Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1258 Yam and Red Date Cake

"Thank you, Miss Hongliu." Shi Jia listened to Hongliu read the recipe for half an hour before preparing to leave.

"No need to thank me, I'm just doing what the young mistress told me to do," Hongliu said calmly. In fact, she still didn't quite understand why the young mistress and Granny Lu were so polite to the person in front of her.

Shi Jia smiled and said, "In any case, I still want to thank Miss Hongliu. I will be thinking about these recipes in the next few days, and I will invite Miss Hongliu to try them and see if they taste good."

Hongliu nodded. "It's getting late, Madam Li, you should go ahead and get busy, so as not to delay the young mistress's dinner."

When Shi Jia returned to the back kitchen, the kitchen helpers were already busy. Perhaps they didn't notice her, because no one greeted her.

Shi Jia didn't mind. She looked towards the stoves, where all three were in use. She frowned, turned, and left the kitchen for the storage room next door.

Manager Luo was directing people to dry goods in front of the storage room. Shi Jia glanced over and saw dried squid, dried kelp, dried mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, and other items.

Shi Jia thought of the bamboo shoot and old duck soup in the recipe and was eager to try it. However, she had already made a reservation with Manager Luo for fish and chicken today, so the bamboo shoot and old duck soup could be made for tomorrow.

"Manager Luo."

"Madam Li is back. Does the young mistress have any instructions?" Steward Luo asked politely.

“No, not at all.” Shi Jia shook her head. “Manager Luo, I’d like to ask if the kitchen has any small stoves or smaller iron pots.”

"Yes, we do. Do you want it now?" Manager Luo nodded, subconsciously glancing towards the kitchen. What had these people been doing this time?
"Yes, please fetch it. The young mistress asked me to make afternoon snacks. I noticed the stove is quite busy, and I was afraid that waiting too long would make the young mistress anxious," Shi Jia said.

"Yes, I'll have someone go and get it." Manager Luo nodded.

"Thank you very much, Manager Luo. I still need yams and red dates. Do you have these in the warehouse?" Shi Jia asked.

"Yes, I'll have Xiao Sun take you to get it."

Shi Jia is preparing to make yam and red date cake. The main ingredients are yam (also known as Dioscorea opposita), red dates, glutinous rice flour, and brown sugar. It has the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach.

It is said that Lu Xing'er has not eaten properly for more than a month, and her spleen and stomach must be weak at this time, so eating this pastry is just right.

Shi Jia picked up the yam and peeled it. The yam from Wanfu was of much better quality than the yam dug up from the mountain, but it was more than twice the size.

Next, cut the yam into chunks and set aside. Remove the pits from the red dates and put them in a pot to steam until soft.

"Madam Li, the fire is ready." Little Sun said, watching Shi Jia work with curiosity as he started the fire.

"Thanks." Shi Jia put the yam and red dates into a small steamer, covered it, and placed it on a small iron pot filled with water.

Yes, just right.

Shi Jia nodded in satisfaction, "Xiao Sun, you go ahead and do your thing, I'll take care of the rest."

"Okay." Although Xiao Sun was still very curious, he couldn't linger any longer.

Shi Jia was busy working on a small stove outside the kitchen, which naturally attracted the attention of everyone inside. They watched Shi Jia and whispered among themselves.

Do you know what she's doing?

"Looks like they're making pastries."

"Pastries? Made for the second young mistress?"

"Definitely, besides the second young mistress, only a few young ladies and gentlemen in our household like to eat pastries."

"However, has the Second Young Madam not been able to eat for a month?"

"This happened so long ago. The second young master was able to eat again the day before yesterday, and he even rewarded him with half a month's salary."

"Ah? So that's how yesterday's bonus came about." Someone said in surprise, "Thank you so much, Master He."

He Chuan frowned.

The others secretly thought things were going badly.

The man said, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have received this half-month bonus."

