Xu Qinyu was cleaning the pig intestines at the moment. She was going to make pig intestine fish and glutinous rice pig intestines later, so she had to clean the pig intestines first. Because she was making it at Xu Kongmu's house for his superiors, Xu Qinyu did not use wood ash to wash the pig intestines. She used a little flour and Huadiao wine. In fact, wood ash itself is very clean, but she was afraid that the noble would dislike it, so she did not use wood ash.
Pei Weixuan was helping her kill the fish.
There are mandarin fish and silver carp.
She plans to use silver carp and pig intestines to make pig intestine fish.
For mandarin fish, we can make the squirrel mandarin fish that they eat at home during the Chinese New Year. It is a Suzhou dish and is also very impressive.
Xu Yunlan held her nephew in her arms, standing by the entrance of the hanging flower gate as she watched the pretty young lady washing the pig intestines. After a moment's hesitation, she carried Xi'er into the yard. Standing close, she could even smell the fishy odor of sewage. Xu Yunlan's temperament was like her father's, not girlish at all. She didn't mind it at all, but the stench made Xi'er frown and he kept tugging at her clothes, calling in a baby voice, "Aunt, aunt..."
Xu Qinyu was amused by the child and said to the girl standing next to her, "Girl, you can stand at the kitchen door. You won't be able to smell anything over there."
Xu Yunlan pursed her lips and smiled, then stood at the kitchen door holding Xiger. Sure enough, she could no longer smell anything.
She glanced at Pei Weixuan again, then quickly looked away and continued to watch the young lady cooking.
Although this man is quite handsome, and there is no other man as handsome as him in Yuanbao Town, it is still more interesting to watch the young lady cook.
She was just very curious about how a young lady about her age cooked.
What's more, it's Chinese New Year and she has nowhere to go out and play.
She also has several good friends in Yuanbao Town. The county magistrate's daughter who is to be invited to the banquet today is her friend. However, today is the day when her father is entertaining the higher-ups, so her good friend will not come. It is also the New Year, and her father does not allow her to go out and bother others. She really doesn't know what to do at home, so she might as well come to the backyard and watch the cook cook.
Xu Qinyu handles the ingredients quickly and skillfully.
There were pork ribs and lotus roots in the kitchen. After washing the pig intestines, she processed these two things first. These pork ribs were not the kind without meat that she bought. They had thick pork leg meat on them. She planned to make a lotus root and pork rib soup first. She chopped the pork ribs into several pieces and cut the lotus roots with a rolling knife.
The pork bones are fresh and do not need to be blanched. Boil them in a pot and skim off the tiny bit of foam on top. Finally, pour them into a clay pot, add the chopped lotus root pieces, and simmer on the stove over low heat.
This lotus root and pork bone soup does not require any additional seasonings, just the right amount of salt and two slices of ginger. Simmer for more than two hours, and the meat on the pork bones melts in your mouth, and the lotus root tastes soft and glutinous. This dish can also nourish the spleen and stomach and eliminate stomach cold, and is very suitable for people of all ages.
While Xu Qinyu was cooking, she also told the girl holding the child how to make the soup and how it tasted.
She guessed that the girl should be Xu Kongmu's daughter. She looked a bit like Xu Kongmu and was also very tall.
Xu Yunlan couldn't help swallowing her saliva just by listening to the young lady talk about how to make this dish and what it tastes like after it is done.
She had been there for half an hour when Xiang came looking for her. She saw that her daughter and granddaughter were nowhere to be seen, and she also heard the maid say that her sister was carrying Xi'er towards the kitchen, so she knew that her daughter must be curious about the young lady and ran to the kitchen with Xi'er in her arms.
The Xu family originally had a maid who was in charge of kitchen affairs. Xiang was worried that Miss Xu didn't like others watching her cooking and was afraid that someone would learn her cooking skills, so she asked the maid to do other things.
When Xiang arrived at the kitchen, she saw her daughter standing at the kitchen door holding her grandson.
She came over hurriedly, "Girl, what are you doing in the kitchen?"
