self-improvement as a cook

Chapter 13

The bean paste bergamot cake is not difficult to make. Mix the oil core part, mix well and set aside, open the water skin, mix well until the dough is smooth, wake up for about a quarter of an hour, roll it out, wrap it in the oil core, roll it into an oblong shape, and roll it up Cut the puff pastry into small pieces, roll it into a round thin slice diagonally, wrap it with bean paste filling, pinch the mouth tightly, then roll it into an oval shape, cut four pieces with a knife, and make it into a bergamot, sprinkle with Danya, and bake until golden. As long as you pay attention to the softness of the water skin and oil skin, when the water skin wraps the oil skin, press the mouth tightly to prevent deformation, and this bean paste bergamot is ready.

An Ran explained to Defu what needs to be paid attention to while doing it, and seeing Defu listening carefully, she asked him to try it, Defu was a little hesitant, fearing that it would be a waste of materials, but seeing Master's trusting and expectant eyes, he gritted his teeth, I made a few, the shape was a bit crooked, and the roasting was a bit overcooked, but it was considered a success.

An Ran was very pleased. As a master, everyone hoped to receive a talented student, and An Ran was the same. Moreover, Defu was still working hard. She believed that in time, Defu would definitely become an excellent chef. His dream, but what about his own dream?
When will the incomplete Anji food list be completed? Although it is an opportunity to go here, it is empty talk if you are trapped in this deep house. , when will she be able to go out, sometimes she wished she could fly out with two wings, wander in the blue sky and white clouds outside, and take a good look at the world, but unfortunately she is not a bird, she is a human being, so everything must be done according to human rules .

Time always flies by without knowing it, An Ran counts with her fingers, she has been here for two months, and it is rare to take a day off, she is not idle, carrying a wooden bucket to water the vegetable garden cut in the yard .

In fact, it is far from being called a vegetable garden. It just planted two rows of cabbage and a few rows of shallots. According to Anran, I originally wanted to grow cucumbers, beans, and eggplants, but it was too late after all, and cucumbers and beans needed to be built. trouble.

I don't know how long I will live here. If I can redeem myself this year, what else will I do? After all, this small courtyard is not really my own place. I will save some money and buy a small courtyard before thinking about it. Toss it.

After pouring water, put the wooden barrel up to the base of the wall and put it away. When the sun got hot, I moved the stool to a cool place by the door, went to the house, poured a bowl of boiling water, and brought it out. I sat on the bench and drank while drinking. Looking at his small courtyard.

After serving for a month, it finally looks a bit better. The cabbage grows slowly, but a few rows of shallots have grown up. It is very gratifying to reflect the sun's verdant green, and even this dilapidated and corrupt courtyard has added some vitality. .

Looking at the vibrant small courtyard in front of her, An Ran's impetuous heart gradually became more at ease. She remembered that her grandfather said that no matter how hard or difficult life is, one should not be impetuous at any time. Only with a down-to-earth heart can one discover and gain. Suddenly, I remembered Mrs. Jiao's way of stewing fish. It's so simple and simple, what a precious harvest. If it weren't for this outside kitchen, maybe I would never understand this truth in my life.

Thinking about it, I couldn't help closing my eyes, and slowly feeling with my heart, the gentle breeze passing by, the vibrant small courtyard, every plant and tree, everything is so quiet and beautiful, why bother to worry about it.Anji's food list has been incomplete for hundreds of years, how can it be made up overnight, there is a saying that haste makes waste, if it comes, let it be.

Suddenly hearing a chuckle, An Ran opened her eyes, quickly stood up and took a few steps to take the food box from Aunt Liu's hand: "Why is the godmother here?" Helping her sit on the bench, she went in and poured a bowl of water hand it over.

Aunt Liu took a sip of the water: "It's rare to let you rest for a day. Defu was going to bring you food, but Lianer came over to say that Miss Moon wanted to eat the green onion rolls from last time. Defu couldn't leave. Mother has something to discuss with you, so she sent it to you by the way."

An Ran: "What does the godmother want to discuss with me?"

Aunt Liu opened the food box, and took out a big rough pottery bowl from inside and handed it to her: "You eat first, and I will tell you after eating."

An Ran looked down and said, "It's pork dry noodles."

Aunt Liu nodded with a smile: "No, it's getting hotter day by day, the stretched noodles are so strong, take them out and run them in cool well water, pour a spoonful of wool sauce on them and fry them. How delicious it is, not to mention Defu and Liu Xier, even I like it very much, eat it quickly, it will get mushy in a while." Then, he stood up and went over there and took a broom to sweep the yard Read it again.

In fact, An Ran has already scanned it early in the morning, but Aunt Liu is a restless person, and she has to do some work to get by when she comes. Maybe she has been working all morning and is tired, and a big bowl of noodles unexpectedly made An Ran feel uncomfortable. After eating everything, scooped water from the water tank to wash the dishes, put it back in the food box, and then the mother and wife sat in the yard and talked.

Aunt Liu looked at her for a while, then said: "The godmother has something in her heart to tell you. With your skills, the outside kitchen is not a place to stay for a long time. Although the godmother thinks that your skills are already very good. It’s terrible, but I also know that you still want to learn crafts, right?”