He Chuan's face darkened, and the man's mouth was covered. The others smiled obsequiously, "Master He, this kid doesn't know how to talk." Outside the kitchen, Shi Jia couldn't help but laugh as well. She couldn't help but think that He Chuan probably wanted to strangle the man.

Shi Jia smiled, picked up a stick, and wrote down tonight's menu. Hmm, he had basically learned all the characters on tonight's menu.

Lu Xing'er's dish was crucian carp and tofu soup, served with braised chicken, stir-fried bean sprouts, and pickled cabbage with pork cracklings.

Prefect Wan and Madam Wang's meal also consisted of crucian carp and tofu soup, half of the chicken steamed and the other half spicy, stir-fried bean sprouts, and pickled cabbage with pork cracklings.

Oh right, I think we left one fish. Let's see if we can make soup for everyone, or make steamed fish for the two elderly people.

As Shi Jia had planned, the aroma from the pot filled the air. She picked up her chopsticks, lifted the lid, and first tested the softness and tenderness of the yams and red dates.

"almost!"

She took out the earthenware pot she had prepared earlier, carefully put the yam and red dates into it, mashed them into a paste with a wooden spoon, added glutinous rice flour and brown sugar and mixed them. Because it was a bit dry, she added some water to make it into a sticky paste.

Take out two shallow dishes and brush them with vegetable oil. Pour the batter into them and sprinkle with chopped red dates. Place them in a pot and continue steaming for 15 minutes.

The small stove was ablaze with flames, licking the iron pot. Soon the water in the pot was boiling, and soon steam began to rise from the steamer.

Gradually, a sweet aroma filled the air.

Shi Jia couldn't help but lean forward and take a sniff; it smelled wonderful.

The yam and red date cake wasn't even ready yet when Hongliu arrived with her people. Shi Jia was somewhat surprised.

Hongliu said somewhat awkwardly, "Ahem, the young mistress heard you were making pastries and specially sent me to fetch them. Madam Li, are the pastries ready?"

"Uh, we'll have to wait a little longer." The fire has gone out, but it will still be simmering for about 15 minutes.

“Miss Hongliu, would you like to sit down for a moment?” Shi Jia pointed to the stone bench next to her.

"It's alright, Madam Li, you can go about your business." Hongliu looked at the small stove in front of her, then at the large kitchen behind her and frowned.

Shi Jia nodded and turned to go into the kitchen behind her.

"Master He, where did you put the food box?" Shi Jia looked at He Chuan, who was looking at her, seemingly lost in thought.

"Go and get the second young mistress's food box." He Chuan didn't make things difficult for Shi Jia, perhaps because Hong Liu was outside.

"Thank you for your trouble." Shi Jia glanced at the kitchen helper who went to get the food box, and walked to the place where the knife and cutting board were placed.

"Cook Li, what do you need? I'll get it for you." The honest-looking kitchen helper gave Shi Jia a friendly smile.

Judging from that voice, it's the same silly kitchen helper who misspoke before.

"I need a clean cutting board, a knife, and three clean plates," Shi Jia said.

"Okay, I'll go get it right away."

"Thank you for your trouble."

"You're welcome." The simple-minded kitchen helper quickly brought the food over for Shi Jia.

"Thank you. What's your name?" Shi Jia asked.

“My surname is Tian, ​​and I’m the second child in my family. Everyone calls me Tian Er,” Tian Er said.

“Okay, Tian Er.” Shi Jia nodded, took the things and left the kitchen, while the second young mistress’s food box was also taken out.

The kitchen helper who was helping to carry the food boxes was talking to Hongliu with his head down.

Hong Liu's expression was calm, but the displeasure in her eyes was quite obvious.

Seeing Shi Jia come out, she waved her hand, "Alright, you can go back now. Remember not to miss the masters' meals."

"Yes, yes," the man replied, trembling with fear. As he left, he couldn't help but glance at Shi Jia with apprehension.