Food: Taking the twins to kindergarten to be chefs

"Chef Huang, the tofu boxes in the steamer will be ready after they are steamed, right?"

Aunt Li asked expectantly, her eyes sparkling with desire for this delicacy.

That's right!

She was already impatient in her heart, eager to taste this long-lost delicacy as soon as possible.

After all, in the past twenty days, she has not been able to taste the delicious food cooked by Huang Jun himself, and the longing and greed have been lingering in her heart.

It's really hard...

"Not yet! We need to heat up some oil in a pan and make some sauce to make it even more delicious."

Huang Jun responded with a smile, but his hands did not stop moving. He turned around, picked up a wok, placed it steadily on the stove, and prepared to start heating the oil for the third time.

"Ah? It still has to be like this?"

Aunt Li was slightly surprised, with a hint of surprise in her tone, "I thought it could be eaten directly after steaming, but I didn't expect that making this dish would be so complicated..."

Qian Guoxiang laughed and said, "Yes, one dish has to be cooked three times. How can it not be troublesome?"

Indeed, this is quite a hassle...

But Aunt Li changed her mind and realized that which delicious dish in the world was not made through complicated processes and meticulous craftsmanship?

then.

The doubts and confusion in her heart disappeared in an instant, and turned into deep anticipation and understanding for the upcoming dish.

Qian Guoxiang further introduced the knowledge of the tofu box dish to Aunt Li and Aunt Lin: "There are three common types of sauces for tofu boxes: salty and fresh sauce, sweet and sour sauce, and ketchup sauce. However, nowadays, ketchup sauce and sweet and sour sauce have been integrated to some extent, so the types of sauces have been simplified to two."

Aunt Li and Aunt Lin on the side seemed a little confused, as if there was a tangled mess in their minds, making it difficult for them to sort out their thoughts.

Huang Jun was quite clear about what Qian Guoxiang mentioned about mixing tomato juice and sweet and sour sauce.

Seeing Aunt Li and Aunt Lin looking confused, he smiled and explained, "The traditional sweet and sour sauce doesn't have ketchup. It tastes very sour and sweet, and is very rich."

"Ketchup is made by slowly frying tomatoes into a thick soup. It also has a sweet and sour taste, but the tomato flavor is more prominent. Compared with sweet and sour sauce, its sweetness and sourness are relatively milder."

“This subtle difference is the key to determining the characteristics of the two sauces.”

"But nowadays, many people use tomato sauce directly to stir-fry when making sweet and sour sauce in order to save time and convenience."

"This not only saves time and energy, but also makes the proportions of ingredients less strict, while also making the color of the dish more attractive."

"In this case, the traditional tomato sauce taste and the sweet and sour taste inevitably overlap, so Assistant Chef Qian said they are almost mixed into one."

This time.

Aunt Li and Aunt Lin suddenly understood, and their faces showed a look of enlightenment: "After listening to what you said, Chef Huang, we understand everything. Chef Huang, what kind of sauce do you plan to use?"

"I'm going to go with the traditional savory sauce."

Huang Jun smiled and further explained: "Compared to sweet and sour sauce or ketchup, salty and fresh sauce can be said to be the most classic and authentic sauce for tofu box. The salty and fresh sauce can fully highlight the fresh taste of tofu, and it can also well set off the taste of the fillings in the tofu box, making the whole dish more harmonious and delicious."

The words fell.

He put the chopped onion and ginger into the preheated pot.

moment.

A rich aroma wafts into the air, and the fragrance of green onion and ginger fills the kitchen.

He poured all the diced ham, carrot, celery, cucumber and shrimp into the pot, turned on high heat and stir-fried them quickly.

Although there are many varieties of these diced vegetables, the portion of each one is very small. Their main function is to add flavor and color to the sauce and serve as embellishment, rather than being eaten as a staple food.

With the stirring of the spatula, the ingredients jump happily in the hot oil, blending with each other and emitting an enticing aroma.

