Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 106
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 106: Bonus Chapter - Copper Hot Pot
Family banquet on New Year's Eve is almost the same every year. Of course, in a big family like Duke Xie Mansion, the food is not exciting. Even on New Year's Eve, there must be rules at the dinner table.
But this year is different. Whether Zhou-shi, who was determined to leave the capital or Xu-shi, who didn't know how to relax, everyone has changed a little. No one wanted to repeat the previous New Year's Eve dinner.
Jiang Shuyao is still unable to cook because she is pregnant, so she had to ask the chef to prepare some simpler New Year's Eve dinners following her instruction.
After thinking about it, she asked people to make three copper hotpots.
A copper hot pot is not the same as a traditional hot pot. The flavor is not strong. Whether it is steamed lamb or pickles and white meat, it is relatively light and suitable for all ages.
After the pot was done, Xie Xun carried the drawings and went to pick it up after work. Jiang Shuyao couldn't go, so she could only rely on him to inspect the goods. Luckily, the craftsman of the Lin family was very good, and there was nothing wrong with it. After he was sure that it was correct, he brought the pot back to the Xie Mansion. Lin Cheng, who was walking on the same road, was inevitably curious.
He had been thinking about hot pot for a long time, but the hot pot that they ate last time used a big and open pot. This copper pot is more delicate, with a vertical tube in the middle and a circle around it, probably where the meat is cooked.
He was cheeky and asked Xie Xun for the design for the copper hot pot. When Xie Xun went home, he asked Jiang Shuyao. Jiang Shuyao did not plan to hide it and gave Lin Cheng the drawings. Xie Xun also thought about his wife's relationship with Concubine Lin, so he ordered a few more and sent them to the Lord Xiangyang Mansion, Concubine Lin, and the East Palace.
To prepare a hot pot, you just need to cut vegetables and slice meat. Seeing that the sky was going to darken, the family banquet began.
Xie Ye and Xie Hao just came back from the street with their two younger brothers. Their stomachs were already empty. They went to the main kitchen and took out two steamed buns to share with the younger brothers. Then they looked in the stove for a roast chicken.
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There were many dishes on New Year's Eve in previous years, but it was winter, and the dishes were cold after a while. Those who were close to the food did not have the appetite, and those who were far away could not pick it up. There was no warmth, and everyone went back to their own yard hungry and find something to eat secretly.
Later, Xie Ye and Xie Hao learned to be clever. First, they went to the main kitchen to find something to cushion their stomach and then eat something casually for dinner. After returning to the yard, they would eat something else with Xu-shi. Only after eating these three meals a night were they finally not hungry during New Year's Eve.
As a result, they went around in the main kitchen but didn't find the usual dishes like. The kitchen is not as busy as in previous years, and they can't find a chance to steal food.
He casually grabbed a cook and asked, "This year's dishes have changed?"
The cook nodded and said, "Responding to the young master, the eldest lady gave us an order to follow the arrangements of the third lady. This year, only the main dishes would be served. The rest of the dishes have been withdrawn."
Xie Ye nodded and took his brothers away with steamed buns.
"What do you think we would have for dinner?" He said, "Only the main dishes are served, and the rest of the dishes are withdrawn. Are we going to eat dumplings?"
Xie Hao shook his head, "It won't be possible. Since the third aunt took over, we just wait to eat something delicious." He pulled Xie Ye's hand off, "Are you stupid—eating steamed buns?"
After a few steps out of the main kitchen, they were caught by Xu-shi.
"What are you doing here?" Xu-shi stared at Xie Ye and took a closer look.
Xie Ye hid the bun behind his back, "It's nothing. I'm hungry, so we came here to see if the food is ready."
Xu-shi nodded suspiciously and then urged them, "Come on. We were looking for you everywhere. Take a seat and prepare to eat."
They glanced at the sky, felt strange, and said, "This year, dinner is so early?"
When they remember the situation in the main kitchen, how do they feel this New Year dinner is so casual?
No. It's not casual.
