Kueh Splendour 1: Straits Chinese Pineapple Tarts 土生华人黄梨酥

What're u bingeing? 又在吃什么?

吃不饱的.

Immaculate perfection

Mom's Tarts Best...The Chinese New Year is always being ushered in with rocketing fireworks(by government only), lions dances, reunion dinners. All brightly dressed, everyone gives love and blessings to each other. However, the celebration is incomplete without the indulgence of these petite pineapple tarts. Children besides, looking forward to receive red money packets (AngBao) during house visits, also like to compare whose Moms serve the most delicious pineapple tarts.

i'm a fervent meat eater, dun throw me orange!

It is also at this festive period, the lady of the house entertains her guests with her beloved collection of tea cups and pot. The rest of the year, these pretty fragile porcelains are solely for the eyes appreciation and collecting dust in the display cabinet. The tea cups and pot are often the lady's dowry her mother passed on , or rather her family heirloom

Heirloom

Be gratefully thankful and appreciative when your tea is served in these fine crockery.. for the host trusts that you don't have clumsy buttery fingers. A friend once said she gets very nervous when she received such warm hospitality...the fear of dropping the cup and no replacement is available.

While shortbread is of Scottish origin and macarons that of French, these pineapple tarts are articulately shaped by The Straits settlers with assorted cutters and pipers and hence its origination proclaimed.

Dough piper

The making of pineapple tarts is sheer hard work and patience , what other better way of expressing a mother's love for her family and friends through her culinary skill?

2015 Update:

Bake 600 of these tarts this month as CNYgifts....a dozen per head.

who's taking me?

Arms and hands aching in silent from rolling jams and the piping of dough. Appointment with physiotherapy already booked ahead in anticipation of back and arms soreness.

in celebration of > 100 000 views on Youtube

This year CNY, I baked a small quantity crusty ones w a homemade jam that took 5 hours preparation time for 2.5kg pineapples. I am still happy with the ready-to-use packet jam.