See this.

He picked up a large bowl of broth and poured it into the pot.

Choosing broth as the base for the sauce is intended to maximize the rich aroma of the broth and make the dish taste even more outstanding.

After the broth was put into the pot, he did not stop but immediately started to season it.

He took out a large bowl, added appropriate amounts of salt, pepper and light soy sauce in turn, and carefully mixed them evenly.

In order to give the sauce a more attractive color, he also deliberately added a touch of dark soy sauce to make its color brighter.

When the soup in the pot began to boil, he patiently let it continue to boil for two or three minutes to ensure that the essence of all the ingredients could be fully integrated into the soup, making the taste more mellow.

Then, he picked up the water starch that had been prepared in advance and slowly poured it into the pot.

With the addition of water starch, the soup quickly becomes thick, like silky satin.

When the soup in the pot began to boil again, he immediately scooped up a spoonful of scallion oil, slowly poured it in, and gently stirred it evenly with a spatula.

After completing this series of actions, he extinguished the fire, marking the successful completion of the sauce making process.

At the same time, the tofu boxes in the steamer have been steamed.

Huang Jun and Qian Guoxiang cooperated tacitly, wearing scald-proof gloves, and carefully took out the tofu boxes one by one.

They used chopsticks to carefully arrange the tofu boxes on the plate into beautiful shapes.

Finally, they pour the carefully prepared sauce evenly on the tofu box, making its color more attractive and its taste richer.

"Oh, it smells so good! It smells so good! It makes me salivate. It feels like the glutton in my stomach has been aroused!"

Aunt Li's nostrils twitched slightly, her face lit up with joy, and she called out to Chef Huang expectantly, "Chef Huang, can I have the honor of having a taste of your tofu box first?"

Aunt Lin couldn't hold back her inner desire and agreed with a smile, "Yes, yes, yes, I can't wait to try it, Chef Huang, is that ok?"

"Hey~ Look at what you said. How come you have become so polite after not seeing each other for just one winter vacation? When did I not let you taste it first?"

Huang Jun responded with a smile, his eyes turning into crescents, "Don't worry, aunties, you're welcome. Come and have a taste and see if my cooking skills have improved and if I can satisfy you."

"Satisfied, of course I am satisfied. Then we won't be polite..."

Before Aunt Li finished her words, she immediately followed Aunt Lin's steps, turned around and hurried to get the dishes and chopsticks.

That speed...

It's even faster than young people.

Even Qian Guoxiang, who usually behaved very calmly, was tempted by the tempting aroma and couldn't help but ask, "Hey, you two, please bring me a set of bowls and chopsticks. I also want to taste the flavor of this tofu box."

"Okay, old money, I'll bring it to you right away!"

Aunt Li agreed readily.

soon.

The bowls and chopsticks were brought over, and Aunt Li handed them to Qian Guoxiang herself, smiling and saying, "Assistant Chef Qian, here you go."

"Thank you~"

Qian Guoxiang took the bowl and chopsticks gratefully, and without any pretense, he picked up a piece of tofu box and put it in his bowl.

"hu~hu~"

He blew it patiently.

When the heat dissipated a little, he started eating.

This tofu box has a golden and crispy outer skin and a delicate and smooth inner texture. The unique method of frying it first and then steaming it makes the tofu chewy and fragrant. The carefully prepared meat filling is tender and juicy, and blends perfectly with the delicate taste of the tofu, making it unforgettable once you taste it.

Qian Guoxiang took a bite and his eyes immediately lit up. He praised repeatedly: "Delicious, delicious! Chef Huang, your cooking skills are amazing. This tofu box is so successfully made!" After tasting it, Aunt Li and Aunt Lin also smiled.

Hearing Qian Guoxiang's praise, Aunt Li also echoed the praise: "Yes, this tofu box made by Chef Huang is really delicious! The skin is crispy and fragrant, and the tofu and meat fillings inside are very tender. It tastes so good when you take a bite!"

