臘八粥 (八寶粥 )
Laba Congee ( Eight Treasure Congee )
大家記得今天是什麽日子嗎？
今天是臘月初八。臘月是農曆的最後一個月，即農曆的十二月。
農曆十二月初八，是佛陀成道紀念日，佛教稱為「法寶節」，俗稱「臘八節」。在這一天，一般寺廟都會煮臘八粥供眾。臘八粥又稱「佛粥」。
「臘八粥」所用的材料，有花生、油豆腐、蓮子、红蘿白、芋頭、白米、糯米、菜心、油條等，將所有的食材分別滷好處理好才放在一起煮，煮到濃稠。
過去，一般人認為吃臘八粥可以消災保平安，增長智慧，所以每年到了臘月初八這一天早上，都會到寺廟裡吃一碗臘八粥。
到如今，很多人也會在這一天在家自己動手煮臘八粥，與家人或親友分享。臘八粥不但軟綿美味，所用的材料更是天然健康、營養豐富的食品，一直流傳下來，已成為傳統的寒冬美食。
大家如果有興趣在今天也煮一鍋健康美味的臘八粥應節的話，可參巧下面佛光山佛堂的食譜：
http://web.fgs.org.tw/news_detail.php?ihome=d50201&NewsCatId=24&u_id=16841
Today is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, and is the anniversary of the Buddha's enlightenment. It’s also called the "Laba Festival."
On this day, most temples cook this healthy and delicious congee to share with the public to commemorate such a special day. Laba congee is also called “The Buddha’s Congee.”
The ingredients used in "Laba Congee" include peanuts, fried tofu, lotus seeds, carrots, taro, rice, glutinous rice, choy sum, fried dough sticks, etc. All the ingredients are cooked separately before bringing together and cook until the congee soft and thicken.
