Golden Moon Milk #SundayFunday

Today the Sunday Funday bloggers are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Stacy of Food Lust People Love, Sue of Palatable Pastime, Rebekah of Making Miracles, and Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm coordinate this low-stress group; we only participate when we are inspired. Thanks to Stacy for hosting this week.

Stacy wrote: "Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. This year, Mid-Autumn Festival is Friday, September 29, 2023. Share a recipe celebrating Autumn." Here's the line-up...

• Creamy Cucumber Pasta Salad by Amy's Cooking Adventures

• Fresh Fig Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm

• Golden Moon Milk by Culinary Cam (you're here)

• Instant Pot Pumpkin Sambar by Cook with Renu

• Keto Chilled Cucumber & Avocado Soup by Sneha's Recipe

• Smashed Potatoes by Karen's Kitchen Stories

• Warm Root Salad with Pomegranate Molasses Dressing by Food Lust People Love

Moon Milk

The Mid-Autumn Festival - also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival - is a traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture. But there are similar festivals are celebrated in Japan (Tsukimi), Korea (Chuseok), Vietnam (Tết Trung Thu), and other countries throughout East and Southeast Asia. I decided to share my recipe for moon milk...I haven't been able to locate my mooncake mold this week.

If you are unfamiliar with moon milk, it's a warmed milk drink that can be used to ease occasional sleeplessness. I have also read that when cows are milked at night, their milk contains higher levels of two compounds that help with rest and relaxation: tryptophan and melatonin. Okay, I haven't verified that. But it looks good, right? You can also make this with dairy-free milk.

Spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom have a warming quality that helps to relax the nervous system. So, this golden milk makes it well-suited for bedtime and relaxation.

Ingredients

Golden Root Paste makes approximately 1 cup paste

• 1/3 cup turmeric powder

• 5 Tablespoons organic coconut oil

• 1" knob fresh ginger, peeled and freshly grated

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 3/4 cup water

• 1 to 2 cinnamon sticks

Golden Moon Milk makes one serving

• 1 cup milk (feel free to substitute with nut or oat milk if you are dairy-free)

• 1 teaspoon turmeric paste

• 1 teaspoon honey or your preferred sweetener

• 1 cinnamon stick for garnish

Procedure

Golden Root Paste

Place all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan. Heat until the coconut oil is melted. Whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and take out the cinnamon sticks. Transfer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator.

Note: the paste should be stored in the refrigerator and used within two weeks.

Golden Moon Milk

Gently warm milk in a saucepan. Whisk in turmeric paste and honey until well-combined. Pour into a mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

And here's a bonus for you in the moon theme...

Magical Blue Moon Matcha Cocktail

I was reminded of a cocktail I made back in 2019 when our #LitHappens group read The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. Read that post and find the recipe: here.

That's a wrap for my Mid-Autumn Festival offering for the Sunday Funday bloggers. We will be back next week when I host the group in cooking from a cookbook. It can be an old favorite or an adventure into a new cookbook. Stay tuned!