An Ran nodded: "There is no limit to learning, so is cooking. There is no limit to the improvement of craftsmanship. I will not hide it from you. In fact, I want to go out. I want to go out and see what it's like outside. I want to walk everywhere, no matter how far or near Well-known chefs, or those folks who cook food, are the objects I want to learn. Only in this way can I really know how to cook and what kind of dishes to cook. If I sit in this house and watch the sky, I will never grow. .”

Aunt Liu shook her head: "You girl has a big heart, but you just want to go out, I'm afraid it won't be possible for a while, you bought it in the mansion, and the deed of sale is in the mansion, if you want to go out, you have to redeem yourself, the money for redeeming your body It’s not too much, but it’s not too much, we don’t have much oil and water in the kitchen outside, and it’s not easy to save up, so it’s better to find another job and have some hope.”

An Ran was stunned for a moment, looking for another job?Based on his behavior of attracting hatred in the past, where else can he go except the kitchen?
But I heard Mrs. Liu say: "The godmother has been thinking about these things for a while, and the godmother thinks that the big kitchen is the most suitable, but the big kitchen is full of oil and water, and the errands are also the most difficult to find. It is a carrot and a pit. The godmother used to Willingness and powerlessness, but now there is a chance, Shanliu was sent home to be assigned someone, and a spot for a handyman was vacated in the big kitchen. An old lady of the godmother, although she was a worker, However, she could barely speak a few words with the steward of the big kitchen, so the godmother entrusted her. If she left it before, such a good job would have been stuffed in by the steward before passing through the big kitchen. My son was somehow involved with the big housekeeper. In order to avoid suspicion, the big housekeeper handed the matter back to the big kitchen. The godmother didn't expect it to happen, but she didn't want our mothers to have luck this time, and it happened. Just now The old sisters sent someone to tell you to go over and show the steward of the big kitchen, if you succeed in staying, if not, you will still come out of the kitchen, and it will not delay anything, what do you mean?"

An Ran was a little hesitant, the big kitchen was no different than the outside kitchen, it was dedicated to serving the master's banquet, there were too many opportunities to get ahead, and she registered in front of the master without paying attention, and she was the last person who didn't want to get ahead.

After all, I had such a thing with the old man, even though I sent it to my aunt and fell into the outside kitchen, what if the man notices me?
It's not that An Ran is narcissistic. Although this girl is confused and frivolous, she really looks good. She probably knows a little about the bad nature of men. It's a great misfortune for the old man to see it.

She is not afraid in modern times, but here is ancient times, the old man in Anfu is simply the emperor of the land, and he cannot be provoked, not because he is timid, but because of the disparity in power between men and women, it is really not a good thing for women .

Aunt Liu saw that she was hesitant, and guessed in her heart that she might be jealous of the old man, so she said: "If you are afraid of the old man, you don't have to, our old man is the most romantic, and women come and go to count them all." I don't know, I'm afraid the old man can't remember it himself, and that's why my aunt dared to send you to the outside kitchen, but she decided that the old man would not remember, ignore you, and see you again, I'm afraid the old man will do the same I can't recognize you, besides, you are just a handyman girl in the big kitchen, and it's never your turn to show your face, but the big kitchen has the most oil and water, and you often serve banquets, and often give rewards, everyone The steward of the kitchen is also kind, and even the handyman girl can get rewards. Don’t you want to redeem yourself? After two years in the big kitchen, you will have saved the money for the redemption. When the time comes, the godmother will help you redeem yourself. , wouldn’t it be more hopeful than in the kitchen outside? Besides, don’t you want to learn from a chef? Now there is a great chef in the mansion. The chef of the kitchen."

An Ran's eyes lit up, yes, how could I forget this, An Ji's ancestors had more than 100 royal chefs, and in An's food list, there is a special category, which is court dishes. Due to the age, many dishes still have names However, the specific cooking method has been lost. If you can get close to an imperial chef, it will be of great benefit to supplement the palace dishes in Anji's menu.

As for the old man, I am a handyman girl, what has he to do with him in this life, and the big kitchen is the fattest job in the mansion. If the godmother can find this opportunity for herself, she might spend a lot of money or delay it. In terms of favors, the godmother is planning for herself wholeheartedly, if she doesn't appreciate it, wouldn't she be too ignorant.

What's more, I really need to save money to redeem myself, and I can get good things in one fell swoop, so why hesitate, thinking of this, nodded: "Godmother will listen to you safely."

Aunt Liu immediately opened her eyes and smiled: "That's right, listen to the godmother, you must be right, go, go with the godmother, the godmother will introduce my old sisters to you, and then you will enter the big kitchen, so you can have a good time." Take care, speaking of it, my old sisters also found this good job because they have some distant relatives with the steward of the big kitchen. Although they are lucrative, they are not idle. It's still her birthday, but I heard that the Elder Master is holding a banquet in the garden again today, I'm afraid I won't even be able to take care of her birthday when I'm so busy."

An Ran's heart moved, and she grabbed Aunt Liu: "Mother, why don't we go there later, An Ran takes advantage of this moment to make a birthday peach bun for that aunt, it's a heartfelt wish, it's better than going with both hands."

(End of this chapter)