Author: Ng Eng Fu
I am always fond of festive times such as the Chinese New Year. During these times, the many grandchildren staying with my grandmother will eagerly persuade for a role in helping with the festive bakes or preparation works. The setting up of charcoal stoves, electric fan, little stools, wooden board, milo tins along the HDB corridor.
Cracking of eggs, throwing in flour and sugar, and lots of whisking movement to achieve the perfect consistency. All ready to make our own egg rolls. It is an annual affair led by my grandmother. Children all excited to help out in small tasks, while the adults get ready to heat up the apparatus over the stove. One by one, they drizzle the apparatus with the perfect concoction blend.
Flipping the apparatus to ensure even cooking. Quickly peel off the brown love letter bake from the apparatus before it gets charred. Someone on standby to quickly roll up the bake with wooden stick. The fragrance of love letter bakes permeates every corner of the corridor and into our flat, and even our neighbours, I guess. A family team effort and activity, as we bake the rolls one by one.
My grandmother, the Chief Operating Officer of this annual operations, as we bake over a couple of weekends from morning till night, or when the batter finishes. The many tins of bakes we made and shared among our extended family, relatives and neighbours.
