Chapter 79(1/2)
The meat slice soup that Du Heng wants to make is very simple. He has drunk this soup once and it feels very convenient and light. Just dip the sliced meat slices with starch and then flatten it with the back of a knife or a rolling pin.
A piece of meat that is as big as a palm will become two or three times larger than before after it is unfolded. Then add water to the pot and add a few drops of soybean oil. After the water boils, put the hammered meat slices into the boiling water piece by piece. Just wait for the soup in the pot to boil again and you can come out of the pot!
Sprinkle a little white pepper and MSG before it is released, which is fresh and tender. The elderly and children like this taste.
Du Heng hammered the meat slices evenly and quickly on the chopping board. It didn't take too much effort to hammer the meat slices. What he needed was to hammer the meat slices thinly, rather than to hammer it into a paste. Du Heng only cut more than twenty pieces of front leg slices, but after he got the hammered, the meat slices piled on the chopping board looked several times larger than the meat he cut.
This is all due to starch! Du Heng picked up a piece of meat stained with starch, and he gestured. After the meat was hammered open, it was almost the same as Xiaoxiao's face.
The water in the pot boiled, Du Heng threw the meat slices into the pot one by one, and then gently cut them with chopsticks. The water in the pot immediately became turbid, and the meat slices were covered with a layer of crystal starch condensation.
When the water boiled, he threw the lily petals in the basket into the pot. The petals softened when they encountered hot water, and the water in the pot opened soon. Du Heng sprinkled a little mushroom essence and tasted it. It was quite delicious if you only drink the soup.
He took out a large bowl and served the hammered meat soup in the bowl. The dishes he cooked were all home-cooked and did not have too much decoration, but it looked real.
The soup of meat slices tastes good, and everyone feels good about the meat slices. However, the lily petals become soft and rotten after blanching, and they taste slightly bitter and a little smooth. This taste... no one likes it very much.
Du Heng felt that the lilies in Jing Nan's yard could not be sold, so it would be better to cut them out and arrange them honestly. Or he had problems with his craftsmanship. If he could know how to use flowers to the food, the meat soup made might taste better.
But cooking delicious food is just moving forward in the process of continuous overturning. Which chef has never stepped on the pitfall? Faced with unfamiliar ingredients, overturning is the normal state.
Time passed by little by little. Du Heng worked hard to practice cooking these days, and it was the day of the beginning of summer in a blink of an eye. Wen Qiong was about to leave the village and go home.
Du Heng packed the food Wen Qiong wanted to take away in the refrigerator. He knew that Wen Qiong liked to eat sweets and scraps. He made a lot of chicken feet and duck necks these days. He put a full storage bag for Wen Qiong. If he really couldn't hold it, he used a small backpack to stuff it into her backpack.
Wen Qiong was wearing a bright red dress today. She wore this color when she came to the village. However, when she came, the village was covered with snow. Now that she was leaving, the spiritual plants in the village grew taller than hers.
The little butterfly hairpin on Wen Qiong's head shone in the sun. Her eyes were big and round, and two dimples appeared when she smiled. When she smiled at Du Heng, Du Heng's eyes turned slightly red.
I don’t know when I will see Wen Qiong when I go there, Du Heng handed the storage bag in his hand to Wen Qiong: “Master, the storage bag contains everything you like to eat. Xuan Yu helped me strengthen the formation on the storage bag, which can be kept for up to one month.”
He handed the prepared small backpack to Wen Qiong: "You can eat the food in the backpack on the road, there is no formation inside, and the storage time is a bit short. You can try to finish it in the past two days."
Wen Qiong smiled and put the storage bag in her sleeves, then carried an inappropriate small backpack. She said crisply: "Thank you, disciple, I will finish these things well. After I leave, you must practice well. You are about to make a pill, remember not to be careless. There is no shortcut to practicing. If you are not by your side, you cannot slack off."
Wen Qiong said this to Du Heng hundreds of times, and Du Heng's ears were almost growing calluses when he heard it. But now Wen Qiong is leaving, and after listening to these words, Du Heng felt sour in his heart: "Disciple, remember."
