Fu Shou Cake

Fu Shou Cake

　　Fu Shou Cake—This is a traditional snack from the shores of Jieliang Lake in Qianjiang City, Hubei Province. Its childhood nickname is "Aobao Tuozi," and its official name, well, you can just call it "Fu Shou Cake."

　　Why is it called "Fu Shou Cake"? Because the characters stamped on its surface are either “Fu” (Fortune) or “Shou” (Longevity). The way it’s made is this: take the broken grains of late-season rice that grow nourished by the waters of Jieliang Lake, grind them into powder, and pour this rice flour into a pot of cold water at a ratio of about 1:3—just like cooking congee. The key point is to keep stirring continuously after the water boils until it’s about 90% dry and forms a sticky paste. Prepare the Fu Shou Cake mold (handmade, wooden, engraved with either “Fu” or “Shou”), and gather your favorite fillings. Take a lump of cooked rice flour, wrap in your chosen filling, roll it into a ball, place it in the mold, gently press it flat, then flip the mold over—ta-da, the semi-finished cake is ready. Lightly oil the pan (to prevent sticking), heat it up, arrange the cakes in it, and bake both sides until golden brown—and you’re done.

　　Now, you can also call it a “Golden Cake,” which is said to bring you greater wealth.