Combo photo shows cooks making Yuanxiao, glutinous rice flour dumpling with sweetened stuffing, at a food shop in Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Let there be lots of light

Valentine's preparations underway

Method:

Lightly toast the black sesame seeds over a medium fire until there is a tasty aroma. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Grind the seeds with a food processor, then place them into a pot. Add sugar and butter, then melt the mix under a low temperature to form a thick paste. Let it cool in the fridge.

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix the glutinous rice flour with water until it forms a smooth paste and no longer sticks to your hands.

Divide it equally into eight balls (the bigger they are, the easier they are to fill).

Flatten each ball in your palm and put 1 to 2 teaspoons full of black sesame paste in the middle of the flattened dough.

Fold the edges in to seal the dumpling. Gently roll it into a ball using both palms and set aside.

Heat a pan of boiling water. Drop the dumplings into the water. As soon as they float to the top, transfer them to a serving bowl with some of the boiling water.

Serve immediately.