steamed lamb dumplings

7-05-2017 Wed.  


 DINNER ---  lamb dumplings | salad | wine

•  lamb, carrot, celery, dill, very different flavor and texture from the usual chicken mushroom green filling 

steamed dumplings

5-29-2013 Wed. warm, sunny.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed mustard greens and bamboo shoots 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | steamed zong-zi | wine 

• getting into summer zone

steamed dumplings

5-13-2013 Mon. chilly, clouds.



BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed pea shoots
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | wine 

 

• low temperature set the record in May, newly planted cherry tomato survives

cold spring

3-21-2013 Wed. chilly, sunny. 

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at A. Bookstore ) barley and mushroom soup 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---espresso
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | wine 

 

•   the barley soup at the bookstore is very good, and the book collection is interesting too.

steamed dumplings

1-07-2013 Mon. cold, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee 
LUNCH --- rice with garlic scape and pork
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tangerine
DINNER --- soup of squid, winter bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and wood-ear | steamed dumplings | wine 

 

• business as usual

soup of winter greens

12-12-2012 Wed. cold, cloudy.  


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with chive flowers and smoked tofu 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple | tangerine 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | winter green soup with yam noodle and poached egg | wine 

 

• a home run

steamed dumplings

9-24-2012 cool, sunny. 


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at C.B.)  stir-fried chicken and sauteed green beans
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple 
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | egg drop soup with tomato and okra | fennel salad | wine 

•  weekday fare

steamy

7-17-2011 Mon. very hot, hazy.


BREAKFAST --- coffee  
LUNCH --- new potatoes with tomato and onion 
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plums
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with filling of bok choy, shittake and chicken | tomato and lettuce salad | wine 

dream of a farm home...

• always feel at home making dumplings

steamed dumplings, chilled cocktail

7-07-2011 Wed. hot, muggy


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- seasoned rice in reed leaf | sauteed snow peas
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- steamed dumplings | fennel and cherry tomato salad | cocktail "Guadalajara Sour":1 3/4 ounce blanco tequila, 3/4 ounce lemon juice,3/4 ounce simple syrup, 3/4 ounce chilled rosé.

• the drink is pretty, and cool, with rather mild taste.
  

dumplings with a wrinkle of thyme

5-23-2011 Mon. warm, cloudy.

WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- baby potatoes with sauteed vegetables and quinoa
AFTERNOON-TEATIME ---apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings wth fillings of minced chicken, bok choy, shiitake and fresh thyme | salad of orange cherry tomatoes, lettuce, fennel, radish and cucumber | wine

• bok choy in spring is not as good as in winter, fresh thyme adds a new flavor to the dumplings.
  

a purist approach

3-07-2011 Mon. chilly, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- pizza with black mushroom topping
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Japanese green tea | apple
DINNER --- vegetable soup: winter greens, winter bamboo shoots and winter black mushroom | steamed dumplings with boy choy, shiitake, and chicken fillings | wine

• when comes to prepare dumpling fillings, to hand-chop-mince or to use food processor, that is the question. It is all hand today, it does taste different, more moisture retained in the mixture, good texture as well
  

Mustard greens to fill dumplings

11-10-2010 Wed. warm, sunny.

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( at J.G. Chinese restaurant ) sauteed mushroom and seafood | orange beef | rice AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of minced chicken and mustard green | pear and fennel salad | wine

• mustard green adds a little spicy taste to the dumplings. the texture could have been a little coarser, recalling how it is at the old neighborhood breakfast corner in Shanghai.
  

Steaming

5-14-2010 Fri. very warm, late afternoon thunder storm, hail

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with Chinese flat-leaf chives and minced chicken | fennel salad | sake

• spent lot of time on preparation of tomorrow's event, very little time on today's meals.
  

Dumplings made easy

3-18-2010 Thu. warm, sunny

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with carrots and tong-ho puree (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | flute cookie | apple
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of minced chicken, shiitake and bok choy | wine

• the spring is finally showing its signs, our hazelnut tree is blooming. Dumplings are as good as usual.
  

The winter of our content

1-20-2010 Wed. a bit colder, cloudy

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- red lentil dal | boiled and marinated pea leaves and tofu
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- Wulong green tea | apple
DINNER --- vegetable soup of shiitake, pea leaves, Chinese black fungi and tomato | steamed dumplings with fillings of chicken, shiitake, and bok choy | red wine

• Making steamed dumplings every other week has become a ritual. life is good when one can make and have delicious dumplings.
  

Steamed dumplings

• ground chicken
• bok choy
  
• shiitake mushrooms
  
• round dumpling wrappers
  
• dipping sauce (soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, minced garlic)
  
• soy sauce
• rice wine
• cooking oil
• salt, sugar, white pepper
  

1. add a little soy sauce, rice wine, salt, sugar, white pepper to the ground chicken, stir and mix well.
   
2. chop the bok choy finely, use a piece paper towel to squeeze out liquid from chopped bok choy
3. heat 1 tps oil in a pan, add finely chopped shiitake, add rice wine and soy sauce, cook till soft and fragrant, 5 minutes.
   
4. put the three ingredients above together in a big bowl, stir and mix well
   
5. make dumplings with the fillings and wrappers.
   
6. steam dumplings for 20 minutes, serve hot with soy based dipping sauce.