Aunt Lin also nodded: "Yes, yes, I think so too! This tofu box is really beautiful and delicious. Chef Huang, your cooking skills are really impeccable! Everything you make is so delicious."

Facing the continuous praise from the crowd, Huang Jun just smiled and responded with his usual humility: "No, no, it's all thanks to everyone's support. Plus, you haven't tasted my dishes for a long time, so naturally you will think they are particularly delicious. In fact, as long as the ingredients are fresh and the cooking is done with care, the taste will naturally not be bad. As long as you enjoy the meal, I'm happy."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Lin waved her hands and said with a smile: "Chef Huang, you really make us feel ashamed. We are speaking the truth without exaggeration. Your cooking skills are not something that anyone can imitate. Even if I am given the same fresh ingredients, I can't make it taste as good as you..."

Aunt Li also quickly agreed, with a look of admiration on her face: "Yes, yes, that's what it's called... oh, right, 'hard work pales in comparison to talent'! Right, Aunt Lin?"

"Yes Yes Yes."

Aunt Lin nodded hurriedly.

Qian Guoxiang also interrupted with a smile: "So, Huang Jun, excessive humility can become a disguised form of pride..."

Huang Jun just responded with a gentle smile and didn't say much, because his mind was completely focused on the pork belly that had been cooked to perfection.

It’s time to move on to the next step and make that mouthwatering garlic braised pork.

He walked to the stove, opened the lid of the pot, took out the stewed pork belly, and placed it on the clean chopping board.

Then, he picked up the god-level kitchen knife and prepared to proceed to the next step - cutting the meat.

Although the process of slicing meat seems simple, it actually involves a lot of skills and tricks. Especially for the dish of garlic pork, there are many details and things to pay attention to.

Among them, the most critical point is the thickness of the meat slices.

The meat slices need to be cut as thinly as possible, because only in this way can it ensure its delicate and tender taste, and at the same time allow the flavor of the seasoning to penetrate more fully, making every bite full of rich deliciousness.

On the contrary, if the meat slices are cut too thick, the thick layer of fat in the pork belly will appear too prominent, bringing a greasy feeling and making it difficult to swallow.

but…

It is not enough to just pursue thinness, the uniformity of the meat slices is also crucial.

This requires the chef to have extremely sophisticated knife skills.

The meat is softer after being cooked, and if you are not careful, the tip of the knife may deviate from its trajectory, resulting in uneven cuts of the meat.

To avoid this situation, some novice cooks choose to freeze the cooked meat slightly before cutting it to reduce the risk of the knife edge deflecting.

But Huang Jun is not worried about this.

Thanks to the assistance of the system and the extremely sharp god-level kitchen knife in his hand, cutting cooked meat slices was a piece of cake for him.

He placed the piece of meat upright on the chopping board with the skin facing outwards. He held the piece of meat firmly with his left hand, and tightly grasped the god-level kitchen knife in his right hand, and began to cut it skillfully.

The dish of garlic pork requires the meat slices to be thin and even, but not too thin.

About two millimeters is best!
As the god-level kitchen knife in his hand danced lightly on the piece of meat, every cut was made with extreme precision, just right in cutting off slices of meat about two millimeters thick.

The thickness is uniform and the cut surface is as smooth as a mirror.

The shiny slices of meat are as tempting as a work of art, making you salivate.

"Wow, this is amazing. The knife skills are simply superb!"

Qian Guoxiang exclaimed sincerely, his face full of admiration.

Although he can also master this skill, he has to admit that he is slightly inferior to Huang Jun in terms of speed.

Huang Jun smiled slightly, without stopping his hands.

After all the pork skin was cut, he began to prepare the various seasonings needed for the garlic mashed pork.

Mashed garlic, as the essence of this dish, is naturally indispensable.

