2021 Chinese New Year Eve

This year, it is a first for all of us. To have celebrate Chinese New Year in Penang. And at such a small scale.. just the 6 (or 7 including Kakak) instead of the usal large Ban clan of a minimum 20 of us.

Ah Ma cooked the favourite dishes we would usually have if we were to be back in Ipoh. So today, the reunion dinner would be popiah. Here is my assistant helping to cut up the leeks (and you complained bitterly later about your hands smelling of the leeks!)

Before this week, Ah Ma had already steamed and peeled the crabs needed for popiah as well as our mee suah. For the popiah, Ah Ma had already fried some of the ingredients the day before. And of course, Kakak had already fried up a whole lot of shallots. 

And so here we are all ready for our mini reunion dinner:

Here is my popiah.. all ready.. for the camera *grin*

This morning, I had also shaped the peanut balls for our "Seung Wan Yuen". Daddy helped to blend the peanuts, sesame seeds and the winter melon.

The red dots looks so pretty

The inside.. full of peanuts

We tried to stay up till late, but everyone seemed too tired and went to our rooms to rest or in the case of Mei-mei, to sleep. 

There were some fireworks, but it seems to be very quiet this year in Penang. Not sure if this is how is usually is, or because of the current situation as we;ve never experienced the eve nor the first few days of CNY in Penang before this.