RPAGF Chapter 371: Making Zongzi and Dumplings for the New Year
Chapter 371: Making Zongzi and Dumplings for the New Year
Chapter 371: Making Zongzi and Dumplings for the New Year
"It's time to make rice dumplings!" Yu Yu's cheerful voice rang out in the yard, instantly attracting the attention of everyone and the little animals.
Xiaoyu and Lihao put down their work on pasting window paper-cuts and came over with smiles. "Hey, Yuyu, why are you suddenly thinking about making rice dumplings?" Xiaoyu asked.
Yuyu proudly shook the bag in her hand and said, "Mom, I just took out the shelled mung beans from the system. I was thinking of making some mung bean dumplings for the New Year. They must be very delicious."
Li Hao came over, looked at the emerald green mung beans in the bag, and jokingly said, "Your system is really a treasure chest. It has everything."
They got down to work right away. The family sat around the table in the yard and started preparing to make rice dumplings.
Yu Yu first cleaned the rice dumplings leaves carefully, then washed the glutinous rice and drained the water.
Xiaoyu skillfully cut the pork belly into small pieces and marinated it with soy sauce, cooking wine and other seasonings. The rich aroma spread instantly, attracting the small animals to come over and sniff curiously.
Everything was ready, and the zongzi making officially began. Yuyu picked up a piece of zongzi leaf, skillfully folded it into a triangle, and said, "I want to make a big triangle zongzi."
She first spread a layer of glutinous rice in the rice dumplings leaves, then put a spoonful of mung beans and a piece of marinated pork belly, and then spread another layer of glutinous rice. She wrapped the rice dumplings leaves and tied them tightly with a rope. A triangular rice dumpling with sharp edges was ready.
Xiaoyu looked at the rice dumplings made by Yuyu and nodded with a smile: "Yuyu, these are really well made. They look very presentable."
As she spoke, she also started to wrap the rice dumplings. Her technique was very skillful. She flipped the rice dumpling leaves a few times in her hands, and a plump rice dumpling was wrapped.
Li Hao was trying hard to learn, but the dumplings he made were either crooked in shape or the ropes were tied too loosely.
"Why is it so difficult to wrap?" Li Hao said with some annoyance.
Yuyu and Xiaoyu couldn't help laughing.
Xiaoyu put down the rice dumplings in her hand and taught Li Hao step by step: "Hao'er, look, the rice dumpling leaves should be folded like this, don't put too much glutinous rice, and tie the rope tightly."
Under Xiaoyu's guidance, the rice dumplings made by Li Hao finally looked good.
The little animals were also watching with great interest. The Husky lay on the ground, staring intently at the food on the table, and occasionally licked his mouth with his tongue.
The local dogs gathered around the table, wagging their tails expectantly; the Pomeranians, Bichon Frise and Corgis huddled together, their little heads turning around following everyone's movements.
The calico cat squatted on a stool nearby, watching everything gracefully, occasionally patting the fallen rice dumplings leaves with its paws.
Soon, the table was filled with various kinds of rice dumplings, including triangular and square ones. Although they were of different shapes, they were all full of the family’s beautiful expectations for the New Year.
After wrapping the rice dumplings, Yuyu said happily: "When the rice dumplings are cooked, we will eat them together as a family and have a lively New Year."
Everyone looked at the table full of rice dumplings with happy smiles on their faces.
"Zongzi alone isn't enough, let's make some dumplings!" Yuyu suggested enthusiastically, "Let's make dumplings with egg and chive filling. I want to put more chives in it so it tastes better."
Xiaoyu and Lihao smiled at each other and responded.
"Okay, let's have the egg and chive dumplings. They're delicious!"
Xiaoyu stood up, walked quickly to the kitchen, and brought out the flour, eggs, and fresh chives that had been prepared long ago.
Yu Yu took the leek, picked and washed it carefully. The tender green leaves stretched out in the water, and the water droplets were crystal clear.
She put the leeks on the chopping board, picked up the kitchen knife, and chopped them into small pieces with a "click, click, click" sound. The unique fragrance spread instantly.
At the same time, Li Hao was beating eggs.
He gently cracked the egg, and the golden egg liquid flowed into the bowl. He stirred it quickly with chopsticks, and the egg liquid swirled in the bowl, sparkling.
