats:

1. Lotus Seed Paste
2. Sweet Bean Paste (mung bean paste, red bean paste or black bean potato paste)
3. Five Kernel (five types of nuts and seeds)
4. Egg Yolk (a whole egg yolk is placed inside to symbolize the full moon)
5. Jujube Paste (a date paste)
6. Note:  there is also the option of Seafood Mooncakes filled with abalone, shark fin or dried purple seaweed but I must say that I opted to skip these options.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the kids think I'm going to buy Moon Pies!!! Not Mooncakes!!  I corrected them but they are still under the impression that they are the same thing as Moon Pies and they are so excited.  Ella reminded the boys that they used to serve Moon Pies with Kids' Meals at Ebb and Flo at Bald Head Island in the past and then all three of their mouthes were watering.  I think that at breakfast tomorrow morning when I serve these Mooncake treats, there are going to be some interesting reactions.  Chalk this up to trying new things and exploring other cultures!!!