Wen Qiong smiled and patted Du Heng on the shoulder: "Farewell is for a better encounter. I hope that by seeing you next time, you will be a mature and reliable monk!"
Wen Qiong took care of Du Heng for a while and formally saluted Jing Nan and Xuan Yu. Wen Qiong said to Jing Nan: "Two sirs, thank you for your care during this period."
Jing Nan smiled and said, "We caused trouble for Xiaoqiong. I knew you were busy and I still called you here. After I went back, I would continue to be tired and I would run around for our business."
Wen Qiong smiled and said, "It should be, Wen Qiong's life is given by everyone. It should be done by this little thing."
Xuan Yu greeted Wen Qiong: "Thank you Xiao Qiong." Wen Qiong narrowed his eyes: "Master Xuan, you asked me to teach Du Heng. Although I have not been with him for a long time, I recognize him as a disciple. If I have the chance in the future, I will introduce him to my other disciples."
Xuan Yu nodded: "Thank you Xiaoqiong for planning for Du Heng."
Wen Qiong looked at Du Heng with a smile: "If you have the chance to see you again in the future, I will bring your five senior brothers and sisters to see you. Don't forget to make a table of delicious food for them at that time."
Du Heng nodded: "Disciple remember."
Wen Qiong's eyes fell on Xiaoxiao, and she suddenly smiled treacherously: "Xiao Fengjun, can I let me hug you?" Xiaoxiao stretched out her wings at Wen Qiong, and Wen Qiong hugged Xiaoxiao with a whistle. She kissed Xiaoxiao several times: "Xiao Fengjun is so cute~~"
After Wen Qiong had enough kisses, she bowed to everyone with satisfaction: "Wen Qiong will be gone, please take care of yourself."
Everyone stood at the entrance of the village and watched Wen Qiong's figure slowly become smaller, and she left, just as silent as when she came.
After Wen Qiong left, the village became even more deserted. There were only four people in the village. Du Heng could not imagine that before he arrived in the village, only Xuan Yu and Jing Nan were the only ones in the village. How did the three of them live?
I’m afraid that no one will respond for a long time if I say something? How lonely should it be?
As for people, the excitement is temporary, and you must learn to enjoy loneliness. Even if you only have one person, you should live a good life.
Since Wen Qiong left, time has lost its meaning to Du Heng. Every day when he opened his eyes, he repeated his practice and cooking for everyone. Days flowed slowly like water, Du Heng's vegetable field expanded bit by bit, and he planted more and more vegetables.
After the beginning of summer, the temperature gradually increased. The pumpkins that had been transplanted by Du Heng slowly stretched out their vines, and several impatient pumpkins even bloomed yellow flowers.
Life in the village is still continuing step by step. If someone else is changed, you will definitely feel that life in the village is monotonous and depressed, but Du Heng does not feel this way. With Xuan Yu and Jing Nan and others, Du Heng feels that his life is becoming more and more fulfilling and comfortable. He leaves more and more traces in the village, and he discovers more and more fun every day.
Two days ago, he went to Lingxi Town with Xuan Yu and Xiaoxiao. This time he bought a lot of jars and jars and came back. After he came back, he soaked kimchi in the jar. He soaked chili and sour bamboo shoots in the jar. When there were beans in two days, he could put the beans in the kimchi jar.
Du Heng looked at the crispy plums in the peach forest, and the plums could be picked. He specially bought several cans for wine soaking, just to prepare them for the plums in the forest.
The plums were only bigger than their thumbs, each with green and greasy bite. Du Heng carefully picked the plums on the tree with a smile. There were so many plums, and a basket of them were picked from each tree.
When Du Heng carried the basket back into the yard, he happened to see Xuan Yu coming out of Feng's home with Jing Nan in his arms. Jing Nan has become more and more sleepy recently. Sometimes when he talks well, he falls down with a thud.
Du Heng asked worriedly: "Are you asleep again?"
Xuan Yu nodded: "Yes, I thought about it and let Jing Nan live downstairs first? We can take care of each other when we are together. His current situation is not suitable for living alone."
Du Heng put down his backpack, and he walked to the guest room to help Jing Nan change into a new bed sheet. Xuan Yu carefully placed Jing Nan on the bed. Jing Nan had no consciousness, and Xuan Yu sent him some spiritual energy, but he had no reaction.