As Xiang spoke, she glanced towards the yard. The young lady who cooked was quite pretty, with almond eyes, fair skin, and willow-shaped eyebrows. She was very skillful at her work and was processing taro. The handsome man next to her should be her husband. He was laying bricks nearby, and it was unknown what he was doing. There was also an iron net next to it. No one knew what the iron net was used for in his family in the early years, and it was later thrown into the corner and no longer used. Now it was cleaned.
Xiang didn't know what the young lady's husband was doing. When she saw the young lady processing the taro, she hesitated. Taro is cheap and is eaten by the family. It is kept in the kitchen. Today she is entertaining the master and she has prepared a lot of good ingredients. Why is the young lady still processing the taro?
"Young lady, what about this taro?" Xiang couldn't help but ask.
Without waiting for Xu Qinyu to answer, Xu Yunlan immediately said: "Mom, I am planning to use this taro to make brown sugar glutinous rice and taro rice cakes. I said it tastes fragrant, sweet and sticky." Although she didn't quite understand the word "sticky", it should mean very sticky.
Anyway, she hasn't eaten it.
When Xiang heard that taro was used to make fresh food, he stopped asking.
I saw that Miss Xu's husband was still working with tiles and bricks, which looked like he was building a small stove. He even moved the pot of silver frost charcoal from the kitchen outside and poured it into the small stove. He also took some fire from under another stove and tried to light the charcoal.
Xiang didn't understand what was going on.
Xu Yunlan tugged at her mother's clothes, "Mom, the young lady said she would use this to make charcoal grilled lamb chops."
After she finished speaking, she couldn't help swallowing her saliva. Although the young lady didn't tell her the specific method, she felt that it must be delicious just by hearing the name.
Well, it was another new food that no one had ever heard of, so Xiang didn’t ask any more questions.
Just by smelling the delicious soup simmering on the small stove, she knew she had nothing to worry about.
In fact, she smelled the fragrance before she even reached the kitchen.
That's lotus root and lotus bone soup. After simmering for another hour, the aroma of the soup can be smelled all over the alley.
Xiang came over to tell her daughter to go to the front yard and not disturb the young lady while she was cooking, but Xu Yunlan refused to leave. Xiang had no choice but to take Xiger away when she saw that the young lady didn't seem to mind her daughter staying here. Xu Yunlan stayed in the kitchen for several hours.
Xu Qinyu quickly prepared all the ingredients.
The mutton was ribs, and the kitchen happened to have spices such as fennel, cumin, bay leaves, star anise, peppercorns, and even some pepper. The price of pepper can be very different from that of other spices. She also saw an iron mesh in the corner of the yard, and she was delighted. She asked Xu Yunlan if the iron mesh could be used. Xu Yunlan naturally said yes, and she thought of charcoal-grilled hand-pulled lamb chops.
It was charcoal grilled. She hadn't eaten charcoal grilled food for a long time and missed it a lot.
She had already cleaned the mutton and marinated it with sauce, shredded ginger and green onions, and would grill it on the iron grid outside at dinner time.
Other spices are also mixed in proportion to make barbecue ingredients.
There were a lot of lamb chops, so she planned to grill them all at once.
When the time comes, one plate will be served at the banquet, and the rest of the women in Xu Kongmu's family can also eat it.
She already knew that the girl's name was Xu Yunlan, the daughter of Xu Kongmu, and that she had a generous and sincere personality.
Xu Qinyu has almost processed all the ingredients.
She also soaked the glutinous rice early, but the time was not enough, so she soaked it in hot water.
It was still early for dinner, and the dishes would get cold easily after being cooked, so she planned to cook them later. There were many pots and stoves in the kitchen, so she could cook several dishes at the same time.
Xu Qinyu brought a small stool and sat in the yard to chat with Xu Yunlan. The two of them seemed to have a good connection.
The aroma of the simmering lotus root soup could be smelled throughout the Xu family residence. In addition to the aroma of the lotus root soup, there was also a very strong meaty aroma, which was the stewed beef tendon.
The piece of beef bought by the Xu family had a lot of tendons, so she stewed it on the stove early in the morning to make a dish of stewed beef tendons.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Xu Qinyu started to get busy.
