EBE Chapter 190 Pepper-flavored Guokui
Chapter 190 Pepper-flavored Guokui
The morning light shines into the courtyard through the gaps in the high walls of the alley. Mottled light and shadow fall on the bluestone slabs, exuding a slight warmth.
The peach tree in the yard is lush and leafy. Although the flowering season has passed, the dark green leaves still carry some of the lingering charm of spring. The dewdrops on the leaves slowly slide down and drip onto the bluestone slabs, making a slight "tapping" sound.
Jiang Yu, who had recovered his eyesight, practiced martial arts in the yard early in the morning as usual. His every move was vigorous and powerful, and soon beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Thanks to Yuntao's hangover soup last night, I didn't feel any discomfort after waking up from a good sleep. It was not like waking up from a hangover in the past, when my head felt like it was hit by a heavy hammer and hurt a lot. Jiang Yu thought to himself while practicing martial arts.
After finishing a set of boxing, Jiang Yu stood still, wiped the sweat from his forehead, turned his head to look at Xu Ranyuan's room, and muttered: "We have finished practicing a set of boxing, and this kid Xu Ranyuan is still hiding in the room and taking a nap. No, I have to pull him out to stretch his muscles together." As he said that, he strode towards Xu Ranyuan's room.
Jiang Yu walked into the room, not caring that Xu Ranyuan was still soundly asleep. He reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him out with all his strength: "Stop sleeping. You'll become lazy if you keep sleeping in. Get up and practice martial arts!"
Xu Ranyuan was originally immersed in sleep and having a sweet dream, but he never expected that Jiang Yu would pull him up while he was half asleep.
He was bleary-eyed and his hair was disheveled as Jiang Yu pulled him out of the house. He couldn't help but struggle and complain, "Jiang Yu, what are you doing? It's so early in the morning, and you can't let me sleep!"
Jiang Yu didn't let go and replied with a smile: "You're still sleeping. If you keep sleeping, your bones will fall apart. Hurry up and get up and move around."
Xu Ranyuan was pulled out of the house. He waved his hands and was about to explode when he looked up and saw Shen Shulan, wearing a veil, walking out of Cheng Yuntao's house.
Shen Shulan had a graceful figure, walked with light steps, and exuded a cool aura. Her eyes were dark and bright, and as they moved, they revealed a sense of distance that kept people at a distance, yet they were so beautiful that you couldn't look away.
Although the full face cannot be seen under the veil, these eyes alone are enough to make people imagine.
Xu Ranyuan was instantly attracted by these beautiful eyes and unique temperament. He stood there in a daze, as if he was under a spell, and even his breathing slowed down unconsciously.
Jiang Yu looked at Xu Ranyuan's silly look from the side, smiled and pushed him: "Hey, come back to your senses!"
But Xu Ranyuan seemed not to hear it. There was only Shen Shulan in his eyes, and he had no reaction to Jiang Yu's words.
Shen Shulan just glanced at him indifferently, then looked away with a calm expression, as if he had long been accustomed to other people's gazes. He turned and walked towards the kitchen to find Cheng Yuntao.
Xu Ranyuan was in a state of despair. It was not until Shen Shulan's figure disappeared at the kitchen door that he woke up from his dream. He grabbed Jiang Yu's arm and asked anxiously, "Who is this woman? Why did she suddenly appear here?"
His eyes were full of curiosity and inquiry, as well as a hint of anticipation that he himself hadn't even noticed.
Jiang Yu looked confused and shook his head, indicating that he knew nothing.
He looked at Xu Ranyuan's absent-minded appearance, feeling both angry and amused. "How would I know? I was wondering, how come there's one more person in the house after just one night?" He patted Xu Ranyuan's shoulder and said, "Come on, stop being dazed. You'll know when you ask Yuntao later."
But Xu Ranyuan seemed not to hear what he said, and looked towards the kitchen from time to time.
When Shen Shulan stepped into the kitchen, Cheng Yuntao was standing in front of the stove with her back to the door, busy working. She was wearing a plain cloth dress with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her slender arms.
A ball of smooth dough was spread on the chopping board, and next to it was a small bowl filled with finely ground pepper and salt, with a faint aroma.
Cheng Yuntao gripped a rolling pin, deftly rolling the dough into a thin sheet. With a flick of her wrist, the dough spread evenly, its edges rounded like the moon. With a flick of her fingertips, she scooped a pinch of salt and pepper from a small bowl. With a flick of her wrist, the salt and pepper spread evenly over the minced meat-covered dough like fine snow.
The iron pot on the stove was already warm. She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, gently lifted up the noodles sprinkled with pepper and salt, and with a flick of her wrist, the noodles fell steadily into the pot with a slight "sizzling" sound.
Hot steam rises, bringing with it the aroma of noodles, the fresh fragrance of minced meat, and the spicy aroma of pepper and salt.
Cheng Yuntao lowered her head and stared intently at the noodles in the pot. She flipped the noodles lightly with the long chopsticks in her hand. The pot cake gradually turned golden, the edges slightly curled up, and the crispy aroma filled the entire kitchen.
Shen Shulan leaned against the door frame, did not make a sound to disturb them, and let the warm atmosphere of fireworks wrap herself up.
……
Guokui, also known as Guokui and Guokui, can be eaten in dozens of ways depending on the ingredients and cooking methods.
Some common pot cakes are thin and crispy. If you like sweet taste, add sugar; if you prefer salty taste, add salt; if you can’t live without spicy food, you can also add chili peppers. The amount of oil depends on your preference.
The way to eat this thin and crispy pot cake is very casual. It does not require the use of chopsticks, spoons and other tableware, nor does it need to be paired with pickles, fresh vegetables and other dishes. It does not rely on tables, chairs or benches. You can eat it while standing or walking, which is very free and easy.
There are also thick and chewy ones, shaped like a silver plate or a moon, with a diameter of more than one foot, a thickness of about four inches square, and weighing about 5 pounds. This kind of Guokui is baked in a hanging oven, which heats the top and bottom evenly to ensure that the inside is cooked thoroughly without burning the outside.
If the heat is too strong, the guokui will appear yellow with a hint of brown; if it is too light, it will be white with a hint of milky yellow. When cut open, the inside is soft and supple, like a springy sponge, with a fragrant aroma and delicious taste.
There is also a unique pan that is divided into three layers.
The top layer is called the "turtle cover," the middle is the "fire cover," and the bottom layer is the "biao." Next to it is a "baking pot" with an iron mesh built into the mouth. Before baking the guokui, the three-layer pot is placed on the pot ring and a small amount of charcoal is lit in the hearth. When the charcoal is burning to 70% to 80% intensity, use scissors to clip the large charcoal to the "fire cover," and the medium-sized charcoal into the hearth of the "baking pot," leaving the broken charcoal under the "biao." Finally, the three-layer pot is returned to its original position, and baking can begin.
During the baking process, pay special attention to turning and rotating the cake frequently, commonly known as "three turns and two rotations". Keep baking until the surface of the cake is evenly colored and slightly bulging, and the bottom of the cake is golden yellow, which means it is cooked through.
This thick pot cake can be eaten in a variety of ways. It can be soaked in mutton soup or tofu, and it can withstand long-lasting cooking. The longer it is cooked, the softer, chewier, and more flavorful it becomes. It is also easy to store. In cold winter weather, it can be kept for ten days or half a month without losing its flavor. Even in the hot summer, it will not spoil within two or three days.