Koreans make songpyeon to eat on Chuseok. It's a traditional rice cake made in the shape of a half-moon, filled with red beans, sesame, pine nuts, autumn squash, or dried fruits. Why do Koreans eat them on Chuseok? Let's find out, along with the recipe for songpyeon.

Chuseok is a holiday in autumn, the season of ripening crops. Koreans give thanks for the year's harvest and offer them to their ancestors. The offering includes songpyeon. If you take a close look, it's not a full moon but a half-moon shape. While the full moon wanes over time, the half-moon fills up over time. Just as the half-moon that gets bigger, Koreans wish for good fortune. 

Songpyeon is very easy to make. First, you mix rice flour and salt and make a dough by gradually adding hot water. Next, make fillings of your choice, be it steamed sweet potatoes, red beans, or sesame, and season with sugar and salt. Add a tablespoon of sugar and a pinch of salt.

Take a small lump of dough and flatten it into a round shape. Push in with your thumb to make a space in the center, add filling, and close with your thumb and index finger to create a half-moon shape. Place songpyeon in a steamer with spaces in between each. Once cooked, immerse in cold water, then drain to finish. Brush the finished songpyeon with sesame oil to make them even nuttier to taste. Songpyeon is made of healthy ingredients, which makes it a nutritious snack for kids.

These days, there are many unique kinds of songpyeon, and different fillings are used in each region. In the upcoming Chuseok, how about making and enjoying these different kinds of songpyeon with your children?