In addition to lotus root and pork bone soup, charcoal-grilled lamb chops, and stewed beef tendon, there is also the fish with pig intestines that Xu Kongmu specifically requested, a squirrel mandarin fish, and the remaining fish heads of silver carp made into braised fish heads, which tastes better. She plans to make a dish of glutinous rice and pig intestines with the rest. The chicken is also good, the meat is firm and tender, not too big, just the right size to make a fresh and fragrant chicken.
She peeled the water chestnuts and river shrimps and made a dish of stir-fried water chestnuts with shrimps. Although the shrimps were not as big as the various shrimps she eats nowadays, they were very tender and sweet. They were stir-fried in the pan for a few seconds and then served. They tasted so refreshing and sweet.
There is also a dish of fried black fungus with yam slices.
I also used glutinous rice flour and steamed taro to make brown sugar glutinous rice and taro rice cakes, which can be regarded as a snack.
What’s a banquet without snacks?
There is also a hot and sour soup that is appetizing and relieves greasiness. It was also made for Xu Kongmu at the Xia family before.
There are twelve dishes in total, ten vegetables and two soups.
While the charcoal-grilled hand-pulled lamb chops were being grilled, Xu Yunlan stuck to Xu Qinyu, while Pei Weixuan sat not far away. There was nothing else that needed his help, and there were still two stir-fries that Yu Niang could make in a short time.
The charcoal-grilled hand-pulled lamb chops were grilled by Xu Qinyu herself. The other dishes were stewed in the pot, and she squatted outside to grill the lamb chops.
The lamb chops were sizzling with oil, the skin was roasted till shiny and golden brown, and the barbecue seasoning was sprinkled on top. Once it was sprinkled on top, the aroma became even more stimulating.
Xu Yunlan squatted beside her. She had been there since the beginning of the baking. Her mouth opened a little unconsciously and she felt something dripping down. She wiped her mouth and found some saliva. Xu Yunlan's face flushed red. She wiped the corners of her mouth quickly, ran back to the kitchen to wash her hands, and came out to continue squatting beside the young lady.
When the aroma of the barbecue ingredients had spread, Xu Qinyu took a plate and put the lamb chops on it.
Xu Qinyu grilled both lamb chops.
Xu Yunlan asked with shining eyes, "Miss Xu, do we not need to serve the remaining set?"
Xu Qinyu smiled and said, "Yes, I made a lot. You can keep some for later."
Xu Yunlan couldn't help but cheer, staring at the plate of lamb chops eagerly.
Even Xiang and her daughter-in-law were attracted by the fragrance and came to the kitchen carrying Xiger.
Seeing the fresh food like charcoal-grilled lamb chops, Xiang's mouth was watering.
Seeing her daughter-in-law and daughter looking eagerly at the lamb chops, Xiang knew that half of it was reserved for them, so she said, "Why don't you all try it first?"
Anyway, the son and the master will be sitting at the table to eat and drink with the county magistrate soon, and the women are not allowed to eat and drink at the table, so it’s okay to try it in the kitchen first.
Xu Yunlan immediately nodded, and her daughter-in-law also nodded slightly.
These charcoal-grilled hand-pulled lamb chops were cut one by one while being marinated, but not completely separated. Xu Qinyu washed her hands, gently pulled off a few lamb chops, and handed one to each person.
Xiang said, "Miss Xu and your husband should also try it." She was not a stingy person. Since others had made such a delicious dish, they should also try it.
Xu Qinyu thanked him and bought one for herself and her fourth brother.
The charcoal-grilled lamb chops have a golden and shiny skin, and all the fat is roasted out. Take a bite while it's still hot, and you'll find the skin is crispy, but the meat inside is tender.
This mutton is not fed with feed, but with husks and grass. After being marinated, it is neither smelly nor greasy, and it is really delicious.
Xu Yunlan's eyes widened after taking a bite, she couldn't believe that there was such a delicious thing.
Xiang had a similar expression.
What was she still doubting at this moment? The young lady's craftsmanship was truly amazing.
The county magistrate has arrived in the front yard.
The county magistrate Yang Jiarong was about the same age as Xu Kongmu, about forty years old, slightly plump, and looked quite kind.
