Eight Precious Pudding

Ingredients

 * 1 ounce lotus seeds
 * 2 cups cold water
 * 2 ounces Chinese red dates
 * 2 cups glutinous rice
 * 1/4 cup sugar
 * 3 tablespoons oil
 * 1 red maraschino cherry, stemless
 * 1 cup any candied fruits
 * 1 cup red bean paste

Directions

 * 1) Add lotus seeds to cold water in saucepan.
 * 2) Bring to boil. Simmer on low heat 20 minutes.
 * 3) Drain and cool. Split into halves. Set aside.
 * 4) Put red dates in bowl on rack in pot or in steamer.
 * 5) Steam covered over boiling water 30 minutes. Set aside.
 * 6) Put rice in pot with water level 3/4 inch above rice.
 * 7) Bring to boil. Simmer 20 minutes.
 * 8) Stir in sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons oil.
 * 9) Mix well. Set aside.
 * 10) Grease medium-sized bowl heavily with oil.
 * 11) Place cherry in center.
 * 12) Arrange lotus seeds, red dates, and candied fruits in circles around bottom and up to edge of bowl, glazed side down.
 * 13) Spread a layer of rice mixture over fruits carefully so as not to spoil the design.
 * 14) Spoon a layer of red bean paste over the rice.
 * 15) Cover with another layer of rice. Pack tight.
 * 16) Place bowl on rack in pot or in steamer. Cover.
 * 17) Steam over boiling water 1 hour.
 * 18) Remove pudding carefully by running flexible spatula around edge.
 * 19) Put serving plate over bowl and invert bowl.
 * 20) Serve pudding with Sweet Almond Sauce -
 * 21) Boil 3 tablespoons sugar in 1 cup water, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
 * 22) Stir in 1 teaspoon almond extract.
 * 23) Thicken with 1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water.