When Jing Nan fell asleep, she felt particularly fragile, which must be because he was all white. His face was not very good recently. Du Heng gave him enough small sip and failed to replenish his blood color.
Du Heng is preparing to steam lotus leaf chicken for Jing Nan today. In addition to lotus leaf chicken, he also wants to stew some pigeons for Jing Nan. Look at Jing Nan's face, it's impossible not to replenish it.
After closing the door, Du Heng asked Xuan Yu in confusion: "In theory, long tail is a good thing, which can make the power of the Nine Tails stronger. But why is the Nine Tails so weak before the long tail?"
Xuan Yu said: "Jing Nan's situation is quite special. His tail was broken before and he almost lost his life. Now every tail grows is to overcome a catastrophe. The higher the cultivation level, the more difficult it is to overcome a catastrophe. Jing Nan has to gather the spiritual energy in his body to withstand that kind of pain."
It was just the time to change the hair, and it was hard to imagine what kind of torture Jing Nan was suffering now. However, whenever Jing Nan woke up, he looked calm and gentle. When he faced Du Heng, he would only be picky about the deliciousness or badness of the food. Recently, he saw that Du Heng made chickens and ducks, and he didn't even say anything picky.
To be honest, Du Heng felt distressed when he saw Jing Nan like this.
Xuan Yu said to Du Heng softly: "Jing Nan is very strong, stronger than we imagined. When he survives this disaster, he will stand in front of you with a new attitude. You don't have to worry too much, make him more food for him, and he will definitely be very happy when he wakes up."
Du Heng felt it made sense. He couldn't help Jing Nan in his practice, but he was good at making delicious food.
The suckling pigeons packed by Yunyanlou were all clean, and the fat pigeons were almost as big as they were every year. Du Heng took eight pigeons and a small tender chicken, and he soaked them in clean water to remove blood.
Xiaoxiao stretched her neck and looked at the pool: "Jiuchi?"
Du Heng touched Xiaoxiao's head. Xiaoxiao, who is a feather tribe, was not polite at all when eating chicken. Du Heng was not worried about what shadows would happen to Xiaoxiao when she saw the chicken soaked in the water. Xiaoxiao must be asking him what delicious food he was going to make.
Du Heng smiled and said, "Do you like to make lotus leaf chicken and stewed pigeons?" Xiaoxiao pointed out the afterimage, let's see, Du Heng will know.
Xuan Yu took a wooden basin and placed it on the eaves of the corridor: "Do you want to clean the plums?"
Du Heng walked out of the kitchen: "Yes, but I still have to pick these plums."
Because of negligence in management, the plums did not grow perfectly, and some plums had insect eyes and scars. Du Heng needed to remove the plums with insect eyes, and separate the plums with heavier scars from the clean and complete plums. The injured plums can be used as snacks, and the intact plums can be soaked in wine.
With Xuan Yu's help, the two quickly divided the plums into two baskets. The plums in one basket were green in color and had very little or no damage. Such plums could be used to soak in wine. The other basket had spots and looked very beautiful. After making this snack, there were no scars.
The first thing to deal with is the plums that need to soak in wine. After cleaning the plums for the first time, they need to make a salt bath. The plums that have been rubbed with salt are much darker than the furry color at the beginning, and look pleasing to the eye.
Du Heng and Xuan Yu washed them very carefully. They washed them three times to ensure that each plum was washed clean. After cleaning, the plums were soaked in the water, which looked particularly beautiful.
Xuan Yu smiled and said, "In previous years, plums have rotted in the peach forest. I didn't know that the color of the plums looks so beautiful after they are washed."
Du Heng smiled and said, "Every ingredient has its own unique features. After handling it carefully, people who appreciate them will definitely appear."
After cleaning the plums, they cannot immediately take them out and soak them in wine. They still need to stay in clean water for an hour. Only after soaking can the plums remove the astringent smell.
The plums tasted very fragrant. Xiaoxiao was circling around the washed plums. He couldn't help but steal one and then slightly sour. Du Heng and Xuan Yu looked at Xiaoxiao's stupid stomachs, and Xiaoxiao couldn't help but tempt him to eat them once. At that time, he should have learned his lesson. Why did he do it again?
