For more ideas for Chinese holiday activities, take a look at Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes.

Vegetarian Steamed Dumplings

1/2 lb firm tofu

1/2 cup coarsely grated carrots

1/2 cup shredded napa cabbage

2 tablespoons finely chopped red peppers

2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions

2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves

1 tablespoon soy sauce 1

tablespoon hoisin sauce

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper bowl water, plus additional water for steamer

35-40 small wonton wrappers

vegetable cooking spray, for the steamer

1 Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. 2 Cut the tofu in half horizontally and lay between layers of paper towels. Place on a plate, top with another plate, and place a weight on top (a 14-ounce can of vegetables works well). Let stand 20 minutes. 3 After 20 minutes, cut the tofu into 1/4-inch cubes and place in a large mixing bowl. 4 Add the carrots, cabbage, red pepper, scallions, ginger, cilantro, soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, egg, salt, and pepper. Lightly stir to combine. 5 To form the dumplings, remove 1 wonton wrapper from the package, covering the others with a damp cloth. 6 Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with water. 7 Place 1/2 rounded teaspoon of the tofu mixture in the center of the wrapper. Shape as desired. 8 Set on a sheet pan and cover with a damp cloth. Repeat procedure until all of the filling is gone. 9 Using a steaming apparatus of your choice, bring 1/4 to 1/2-inch of water to a simmer over medium heat. 10 Spray the steamer's surface lightly with the non-stick vegetable spray to prevent sticking. 11 Place as many dumplings as will fit into a steamer, without touching each other. Cover and steam for 10 to 12 minutes over medium heat. 12 Remove the dumplings from the steamer to a heatproof platter and place in oven to keep warm. 13 Repeat until all dumplings are cooked.