What to do with your surplus of mooncakes (or if you downright hate them)
Jessica Tryde- Local Fitness Nut
September has rolled in – wake up and smell the….mooncakes?
Ah yes, it’s that time of the year again where the moon’s shining and the streets are lined with illuminating lanterns. This can only mean Mid-Autumn Festival, a celebration of a centuries-old harvest ritual – but today, this festival is commonly known as Mooncake Festival.
Mmmmm, the smell of nostalgia. Mooncakes are no stranger to you. You’ve received piles upon piles of mooncakes in the past from, oh I don’t know, years of being in Hong Kong?! And you’ve probably learned a great lesson: Never. Attempt. To. Finish. Them. You know this because your first year, you were ecstatic to be receiving your first box of mooncakes. And didn’t want to put it to waste – so you stuffed yourself with mooncakes meal after meal. And the year after that, a couple more. And this year, you’re expecting double and a likelihood of gaining 10 kilos from your annual indulgence.
So instead of giving them away, we’ve come up with a few creative ways to put your leftover mooncakes to good use!
exaggerated FUN WITH MOONCAKES (Big Bang theory reference anyone?)
1. MOONCAKE CHECKERS
Why not? They’re round, they’re easy to pick up, and you’ll probably have more than 20 so engage in a game of mooncake checkers at a family gathering! Poke a hole in the middle to differentiate between the two teams and you’re all set! Loser eats 5.
2. MOONCAKE PLAYDOH
Most mooncakes are made up some sort of puree, such as lotus seed puree or butter yolk puree. Which means, it can be molded into any shapes and sizes! Opt for a playdoh contest with your cousins! Whether it’s animal figurines or alphabetic letters, you will not be disappointed!
3. SNOW SKIN MOONCAKE FIGHT
Don’t be fooled by the month! Just because it’s September, doesn’t mean the heat’s going anywhere. Although Autumn’s rolled in, the weather’s still hot and sticky – so you’ll need some way to cool off. Instead of water balloon fights, how about Snow Skin Mooncake fights! They’re mushy, soft and most importantly, cold so being hit by one is rather a blessing than a curse. Catch one and the one who threw it has to eat one!
4. MOONCAKE PONG
Beer is so 2015. Instead of beer pong, how about Mooncake Pong! Set up the table just as you would for a regular game of beer pong. Instead of filling each of the cups (you gotta use the red, plastic cups) with beer, pour different alcohol into each one – vodka, tequila, rum, Mai Tai, the list goes on. Team A starts first – try and throw the mooncake into the cup! If you get it in, Team B will have to devour the alcohol-infused mooncake yummmm
Okay so we’ve exaggerated a bit (or have we?) but if you really find yourself tripping over stacks of mooncakes – donate them!
Organizations such as The Salvation Army take in mooncakes and will deliver it to those in need.
For more information:
https://www.salvationarmy.org.hk/en/get_involved
Phew! You did it. You had problems and now you have answers. You won’t have to worry about stomaching mooncakes of all flavours and sizes this Mid Autumn Festival.
Now head over to ABOVE at Ovolo Southside for a drink – you deserve it.
Jessica Tryde, born in Australia, bred in Taiwan, is a creative English copywriter living in Hong Kong. Her job includes whipping out creative ideas and digital executions. During her spare time, you’ll find her weight lifting in the gym, training for a gladiatorial bloodbath in a Muay Thai class or attempting to perform a yoga pose. If not working out, you’ll find her mingling with the locals at the wet market or reading at a local Hong Kong café.