After returning to Panyu City.
Baskets of potatoes were carried down.
Many women came forward.
"What is this?"
“Why are there so many?!”
Mu Ya stepped forward to help explain, smiling, "These are the potatoes Prince Ning brought. They can be eaten as a staple food, and can also be used as a vegetable. The key is that the yield is extremely high. One acre of land can produce 25 stone of potatoes."
"Princess, how much is twenty-five stone?"
"Almost three thousand pounds!"
"Three...three thousand pounds?!"
The whole audience exclaimed in surprise.
It was the first time they had heard of such a high output.
Ning Que smiled and arranged, "Wash these potatoes and keep the suitable ones for seeds. As for the defective ones, we will eat them today."
"This... how do I make this..."
"Your Majesty, we won't!"
"Yeah yeah!"
Ning Que could already guess what they were saying without needing a translator. Ning Que had a natural talent for learning, and with the constant interaction they had with him, even though he couldn't speak fluently, he could still understand the general idea.
"Muya, please help me translate."
"I'll teach them how to do it."
"good."
Ning Que looked at Shen Qinghe and the others again, "Qinghe, please help me entertain my fellow apprentices. We also have some precious monkey wine. We brothers should have a good drink today."
"become!"
Shen Qinghe smiled and nodded.
Now that most of the prominent figures in the Shenji Pavilion had arrived in Lingnan, Ning Que naturally had to entertain them well. In order to avoid Emperor Feng's suspicion, people like Lu Bai, Hong Qingquan, and others had not yet arrived in Dafeng.
The women followed instructions and began washing the potatoes, returning the high-quality ones to the baskets. Potato farming is relatively simple: suitable potatoes are saved for seed, and once they sprout, they can be planted and cultivated according to their root systems.
"You guys are responsible for steaming the potatoes."
"Wash and peel the potatoes."
"Cut into slices and steam over water."
Ning Que calmly sat in the front and continued to direct, "And you guys, be in charge of stewing the potatoes with beef. First, simmer the beef until tender and add some sauce. Once the beef is cooked through, chop the potatoes into pieces and throw them into the pot, then heat over high heat until the sauce is reduced."
"And you guys are in charge of stir-frying the potatoes. Cut the potatoes into shreds and stir-fry over high heat. And you guys, wash the potatoes, pound them into a paste, and then add some salt and chopped green onions to make mashed potatoes."
Ning Que stood up and gave orders from time to time.
Since it was their first time cooking potatoes, it was normal for them to not know how to cook them. Ning Que was mainly responsible for providing guidance while they cooked on their own. There were many ways to cook potatoes, and Ning Que chose a few that were relatively simple and that he liked.
However, the conditions in Panyu City were limited, and many seasonings were not available, so he had no idea what he could make. But as for potatoes, they were delicious no matter how they were cooked.
After giving his instructions, Ning Que returned to the courtyard. Jie Jun had already returned with his men, their faces beaming with smiles as they happily set down baskets of potatoes.
"You've returned just in time. The food is almost ready." Ning Que smiled and jokingly said, "Your Majesty, please hurry up and wash up. Let's all taste these potatoes."
“Haha, okay!”
They had already seen the potato yield, and as long as the taste was not too bad, they would accept it. After all, productivity was low in those days, and most people had no right to be picky. As long as they could fill their stomachs, they were content.
Jie Jun immediately led his men to sit down.
Ximen Jie, on the other hand, was drinking Monkey Wine and was already feeling tipsy. He had little interest in food, only in drinking. He had even been willing to help someone with an assassination just for a sip of wine.
"Hey, this monkey wine tastes pretty good too. Xiao Ning, do you have any more?"
"Don't worry, if Senior Brother Ximen likes to drink, he can give you as much as you want."
"That won't do." Ximen Jie also laughed and waved his hand, saying, "I was just joking. Brewing wine requires grain. If I drink too much, the old man will probably scold me again."
The old man he was referring to was Bu Suanzi.
Ning Que was nonchalant upon seeing this and said calmly, "Brother Ximen, don't worry. Winemaking does require grain, but don't forget that potatoes are also grain. With the right method, potatoes can also be used to make wine."
"That's a great feeling!"
Ximen Jie burst into laughter and quickly urged, "Then Junior Brother, you must try it right away. If you brew wine in the future, you must let me taste it first."
"no problem."
Ning Que smiled faintly.
To put it simply, brewing wine can be done with anything that has starch, so using potatoes isn't difficult. As far as he knows, the famous vodka is actually made from potatoes. While the alcohol content is quite high, it also tastes good, perfect for a drunkard like Ximen Jie.
They each took their own seat.
Talking about the interesting things that happened in Kunlun in the past.
Ning Que, surrounded by his girlfriends, sat beside Shen Qinghe and Mu Ya, raising his glass and occasionally drinking with them. The dishes were finally served, starting with the baked and steamed potatoes. These were the easiest and quickest to prepare.
Ning Que sprinkled some salt on the roasted potatoes and said with a smile, "Roasted potatoes don't taste particularly good, but they're filling. Especially during forced marches, they can be used as dry food. They can definitely be used as the army's staple food; they're quick, simple, and filling."
As he said this, he took a bite.
The potatoes were still soft and tender on the outside, but clearly undercooked on the inside. There was nothing that could be done about it; after all, that was the result of simply roasting them over high heat. Sprinkled with salt, they had a salty taste. The flavor was only so-so, so Ning Que only took two bites.
They all imitated Ning Que, chewing slowly and carefully. The expressions on their faces varied. It certainly wasn't that delicious. The texture was soft and smooth on the outside, but a bit crunchy on the back.
"Hmm, this potato tastes weird."
"I think these potatoes taste better when steamed." Yi Suiyun ate several pieces in a row and said softly, "Sprinkle some salt and vinegar on them and they'll be soft and delicious, much better than roasted potatoes."
"Junior Brother Yi is absolutely right."
Gongshu Chou nodded in agreement and said seriously, "Baked potatoes are obviously a last resort. The insides aren't cooked through at all. They're fine for forced marches, but steamed potatoes are better for normal situations. They also give you a stronger feeling of fullness. I only ate two potatoes, and I'm already feeling full."
"Haha, don't be anxious, everyone." Ning Que smiled and waved his hand, "We've only just begun, there are still a few dishes to come. Today I'm just letting you all try it first, so you can get an idea of the texture and effect of these potatoes."
You know, there are so many ways to cook potatoes.
What he did today were just a few simple ones.
If only there were more seasoning, he could do so much more!
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