RPAGF Chapter 90 Handmade Candied Hawthorn
Chapter 90 Handmade Candied Hawthorn
Chapter 90 Handmade Candied Hawthorn
"You're here? Sit down and rest for a bit; this thing takes a lot of time."
Little Sizi sniffled as she sidled in, not saying a word, and lay down on the edge of the cutting board, her big eyes fixed on the red fruit in Su Mu's hand.
"acid----"
When the little girl saw what it was, her cheeks tightened reflexively, and she drooled quite a bit, but her loose tooth seemed to feel even more sore.
"Of course it will be sour if you only eat this."
Su Mu pushed the prepared hawthorn berries aside.
He turned around and lifted the lid of a small earthenware pot next to him.
A rich, sweet aroma of red beans wafted out.
It was made from thoroughly cooked red beans, peeled and sieved, then stir-fried with sugar and lard. The bean paste was as smooth as silk, with a dark red and glossy color.
Su Mu picked up a ball of red bean paste with his chopsticks and stuffed it into the hawthorn berry that he had just emptied out.
The originally hollow red berries were instantly filled to the brim.
"What is this?"
Little Sizi curiously poked the exposed red bean paste with her finger.
"medicine."
Su Mu made up a lie with a straight face, saying, "It's a cure for children who don't eat and have loose teeth."
Little Sizi withdrew his hand, clearly not believing it.
Medicine is usually bitter, but this smells sweet and fragrant.
Su Mu worked quickly, and in no time, dozens of hawthorns were filled with filling.
He found a dozen or so clean, thin bamboo skewers and strung the hawthorns together. Five skewers on each string, bright red and festive.
But it's not over yet.
Su Mu started cooking and setting up the fire.
This step is the most crucial.
Half a ladle of water, a bowl of rock sugar.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook slowly.
The sugar water in the pot started to bubble vigorously, making a bubbling sound.
Gradually, the large bubbles became smaller, the water evaporated, the sugar syrup began to thicken, and the color changed from transparent to a light amber.
Su Mu dipped his chopsticks in a little sugar syrup and then chilled them in a bowl of cold water.
quack!
The sugar beads solidified and made a crisp sound when bitten.
"The timing is right."
With lightning speed, Su Mu lifted the pot off the heat. He picked up a string of hawthorns and quickly rolled them in the bubbly syrup.
Be quick and stylish.
Just one layer; too much will make it sticky, too little won't make it crispy.
The hawthorn skewers coated in syrup were placed on an oiled bluestone slab.
Sizzle—!
With a very slight sound, the scalding hot syrup met the cold stone slab and quickly cooled and solidified.
The hawthorns, which were originally dark red, now looked as if they were wearing a layer of crystal armor, shimmering with an alluring luster in the sunlight.
One string, two strings, three strings.
Soon, a row of bright red, gleaming swords filled the cutting board.
The air was filled with the sweet aroma of caramel, mixed with the unique fruity acidity of hawthorn, forcefully penetrating into the nostrils.
Little Sizi had long forgotten about the toothache. He stood on tiptoe, resting his chin on the edge of the cutting board, drooling profusely.
"Pot—is this shiny thing hard?"
The little girl was still a bit worried about that tooth, saying, "I can't bite through it."
Su Mu picked up a string of freshly cooled skewers and handed it to her.
"You don't need to bite hard; the sugar shell is brittle and will crumble at the slightest touch. The fruit inside is soft, and the red bean paste is even softer. Don't use your front teeth to gnaw on it; use your back teeth and gently tap it."
Xiao Sizi took the candied hawthorn skewer, which was bigger than her face, with both hands.
That bright red color is so cheerful.
She tentatively stuck out her tongue and licked it.
sweet!
It tastes only sweet, not sour.
She mustered her courage, put the top one into her mouth, tilted her head, and gently closed it with her inner molars.
Click!
A crisp, delicate sound.
The thin, cicada-wing-like sugar coating crumbled between my teeth, and then the sour taste that was trapped inside surged out.