After the old madam and the Duke were seated and spoke long words like usual, the maids began to serve.
First of all, three copper pots were placed on the table.
Before Xie Ye and Xie Hao had time to be dumbfounded, they went on to serve a large plate of raw meat and vegetables.
Except for Xie Xun and Jiang Shuyao, the others didn't know what the hot pot was. Looking at the table of raw food, they were stunned and cast their eyes at Xu-shi.
Xu-shi quickly said, "Third sister-in-law arranged this year's banquet. We don't need the cooks to cook it. Let's cook it by ourselves."
It sounds too unpretentious. How can noblemen cook food themselves for New Year's Eve dinner?
Jiang Shuyao wanted to explain but was stopped by Xie Xun. He explained the way of eating copper hot pot first. After finishing speaking, he added, "If you are not used to eating this, the dishes from previous years are also warmed in the kitchen, so let the maid serve the dishes."
At this time, the soup in the copper hot pot began to boil. The winter in Beijing is very cold. When the soup is bubbling, a milky white mist evaporates, and as the clouds linger, the room warmed up a lot in a short while.
Xie Xun glanced at the old madam. Although they wanted to put aside the red tape for this year's New Year's Eve dinner and have a lively dinner, some rules still had to be observed.
After experiencing so many things, the old madam also understands some tolerance.
If it was her a few months ago, she would lose her temper with a cold face, and it would make the New Year's Eve dinner to be unpleasant. But now, she doesn't want to worry about unimportant things. After all, she had gone to the street food market and eat food there. What kind of pretentiousness does she still pay attention to?
She symbolically moved her chopsticks together with the Duke, so the juniors can move the chopsticks.
The food they served the most is naturally lamb slices. The muttons are as thin as paper. The slices of meat are translucent, with red and white colors, like marble patterns. They are neatly stacked on a white porcelain plate. Although they are raw meat, they are pleasing to the eye.
Such a thin slice of mutton will not tear when it is sandwiched between the chopstick. When it is put in the boiling soup and shook a little, it will change color.
It is reasonable to say that Jiang Shuyao can't stay quiet. It's actually not appropriate for Jiang Shuyao to speak at this time, but she didn't know that there were these rules. She reminded them, "The lamb will be better if you just "rinse" it a little bit in the hot soup. It will be tough if you put it too long."
The others answered, then reached for the mutton with their chopsticks.
The dipping sauce for lamb is sesame sauce. People can also add some fermented bean curd or leeks according to their taste. Chopped green onion and garlic are essential, plus some coriander and chopped peanuts. The mellow and rich sesame sauce faced the sharp green color, looking very stunning. If it is too heavy, it is delicious just with the sesame paste. Even without the extra seasoning, the lamb has a rich and mellow taste.
After the lamb has changed color, take it out and wrap it in the sesame sauce. The thinly rolled slices of meat are covered with a thick layer of sesame sauce. When put in the mouth, the scent will instantly dazzling to the head.
The sesame sauce is warm, and the lamb slices are piping hot. When the two are fused together, the mellow sesame fragrance is fat but not greasy. The fresh tender meat is a bit soft and melts in the sesame paste without chewing. In the middle, it turns into a long-lasting desirable fragrance, milky and creamy, with endless aftertaste.
As soon as Xie Zhao swallowed, he couldn't help but sighed, "It's delicious!"
The dinner table was not very lively. His shouting broke people's focus on the gurgling soup, and the atmosphere was suddenly a bit strange.
Xie Ye held down his little brother and turned to look at his mother.
Xu-shi also looked at the old madam when Xie Zhao said that.
Xie Zhao didn't notice at all. He stretched out his arm and said, "Brother, give me another one. I can't reach it."
Xie Xun was about to stand up and help him when the old madam suddenly said, "Move the pot. Go ahead."
Everyone was taken aback, but the old madam didn't say anything else. She lowered her head and drank the appetizing soup in front of her again.
Her words seem to be a fine needle that crushed the tense atmosphere. Everyone was inexplicably relieved and became as lively as the steaming mist.