Du Heng and his team then washed the bumpy plums, which he planned to make crispy plums, salted and candied plums. Crispy plums and candied plums can be used as snacks, while salted plums can be used to cook ribs.
Like the plums who soaked wine before, these bumpy plums also need to be treated with a salt bath. After that, the plums that are salted and candied must be soaked in the wooden basin for an hour to get rid of their astringency. The plums that make crispy plums enjoy different treatments, and they need to undergo special massage techniques.
Du Heng brought out the Tianhu and said that from now on, he would record the weight of the plums who made various snacks.
For example, he weighed two pounds of salted plums. He used a small amount of salted plums. He threw four or five pieces of pork ribs. The ribs he made had more fragrance of plums. Two pounds of plums can make many ribs.
You can make more candied plums. The liquid that seeps out after pickling the candied plums is green plum dew, which can be used to drink. Du Heng weighed fifteen kilograms of green plums for candied plums, and the remaining plums are the largest. Du Heng weighed it and there were 23 kilograms.
He is going to use these plums to make crispy plums. The crispy plums are sour and sweet, so Xiaoxiao will definitely like this. For Xiaoxiao, it won’t take long to eat them.
The most common steps are used to make crispy plums. For the other types of plums, just clean them and add them to salt or sugar and wait quietly. The crispy plums need to be crushed, soaked in salt water, and soaked in gum water... five or six steps are taken before and after.
Du Heng took out the chopping board, he picked up a prepared plum and placed it on the chopping board. Just as Du Heng was about to take pictures of the green plum, he found that the green plum fruit stalks had not been removed yet.
Du Heng covered his face: "I forgot to pick out the fruit stems. I need another process." Xuan Yu smiled slightly: "I mean nothing."
As soon as the inspiration appeared in Xuan Yu's hand, the plums' stalks fell on the ground and formed a small black dot. It would be better to have spiritual energy. If it were changed before, Du Heng would have to use a toothpick to pick the stalks one by one, which was time-consuming and laborious.
Du Heng gave Xuan Yu a thumbs up: "Xiaoyu is so amazing." Xuan Yu said slowly: "As sooner or later, you can do this too."
Du Heng sighed: "It may take some time."
At least Du Heng cannot control his spiritual energy so accurately. He has to remove the pedicles of more than 20 kilograms of green plum fruit in an instant. How powerful and accurate spiritual energy is needed to do it. At least it must be above the golden elixir?
The kitchen knife slapped the green plum with a bang, and the green plum was sliced into pieces by Du Heng.
Xuan Yu asked, "Do you need to slap them? Let me give it a try."
Du Heng's old face turned red: "No, no, just pat their skin torn. I accidentally used too much force."
The poor plum meat was soaked, and the core inside was slapped by Du Heng. Du Heng looked at his hands, and was his power unknowingly so strong?
After several attempts, Du Heng finally found the right strength. He and Xuan Yu each took a kitchen knife and patted the plums on the side. After a while, Du Heng found the feeling. He took more than a dozen plums and placed them on the chopping board. His spiritual energy pressed down, and the plums cracked, and the green juice splashed on the chopping board, and a sour smell floated out.
Du Heng sighed: "It is better to use the monk's methods to do things quickly. When will one by one be taken?"
After the two of them smashed more than 20 kilograms of green plums, Du Heng proposed a clean wooden barrel. He poured the fracked plums into the barrel, and then poured the salt left after the plums into the barrel. The plums were covered with a thick layer of salt. Du Heng used spiritual energy to mix the salt and plums evenly, and then added clean water that had not exceeded the green plums to the barrel.
Crispy plums need to be soaked for the longest time, so where do they need to be soaked for a day and a night? Otherwise, where will the crispy and sweet taste come from?
Du Heng lifted the wooden barrel to the yard. He pressed a bamboo strip on it and a plate on it so that the plums could stay quietly in the salt water.
There are two large wooden basins in the yard, and a piece of green plum is soaked in the wooden basins. Du Heng and Xuan Yu are busy in the yard, and occasionally they can hear their voices.
To be continued...