Festive Cookies

30 Jan 2011 - It is a good time for making some extra money. Housewives who bake well make a small fortune here in Malaysia during the build up to the Chinese New Year. A ready market coupled with a passion for making homemade goodies has enabled many talented homemakers to earn an extra income. Housewife Leong Koon Ying, 32, first started selling her homemade cookies during the Chinese New year period 13 years ago. Leong says she was fortunate because her youngest son shared her passion for baking cookies and pastries. She claims her most popular biscuit is the pineapple tart. However, her son Chan has mastered the art of making fait koh which has been their best selling item over the years. Fait koh is associated with good fortune as they are made in the shape of money bags. The pastry is offered as gifts with ang pow, kuih bakul and mandarin oranges. It's almost as if Leong can go straight to Harry Pooter school.