When someone spoke first, there is always someone who speaks second.
"Ah Yao, can you get it?"
"Thank you, Third aunt, for your concern. I can do it." Xie Yao directly stood up and cooked the mutton.
Xie Li hurriedly said, "I'll do it up for you."
Xie Yao pouted and looked at him, feeling aggrieved. Xie Li was confused, but Xie Ye burst out laughing and translated, "Father, you can eat yours. You have to do it yourself, so it would be fun."
Xu-shi scolded him, "You are not too young anymore." But there was a smile on her face, and she obviously agreed with him very much.
Xie Li shook his head. His dark face revealed a smile, and he said helplessly, "Okay, okay."
The atmosphere on the table slowly warmed up. The dishes were picked, the dishes were changed—you chopstick one and I chopstick another. Everyone became more and more relaxed. Perhaps the copper pot has such magical powers. Even those who are not eating, just sitting in front of the steaming pot, can't help but relax. The milky mist warms their eyebrows.
Xie Xun remained silent throughout the whole process, but his hands of cooking mutton did not stop at all. Chopsticks after chopsticks, until the small bowl in front of Jiang Shuyao, piled up into a hill.
Jiang Shuyao helplessly said, "Don't patronize and only feed me. Eat some yourself."
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Xie Xun replied and put a chopstick of meat into his bowl. But then he continued his action, constantly adding meat to Jiang Shuyao's bowl.
Jiang Shuyao gave up and could only say, "Don't just pick up the meat. Let me get some vegetables."
Xie Xun suddenly used public chopsticks to pick up some food for Jiang Shuyao.
The mellow and tenderness of the lamb are gradually dispersed in the soup. The clear and thick soup base is full of fragrant, mellow, fat, and fresh flavors. The cabbage is boiled in it, soaking up the umami taste of the meat, but the entrance is extremely clear. It was sweet and delicious.
It is the same with tofu—it absorbed the soup. People have to eat carefully so as not to be scalded by the sudden splash of soup. The vermicelli is soft, and when wrapped in the sesame paste, it is instantly submerged by the thickness. When it is picked up, it becomes the thick sticky lump full of sesame paste fragrance when you eat it.
Everyone also discovered the deliciousness of vegetables. After eating lamb, they gradually began to eat vegetable dishes to clear their mouths.
Between the water mist, even if no one spoke, the action of picking up vegetables and the satisfying smile on everyone's face made the meal extremely lively.
The old madam sighed in her heart. Suddenly, she felt very emotional when she looked at her lively family.
At her age, certain things will not always be missed once they are let go. She continued to eat the dishes from the previous years that her maid served, but her appetite improved a lot in the lively atmosphere.
While she was lowering her head to eat, suddenly, a pair of chopsticks caught a steaming lamb and placed it into the sesame sauce plate in front of her.
The old madam was taken aback and looked sideways at Duke Xie.
"Eat some. It tastes good." Duke Xie retracted his chopsticks and stopped looking at her.
The old madam stared at the lamb in a daze. Finally, she put the lamb into her mouth.
The lamb is fat and tender, plump and not greasy, and melts in the mouth. Obviously, the outside is wrapped in cold sesame paste, but it is still warm. Accompanied by a light milky fragrance, the juice absorbed by the lamb gushes out. It is delicious and salty, and the soup is watery, but there is a mellow fragrance that cannot be dispersed.
The lamb slid into her abdomen together with the sesame sauce. It was only a small bite, but her whole body was warm.
The old madam shook her head, chuckled lightly, and looked at the people around the table through the lingering mist.
The elegant Xu-shi, stood up and wiped the sauce on the corners of the twin's mouths. Xie Pei accused Xie Ye of picking her tofu. Xie Hao, who swept the mutton with a black face, thanked Xie Li for grabbing more for him. Xie Xun, who kept picking vegetables to Jiang Shuyao's bowl...
For the first time in decades, she discovered that New Year's Eve could also be so warm and lively.
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