Then, he poured the egg liquid into the hot oil pan, and with a "sizzling" sound, the egg liquid expanded rapidly.
He held the spatula and stir-fried quickly. In a blink of an eye, the tender yellow egg crumbs were out of the pan.
Xiaoyu put chopped chives and crushed eggs into a bowl, and added appropriate amounts of salt, sesame oil and seasonings.
She reached out and stirred it evenly. The aroma of the stuffing became stronger and stronger, attracting the little animals to come over.
The Husky stretched out its neck and sniffed hard; the local dogs gathered at the feet, barking, as if begging for food; the Pomeranian, Bichon Frise and Corgi also jumped anxiously, their little noses twitching constantly; the calico cat walked over gracefully, squatted aside, and looked at the stuffing intently.
It's time to make dumplings. Xiaoyu skillfully pinches off a piece of dough, rolls it into long thin strips, and then cuts it into small pieces.
She picked up the rolling pin and rolled the small dough into a round dough that was thick in the middle and thin at the edges, doing it in one go.
Yu Yu and Li Hao were not to be outdone and rolled out the dough like Xiao Yu did.
Although the dough rolled out by Yu Yu is of irregular shape and the dough rolled out by Li Hao is sometimes thick and sometimes thin, they are all full of enthusiasm.
When wrapping the dough, Yu Yu put a full spoonful of stuffing and specially picked some extra leeks. Then he folded the dough in half and carefully pinched out the wrinkles, and a dumpling was ready.
The dumplings made by Xiaoyu are like ingots, delicate and plump; although the dumplings made by Lihao don’t look very good, they are also very cute.
The family was talking and laughing while making dumplings.
"Eating dumplings during the Chinese New Year brings good fortune in the coming year." Xiaoyu said with a smile.
"Yes, eating dumplings will bring good luck in the new year." Yu Yu responded happily.
The wrapped dumplings are neatly arranged on the chopping board, and the little animals on the side are also feeling the strong New Year atmosphere in this joyful atmosphere.
"Okay, put it in and cook it. The rice dumplings need to be cooked for a longer time." Yu Yu looked at the dumplings and rice dumplings filling the chopping board, rubbed his hands, and said excitedly.
Xiaoyu nodded, carefully picked up the tray with the rice dumplings and walked towards the kitchen.
On the stove, the water in the big pot was already bubbling and steaming, as if it was eagerly waiting for the delicious food that was about to be put into the pot.
Xiaoyu gently put the rice dumplings into the pot one by one. The rice dumplings fell into the water, splashing small water droplets.
She covered the pot, lowered the heat, and patiently watched over it, saying, "These dumplings need to be cooked slowly so that the glutinous rice and mung beans become soft and glutinous, and the aroma of the meat can fully penetrate."
At the same time, Li Hao set up a pot on another stove, poured in clean water, and after the water boiled, he put the dumplings into the pot.
As soon as the dumplings are put into the pot, they roll in the water like a group of happy little ducks.
Li Hao took a soup spoon and gently pushed the dumplings along the edge of the pot to prevent them from sticking together, muttering to himself, "I have to keep an eye on the dumplings while they cook. Don't let them boil."
Yu Yu was also busy preparing the dipping sauce.
She poured light soy sauce and balsamic vinegar into a bowl, added some minced garlic and chopped green onions, and then added a few drops of sesame oil. She stirred evenly, and a fragrant aroma came to her nose.
"This dipping sauce must taste amazing with dumplings!" Yu Yu said with satisfaction.
The kitchen was filled with a strong aroma, including the aroma of rice, mung beans and meat from the rice dumplings, as well as the aroma of leeks and eggs from the dumpling fillings.
The small animals were also attracted by the fragrance and crowded around the kitchen door.
The Husky sniffed hard and wagged its tail like a rattle; the local dogs circled around the door, barking anxiously from time to time.
The Pomeranian, Bichon Frise and Corgi were jumping around, staring into the pot.
The calico cat sat elegantly on the side. Although it looked calm on the surface, its eyes revealed its anticipation for the food.
"Gurgle, gurgle", the water in the pot was rolling happily.
Yu Yu, Xiao Yu and Li Hao stood by the pot, looking forward to the delicious food that was about to come out of the pot. The air was filled with the aroma of food.