As soon as they entered the Xu family's house, the aroma that the county magistrate had smelled in the alley became stronger and stronger. He couldn't help but ask, "Did the Xu Kongmu family hire a new chef?"
Xu Kongmu said, "Today we are hosting a banquet for you, sir. I just learned a few days ago that there is a new chef with excellent cooking skills, so I invited him to come to the mansion to try his hand."
Yang Jiarong nodded and didn't ask any more questions. It smelled very fragrant, but he didn't know how it tasted. It still depended on how it tasted.
When the kitchen staff knew that the county magistrate had arrived, Xiang asked the servants to bring the dishes to the front living room.
Xu Qinyu also fried the last two dishes: stir-fried yam slices with black fungus and stir-fried water chestnuts with shrimps. On another pot on the stove, she also prepared hot and sour soup.
After the waiter brought over the dishes in front, her two stir-fried dishes and hot and sour soup were also served on plates.
Finally, I stewed some soda-steamed meat for Xiger. It was made with eggs and pork tenderloin. The tenderloin was chopped into minced meat and two eggs and a little salt and pepper were added to adjust the taste. No other strong-flavored seasonings were added. Boil water over high heat and steam for half a quarter of an hour. It was fresh and tender, and most suitable for children to eat.
All dishes were served hot.
What the Lian County Magistrate was most interested in was the charcoal-grilled hand-pulled lamb chops. It was the first time he had seen such food.
The waiter standing by briefly introduced the dish and said that it should be eaten by tearing it with hands.
Xu Kongmu's eldest son was also at the table.
The three of them tore a piece of lamb chop. The meat was so tender and crispy when they took a bite. There were some particles on it that they didn't know what they were. The crispy taste of the lamb chop made it so delicious. With a pull of their mouths, the whole piece of meat and bone came off. Xu Kongmu had eaten the food made by Miss Xu before, but this new dish made his scalp tingle. It was so fragrant and delicious.
County Magistrate Yang Jiarong praised: "Excellent craftsmanship!"
He was from Jiangzhou, a rich place with abundant fish and rice. Most of the people there lived well, and there were many wealthy businessmen. There were more varieties of food, and the chefs were all very skilled.
But even in Jiangzhou, he had never tasted such delicious food.
Xu Kongmu was really thoughtful to find a chef with such skills in this southwestern border area.
Yang Jiarong originally wanted to ask about the identity of the cook Xu Kongmu, and often invite him to cook at the county government office in the future.
But when Yang Jiarong thought of his little daughter, he immediately stopped thinking about it.
It's not anything else, but he has a little daughter who is really too fat, greedy, and can't control her mouth. This chef has such amazing skills. If he invites her to his house to cook, the little daughter will be even more unable to control her mouth. Wouldn't she get even fatter by then?
In fact, he also wanted his daughter to lose weight, but it was too difficult. In the past two years, his daughter had lost weight several times, back and forth, so he just gave her some boiled vegetables to eat, but after ten days or half a month, she couldn't control her eating and gained more weight.
In the end, even he and his wife couldn't help but give up.
Thinking of this, Yang Jiarong couldn't help but sigh.
At today's table, Yang Jiarong enjoyed the meal more comfortably and was more satisfied than ever before.
But after Yang Jiarong returned, he did not dare to tell his family, for fear that his daughter would find out and pester the daughter of Xu Kongmu's family to ask.
The girls from the two families are good friends and often play together.
Before Xu Qinyu had even finished eating, Xiang came over with two small gold ingots, both weighing five taels, making a total of ten taels.
Xu Qinyu took it, thanked Xiang and then went back with her fourth brother.
Xu Yunlan was reluctant to leave. She didn't know how to cook and didn't have much interest in it, but that didn't stop her from liking to watch the young lady cook. She felt that watching Miss Xu cook was a kind of enjoyment.
Finally, when Xu Yunlan sent Xu Qinyu out, she couldn't help but ask about the young lady's home address. She thought that even if she didn't invite the young lady to cook at home, she could still be friends with the young lady. She liked the young lady Xu very much, and they could go shopping and play together when they had time in the future.
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