We found this awesome dragon mask years ago at an antique show. It watches over us. It also begs the question “why”?
The Lunar New Year is this weekend, and it’s the Year of the Dragon. Years of the Dragon include 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952. The dragon is an auspicious creature in Chinese culture, and symbolizes power, honor, luck, and success. People born in Dragon years are said to possess “natural courage, tenacity, and intelligence.” I’m skeptical.
Inspired by the dragon mask, a fun way to celebrate the Lunar New Year is with these easy Yin Yang cookies, especially if you’re feeling courageous, tenacious, and intelligent this Year of the Dragon. Yin-yang, according to dictionary.com, “refers to a concept originating in ancient Chinese philosophy where opposite forces are seen as interconnected and counterbalancing,” and “is commonly represented by the yin-yang symbol, a circle made up of black and white swirls, each containing a spot of the other.”
The recipe begins with a package of Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie cookie mix:
Prepare the dough, add cocoa powder to half, then have fun shaping the cookies. Use large chips, if possible, for the best looking results. Practice your lion dance while the cookies are baking.
- 1 pouch (1 lb. 1.5 oz.) Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie cookie mix
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1-1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons milk
- 24 semi-chocolate chips
- 24 white chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Place cookie mix in a medium bowl. Stir in butter and egg until a soft dough forms. Place half of dough in a separate medium bowl and add cocoa and milk, mixing until thoroughly combined.
- To form cookies, form a 1-inch ball from plain dough. Form a second 1-inch ball from chocolate dough. Shape each into a comma shape, and nestle the two doughs together on an ungreased cookie sheet, with the tails pointing in opposite directions. Space cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Place one white chocolate chip in the center of the rounded part of the chocolate dough, and one semi-sweet chocolate chip in the center of the rounded part of the plain dough. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until set and beginning to brown at edges. Cool briefly on sheet, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Can you feel the opposite forces?
Which do you prefer — yin or yang?
Yum