Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 65 You are our pride

The other judges nodded in agreement, giving high praise to Jiang Man's culinary skills and innovative spirit.

In the audience, food enthusiasts, seeing the judges' reactions, were filled with curiosity and anticipation for Jiang Man's dish. They discussed it amongst themselves, imagining just how wonderful it would taste.

Jiang Man, having won his first battle, successfully advanced to the second stage of the competition.

The rules for this stage of the competition are more stringent, requiring contestants to create a dish with a unique flavor that combines at least three different cooking techniques, based on a specific traditional ingredient, within a set time limit.

The traditional ingredient that Jiang Man drew was carp.

In the 1980s, carp was a common fish on people's tables, but its cooking methods were often traditional and simple.

Jiang Man knew that in order to stand out in this round, he had to break with convention and uncover the infinite potential hidden in the carp.

She first cleaned the carp and made a few cuts on its body to help it absorb the flavors better.

Next, Jiang Man used the technique of "marinating first and then frying".

She carefully prepared a marinade using salt, Sichuan peppercorns, cooking wine, and other seasonings, then marinated the carp in it for a while, allowing the fish to fully absorb the aroma of the seasonings.

She then fried the marinated carp in hot oil until the skin was golden brown and crispy.

This step not only locks in the moisture of the fish, but also gives the carp a unique aroma.

Jiang Man carefully scooped out the fried carp and set it aside for later use.

At this point, she began preparing the side dishes.

Jiang Man chose tender spring bamboo shoots, crisp wood ear mushrooms, and sweet carrots.

Cut the bamboo shoots into thin slices and blanch them in boiling water to remove their astringent taste; soak the wood ear mushrooms, wash them, and tear them into small pieces; and cut the carrots into thin strips.

In a separate pot, heat a little oil and sauté scallions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant.

Next, she added bamboo shoot slices, wood ear mushrooms, and shredded carrots and stir-fried them evenly.

During the stir-frying process, she skillfully used the "thickening" technique to make the broth in the pot thicken and better coat the side dishes.

Then, add appropriate amounts of soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and other seasonings to make a sweet and sour sauce.

Finally, Jiang Man put the fried carp into the pot and poured the sauce evenly over the fish.

She added a little water to the pot, covered it, and simmered it over low heat for a while.

This "simmering" technique allows the fish to fully absorb the flavor of the sauce, while also making it more tender and juicy.

When Jiang Man lifted the lid, a rich aroma wafted out.

The carp on the plate is bright red, with a crispy skin and tender flesh.

The side dishes are brightly colored, complementing the carp and resembling a fine work of art.

After tasting the dish, the judges praised Jiang Man's creation highly.

They praised Jiang Man for not only skillfully using a variety of cooking techniques, but also creating a completely new flavor for the traditional carp, demonstrating a high level of innovation and solid culinary skills.

Having successfully passed the second stage, Jiang Man now faces the ultimate challenge of the competition – the third stage.

This round of the competition requires contestants to create a dish that evokes specific emotional memories based on a given theme.

The theme for this event is "Summer in Childhood".

Jiang Man fell into deep thought. Her childhood summers were filled with laughter and sweetness. Back then, the yard was full of various fruit trees, the afternoon cicadas chirping, the sounds of her friends playing, and the cool and delicious desserts were the most beautiful memories of summer.

After some thought, Jiang Man decided to use fruit and glutinous rice as the main ingredients to create this dish.

She first selected fresh peaches, plums, and apricots, peeled and pitted them, and cut them into small pieces.

Then, he soaked the glutinous rice in water to allow it to fully absorb the moisture, and then steamed it to make soft and sticky glutinous rice.

Jiang Man spread the steamed glutinous rice on the bottom of a large plate and pressed it down firmly.

Next, she evenly spread a layer of fruit pieces on the sticky rice.

Then she began making the sauce.

She simmered white sugar, honey, and a little water to make a sweet syrup. During the simmering process, she added some lemon juice to make the sauce taste fresher and more refreshing.

Finally, Jiang Man poured the prepared sauce over the fruit and sticky rice.

She then placed some mint leaves around the edge of the plate as a garnish.

This dish, named "Summer Fruity Charm and Fragrant Sticky Rice," was thus completed.

When the judges tasted the dish, the sweet fruit flavor, the soft and sticky aroma of glutinous rice, and the refreshing sauce instantly brought them back to the summer days of their childhood.

They seemed to see themselves playing in the yard and then enjoying refreshing desserts, and a strong sense of nostalgia welled up in their hearts.

The judges unanimously agreed that Jiang Man's dish not only achieved a perfect fusion of flavors, but more importantly, it successfully evoked deep emotional memories, truly achieving a high degree of unity between food and emotion.

In this culinary innovation competition, Jiang Man, with her superb cooking skills, innovative thinking, and boundless love for food, overcame all obstacles and ultimately won the championship.

As the excitement of the competition gradually subsided, Jiang Man returned home with the glory of being the champion.

As soon as he stepped into the house, the lights inside suddenly turned on, and Qin Yishen stood there with a big smile on his face, with excited children jumping and skipping around him.

"Mom, you're amazing! Champion! Champion!"

The children rushed over, shouting, and surrounded Jiang Man.

Qin Yishen stepped forward and gently embraced Jiang Man, giving her a light kiss on the forehead. "Darling, I knew you could do it."

Jiang Man took the children's hands and walked to the center of the living room.

At this moment, Qin Yishen magically produced a bouquet of flowers and handed it to Jiang Man, the vibrant blossoms reflecting on her happy face.

"Oh, and there's another surprise."

Qin Yishen said mysteriously. He led Jiang Man and the children to the restaurant, where the table was laden with a sumptuous feast, all of which were Jiang Man's favorite dishes.

Everyone sat around the dining table, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Jiang Man looked at all this, her heart filled with emotion.

She got up, walked to the side, and took out the prize money envelope from the competition.

"I wouldn't have been able to win this championship today without your support and encouragement. I think we should plan this prize money together. We can use part of it to buy some things for our home, save part of it as an education fund for our children, and use the rest of it to travel together and see the wider world."

Jiang Man's voice was choked with emotion.

The children clapped and cheered excitedly.

Qin Yishen held Jiang Man's hand and said affectionately, "My dear, this is what you deserve. You are our pride."