Steamed Chinese Fruit Cake

Also known as Sticky Cake, this New Years dish is traditionally fed to
the Chinese
Kitchen God, so that he will give a favorable report on the family's
behavior
throughout the previous year when he returns to heaven.

Yield: 8 Servings

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon flour
2 eggs, with whites and yolks separated
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups glutinous rice flour
1/3 cup milk
1 cup Chinese dried fruits, pitted if necessary and diced*
1 piece crystallized ginger, diced (optional)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

Grease a loaf pan that is approximately 4 x 8 inches and set aside.

Beat the egg whites until stiff. Cream together the butter and the
sugar. Add the
egg yolks and mix thoroughly. Add one-third (a little less than 1/2
cup) of the
glutinous rice flour and mix. Add about half of the milk. Continue
adding the rice
flour and the milk alternately until the entire amount is mixed in.

Stir in whichever fruits you are using and then add the beaten egg
whites, folding
them into the cake batter.

Pour the cake batter into the loaf pan and steam, covered, for about
one hour.
Allow to cool and cut into thin slices.