In addition to mashed garlic, he also prepared a variety of seasonings such as chili oil, pepper powder, coriander stems, light soy sauce, white sugar, cooked sesame seeds, sesame oil and balsamic vinegar.

The addition of coriander stems is intended to neutralize the greasiness of the meat slices.

The addition of white sugar not only enhances the flavor of the meat, but also adds a touch of sweetness that is unforgettable.

He put the seasonings into the bowl one by one and stirred them patiently until they were perfectly blended together to form a bowl of attractively colored and fragrant salad dressing.

Next, he began to carefully arrange the slices of meat on the plate.

The reason why garlic pork is so highly praised is not only because of its excellent taste, but also because of its exquisite and diverse plating art.

A good dish presentation can not only enhance the overall beauty of the dish, but also stimulate the appetite of diners.

A bad presentation can overshadow the entire dish.

After the meat slices were neatly arranged on the plate, he poured the salad dressing evenly on them and sprinkled some chopped green onions as garnish.

At this point, a plate of garlic pork with good color, aroma and taste is finally ready!
Although you have to taste it yourself to know how it tastes, its exquisite appearance and overflowing aroma are enough to make people praise it and it can be called a perfect work.

Just as he was admiring this masterpiece alone and immersed in the joy of creation...

suddenly,

A pair of chopsticks reached out impatiently, followed by the second and third pairs.

He didn't need to look up to know that Aunt Li and the other three were already eager to taste this delicacy.

as predicted!

The three of them picked up a piece of meat one after another, and skillfully turned it around in the rich soup so that the meat slices were evenly coated with the sauce. Then they put this delicious food into their mouths with full anticipation.

As the meat slices slowly melt on the tip of the tongue, an indescribable deliciousness instantly fills the mouth. The garlic flavor is rich but not excessive, and the salty and spicy flavors are perfectly blended with the fresh fragrance. There is also a hint of light sweetness in the aftertaste. It is no exaggeration to describe this taste as "perfect".

Aunt Li couldn't help but exclaimed: "Oh, this smell is simply intoxicating!"

Aunt Lin at the side also nodded repeatedly. Before she had completely swallowed the slice of meat in her mouth, she had already agreed vaguely: "Yes, yes, yes, this taste is even more authentic than the cooking of those so-called chefs out there!"

Qian Guoxiang looked very happy, as if he had just experienced an ultimate journey for his taste buds.

He savored the delicious taste in his mouth, and after he had completely swallowed the meat, he slowly spoke: "Chef Huang, your dish is absolutely amazing! Not only does it taste so good that people can't stop eating it, but the presentation is also so exquisite that it makes people's appetite increase just by looking at it. I'm afraid that all the teachers in the garden will rush to eat it later, haha."

"That's for sure..."

Aunt Li nodded in agreement, and then added: "We have to eat a few more pieces before they arrive, otherwise we won't have the chance to savor them carefully when we get busy."

Aunt Lin quickly agreed, "Yes, yes, it's better to strike first."

"Yes, even if those teachers suffer, we can't let ourselves suffer..."

Qian Guoxiang also nodded in agreement, and at the same time, he used chopsticks to pick up a dozen slices of meat and put them into his empty bowl, then took it away and slowly enjoyed it.

"Hey, hey, hey, Old Qian, this is so unkind of you. You take so much at once." Although Aunt Li blamed him, her hands moved very quickly and she also picked up a dozen slices of meat.

Seeing this, Aunt Lin did the same without showing any weakness.

The three of them continued to immerse themselves in this rare gourmet time, enjoying a moment of peace and satisfaction.

Hey!
These three old kids...

Huang Jun looked at their impatient expressions, just smiled slightly, and continued to skillfully cook the remaining Longjing shrimp and tomato egg soup.

When the dish is almost done...

Before they could call, the teachers and the two children, Qingqing and Weiwei, had already followed the tempting aroma to the kitchen door. (End of this chapter)