Qinxian Date Cake

Qinxian Date Cake

　　【Date Cake】To make date cake, take glutinous rice flour and place it in a wooden basin. Stir it with warm water until it forms a crumbly, lumpy texture. Wash large red dates thoroughly with clean water, then soak them in warm water to soften. Place the steamer over high heat, pour in clean water, and once it boils, cover with specialized steaming gauze. Spread a layer of glutinous rice grains about 6 cm thick, then wait for the steam to rise before adding another layer of glutinous rice flour. Repeat this process until the layers reach about 18 cm in thickness, then arrange a layer of red dates. Repeat the layering several times until the steamer is full. Once steamed, transfer the cake onto a cutting board, cover it with a damp cloth, and press it with both hands dipped in cold water to form a smooth surface. When ready to serve, slice it into thin pieces with a knife. Large red dates are “sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, and non-toxic,” and are known to have benefits such as “moistening the heart and lungs, relieving coughs, regulating the five internal organs, treating deficiencies, and eliminating digestive discomfort.”