Before my cheeks even started to feel sore, the soft and smooth red bean paste melted in my mouth.
Sour, sweet, sandy, sticky, and crunchy!
Five textures battle in your mouth, eventually blending together to create a wonderfully irresistible flavor.
The tartness of the hawthorn cuts through the sweetness of the sugar, while the sweetness of the red bean paste balances the tartness of the fruit.
Most importantly, it really doesn't hurt your teeth!
The hawthorn flesh had been scalded by the hot syrup and was now soft, with the pits gone, leaving only soft and sticky red bean paste.
"Ugh—!"
""
Little Sizi's eyes widened suddenly, a feeling of happiness shooting straight to the top of her head from her taste buds. She stopped covering her cheeks, grabbed the bamboo skewers with both hands, and ate with gusto.
"Good! Good! It's sweet and sour!"
The little girl swallowed the first one in a few bites, and then immediately put the second one into her mouth.
"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
Su Mu watched her wolf down her food and shook his head with a smile. He then took a bundle of straw and stuck the candied hawthorns he had made onto it one by one.
From a distance, it looks like a small tree laden with red berries.
"Could I bring this to my older sister?"
Little Sizi had a third piece stuffed in her mouth and asked indistinctly, a small piece of shiny sugar crumb still stuck to the corner of her mouth.
"They're all yours; you can give them to whomever you want."
Su Mu handed her the heavy bundle of straw. "Can you carry it?"
"I can carry it!"
Little Sizi is full of energy right now.
She held the bamboo skewer in her mouth, picked up the bundle of straw with both hands, and although she swayed a little, her excitement made her feel like she could carry a mountain.
Goodbye, Guoguo!
The little girl, carrying a candied hawthorn tree twice her height, strode confidently and proudly out of the imperial kitchen's backyard.
The long corridor of Taiji Palace was originally lifeless.
The palace maids and eunuchs all kept their heads down, afraid of incurring bad luck.
His Majesty just got really angry because the princess ran away without eating. Right now, the atmosphere in the Liangyi Palace is frighteningly tense.
"Selling candied hawthorns! Very good candied hawthorns!"
A crisp shout broke the silence.
Princess Jinyang came running over, carrying a huge bundle of straw covered with bright red, shiny fruits.
The bundle of grass was so big that it made her look even smaller, like a little ant carrying a huge fruit on its back.
-
"Oh, my little darling!"
Wang Dequan had just come out of the hall when he saw this and was startled. He quickly went to greet him, "Where did you get this huge thing? Put it down quickly, don't hurt your back!"
"It's not heavy! Give one to Wang Banban!"
Xiao Sizi generously pulled out a string of pearls and stuffed it into Wang Dequan's hand.
"this----"
Wang Dequan stared blankly at the crystal-clear object in his hand.
"Quickly! Made by Guo Guo, it's really good!"
Little Sizi pulled out another string of pearls and handed it to the little palace maid who usually combed her hair, saying, "Sister, this is for your toothache!"
The young palace maid was flattered and hurriedly knelt down to express her gratitude.
The entrance to the Liangyi Hall instantly became lively.
The little ox was like a generous benefactor, giving away to everyone it met. The sweet and sour aroma wafted through the air, dispelling much of the oppressive heat.
Inside the hall.
Li Shimin was sulking over the untouched plate of grapes.
He frowned upon hearing the cheerful laughter outside.
"What's all the noise outside? Don't they know I'm annoyed?"
He stood up and strode to the entrance of the hall.
Upon seeing this, I was so angry I almost twisted my nose.
His beloved daughter was surrounded by a group of eunuchs and palace maids, laughing so hard her eyes were almost closed.
He was still waving the bare bamboo skewer in his hand, and his mouth was covered in red sugar stains.
Meanwhile, the servants, each holding a bright red skewer, were eating with great relish.
The crisp cracking sounds were incessant.
"Shut up, all of you!"
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