Happy Birthday Mom!

Saturday was  The Mother’s Birthday.  She turned the big 6-0!  Initially, we were suppose to fly out to California but instead we threw a party here.  Instead of having the party at my house, we went with a restaurant.  I couldn’t have a party and not make something.  We (meaning The Mother) wanted something edible.  At first we were going to do mini sumans (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves) but The Mother had other ideas.  We couldn’t decide on one kind but instead we made three different favors.  I even found mini steamers and I also had extra mini Chinese take-out containers from my wedding (and that was 3 years ago).  I made chocolate-mocha  and san rival flavor macarons.  The Mother made food of the gods.  For those that doesn’t know food of the gods, it is kinda like a fruit cake bar but with just dates and walnuts.  We also made cassava suman instead of the rice version.  I actually ran out of glutinous rice so we made do with the cassava I picked up. 

The Daughter and Myself played with stamps to make mini thank you tags.  I made sure that there is an extra set of cards just incase a particular someone doesn’t listen and creates their own design. 

Food of The Gods – The Mother loves decorating and making cute packaging for food.  The bars was moist and chewy  that I remembered from my youth.  I had different versions an I found that this recipe is my favorite.  See below for the recipe.

I didn’t wrap these if it is not evident, I’m not as meticulous as The Mother.  I will be posting this recipe soon – stay tuned. 

Food of the Gods
(Adapted from my Auntie Lilly)

2 Stick of Butter
1 1/2 cup of Brown Sugar (dark preferred)
2 Eggs
1 Tsp of Vanilla
1 Cup of Flour
1 Tsp of Baking Powder
½ Tsp of Salt.
1 Cup Walnuts Diced
1 Cup of Dates Diced
Directions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F
   
2. Place the butter and brown sugar into a medium sauce pan.  Heat on a medium heat until it melts and caramelize slightly. 
   
3. Set aside.
   
4. While that cools, mix together the try ingredients.  
   
5. Once the mixture reaches room temperature, place it in a large mixing bowl.  Beat the  mixture either by hand or on medium speed.  Slowly add each egg and than add the vanilla.
   
6. Remove from the mixer and hand mixes the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. 
   
7. Pour the mixture into two 9 inch pans.  Bake for 30 minutes.
   
8. Let it cool.  As you let it cool, sprinkle the top with sugar (I would use raw sugar). 
   
9. Cuts up into 1 ½ inch squares and serve.