Chapter 18: Weight-loss meals can also be delicious.
Zhu Xiaoxiao walked over and said to Su Yingxue, "Sister Su, please help our Shen Yu. Do you know how to make a low-fat meal?"
"A low-fat meal?" Su Yingxue asked Zhu Xiaoxiao teasingly, "Shen Yu, do you want to eat a low-fat meal?"
Zhu Xiaoxiao's eyebrows drooped in worry. "Sigh, I took on an endorsement a few days ago, and we're going to shoot promotional photos in a few days. The tight-fitting long dress is Xiaoyu's size, but I've been eating too well these past few days, and when I tried it on today, I couldn't pull it up... It's just a little bit short."
"Pfft..." Su Yingxue suddenly laughed, thinking of Shen Yu's picky eating habits, and then thinking that she hadn't actually eaten much these past few days, but she had been eating at every meal, so she should have gained a little weight compared to before.
"I get worried whenever I think about taking promotional photos. Isn't this the only place I can find?" Zhu Xiaoxiao looked at Su Yingxue with bright eyes.
"Alright, alright, then shall we still have Shen Yu's beef hot pot tonight?"
“No, Shen Yu can’t come, but you can call me, and I promise I’ll come.” Zhu Xiaoxiao patted her chest. As she spoke, she inquired about the aroma emanating from the pot; the tender fragrance of beef lingered in the air.
Zhu Xiaoxiao glanced at Su Yingxue, who was still mixing the seasonings, and, suppressing her drool, asked, "What else can we eat for lunch?"
Su Yingxue waved her hand and said that they would have beef dumplings for lunch.
Anyway, she knows how to make dough, and she's better at making dumplings than cooking other dishes.
While skillfully kneading the dough, Su Yingxue smiled and said to Zhu Xiaoxiao, "Alright, don't worry. I'll make beef dumplings for you two at noon. I'll add extra celery and carrots to the filling, which will enhance the flavor and make it refreshing."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiaoxiao's face lit up with a smile. She leaned closer to the cutting board, sniffed the smooth and elastic dough, and exclaimed, "Wow, just smelling this dough makes my mouth water! Sister Su, your skills are getting better and better. If I had half of your skills, my mom would praise me every day!"
"Stop being so glib," Su Yingxue gently patted her head. "You're all talk and no action. If you were really in the kitchen, you probably couldn't even chop scallions properly."
Zhu Xiaoxiao stuck out her tongue, then suddenly remembered something and asked seriously, "Sister Su, the weight loss meal you made for Shen Yu... it's not just boiled chicken breast and boiled vegetables, is it? She's so picky. Last time I made her eat cucumber salad, she only ate two bites and then said 'life is hopeless'."
Su Yingxue couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Don't worry, I won't 'torture' her like that. Weight loss meals can be delicious too. The key is to control the calories and not make them too unpalatable, otherwise who can stick to it? I plan to prepare some high-protein, low-fat ingredients for her. For example, chicken breast can be marinated with lemon and black pepper and then pan-fried until fragrant, along with mixed grain rice, steamed broccoli, cherry tomatoes, and cold black fungus and tofu salad. A colorful meal will make it more appetizing."
"Wow, after hearing you say that, I'd love to try your weight-loss meals!" Zhu Xiaoxiao said with longing.
“You,” Su Yingxue tapped her forehead, “you’re not fat, you just have a sweet tooth. But if you want to change things up, I’ll put less fatty beef and more vegetables in the hot pot tonight, so you can eat healthier.”
Zhu Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, Sister Su is the best! So, when are you going to start 'implementing' the weight loss meal plan for Shen Yu?"
"Let's do it this afternoon," Su Yingxue said while rolling out dumpling wrappers. "I'll get up early this afternoon to prepare and send her a sample first to see how she reacts. If she accepts it, we'll proceed in this direction, adjusting gradually, and hopefully get her to fit into that dress on the day of the promotional photos!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhu Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously. "That dress was specially borrowed by the brand to highlight the theme of 'elegant transformation.' If Xiaoyu can really wear it, she will definitely amaze everyone!"
As they were talking, the aroma of beef and spices wafted from the kitchen, accompanied by the soft sound of dough being tossed around, filling the whole little house with a warm and satisfying atmosphere.
Zhu Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and sighed contentedly, "Ah, with Sister Su here, we are so happy! Even our weight loss meals look so appealing!"
Su Yingxue smiled and shook her head: "Go wash your hands and get ready to eat dumplings. If you keep chatting, the dumplings will get cold!"
Zhu Xiaoxiao cheered and ran to wash her hands, already imagining the steaming, fragrant beef dumplings at noon—and of course, the tempting beef hot pot that evening, even though Shen Yu couldn't join them.
At this moment, Shen Yu had no idea that she was about to embark on a "painful yet joyful" weight loss journey...
At noon, sunlight streamed into the kitchen through the curtains. Su Yingxue, wearing a light blue apron, stood in front of the counter, skillfully preparing Shen Yu's "special weight-loss meal."
She ladled the steamed mixed grain rice into a white porcelain bowl. Each plump grain had a warm, pale yellow hue, interspersed with the dark brown and reddish-brown of red beans and brown rice, creating a natural and healthy color. The surface of the rice was slightly raised, like small hills, emitting a faint aroma of grains—neither bland nor greasy.
Next, she opened the frying pan and seared the marinated chicken breast pieces to perfection. The chicken breast was cut into even small cubes, each one a tempting light golden brown, slightly charred on the surface yet still tender on the inside. While searing, she sprinkled a little freshly ground black pepper and fresh lemon juice, which not only removed the original dryness of the chicken breast but also gave it a fresh and slightly spicy flavor, making it juicy and springy to the bite.
In the steamer beside her, vibrant green broccoli had just come out, each tiny floret tightly clustered together, its color as bright as tender spring shoots, glistening with moisture as if freshly picked from the field. She seasoned it with only a pinch of salt and a few drops of olive oil, preserving the vegetable's natural sweetness and crispness, resulting in a slightly sweet taste with the unique fresh aroma of the vegetable.
On the other side, she cut the cherry tomatoes in half, their bright red, round flesh resembling tiny, sparkling gems. A sprinkle of chopped mint leaves added color and a refreshing herbal aroma. The cherry tomatoes, sweet and juicy, were the "sweetheart" of the meal, both appetizing and refreshing.
Then there was the cold dish of wood ear mushrooms and tofu. The wood ear mushrooms, after soaking, turned a glossy black color, each piece thick and elastic, remaining soft yet crisp even after blanching; the tender tofu was cut into small cubes, white as jade, so soft it almost melted in your mouth, drizzled with a little low-sodium soy sauce, a touch of balsamic vinegar and minced garlic, and sprinkled with some chopped green onions and white sesame seeds. The colors were striking, the aroma was enticing, and the sour and savory flavors were slightly salty, making it very appetizing.
Finally, Su Yingxue arranged the colorful and uniquely shaped ingredients on a plate. On the white porcelain plate, golden-brown chicken breast chunks were neatly arranged on top of light yellow mixed grain rice, next to which were bright green broccoli, bright red tomatoes, glossy black fungus, and snow-white tofu, garnished with emerald green scallions and brown sesame seeds. The entire low-fat meal resembled a small "food painting," rich in color and distinct in layers, making it appetizing just to look at.
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