First Day of Summer!

Summer

Today is the first day of the summer!

Speaking of summer, I think of the sacred lotus, because it blooms and becomes the most beautiful in summer. It grows out of mud, yet pure and untainted （出淤泥而不染）. Therefore, in China, we use it as a compliment for someone who has this quality.

Of course, as Chinese, we use lotus to its max in our daily lives. We discovered that its roots can be made into delicious dishes, hot or cold. We boil and mash the seeds into "lotus paste", and use it as stuffing in a variety of flour-based foods, such as moon cakes and rice dumplings. Hmm, love them!

Have a enjoyable summer!