When he squeezed the at mixture with his left hand until it ford a cylindrical shape protruding between his thumb and forefinger, he dipped a ceramic spoon in his right hand into water. Then, he gently scooped off the protruding part, and a small, round atball took shape.
Carefully, he slid the atball into the pot along the edge, then continued to squeeze out the filling and scoop out atballs.
"Wow, Lin Xu, I want to learn this!" Shen Jiayue, who was peeling garlic, was instantly captivated by the scene.
A gentle squeeze with the left hand, a scoop with the spoon in the right, and a round atball was made. It was just like a magic show.
Lin Xu said, "This isn’t easy to learn; it’s a bit too advanced for you."
"Oh, I see..."
Chen Yan, not willing to give up, asked, "How advanced is ’a little advanced’ exactly?"
I’m quite the culinary whiz, you know; I can even make aspic, egg custard, and fruit curd. If it’s just a little advanced, isn’t it just the right challenge? After all, a culinary whiz must be brave enough to step out of her comfort zone!
Lin Xu was quite impressed by his sister-in-law’s spirit of challenging herself.
But in cooking, those who liked to recklessly charge in were more likely to get burnt or cut their own hand while chopping at...
Forget it, let’s not add to the workload of the dical units.
Lin Xu said, "It’s like asking a first-grader to solve a system of linear equations with three variables. You two better save the effort; this isn’t for beginners."
With half of the at filling left in the basin, Lin Xu stopped.
He turned up the heat on the stove and boiled the atballs to prevent the filling inside from being undercooked.
Soon, the water in the pot was boiling.
After skimming the froth with a spoon and boiling for another two minutes, the atballs were done.
While the atballs were boiling, he took a small bowl and put dried shrimp skins and seaweed in it, then added so White Pepper powder and salt.
After preparing this, he carried the pot with the atballs and poured its entire contents, atballs and water, into the bowl.
Very soon, a fresh and fragrant aroma wafted from the bowl.
He covered the bowl with a lid and brought it straight to the dining table. This not only kept it warm but also allowed the seaweed’s savory aroma to steep into the soup, enhancing its flavor.
After all this, Lin Xu brought over the remaining at filling and half a bowl of Stead at Powder.
He rolled the at filling into atballs. Once ford, he rolled them in the Stead at Powder until their surfaces were evenly coated, then placed them on a plate.
Using up all the at filling, he made a full plate of round atballs. After steaming them thoroughly in the stear, they would beco Stead Crocodile atballs.
Before long, dishes began to erge one after another.
Braised Alligator Leg, Crystal Sugar Crocodile Claw, Stead Crocodile with Garlic and Vermicelli, Fried Tofu with Crocodile Belly, Stir-fried Crocodile Intestines, Peppered Crocodile Steak, Fried Crocodile Intestines, Stir-fried Crocodile Liver, Spicy crocodile lungs, Boiled Crocodile at, Overlord Crocodile Head, Black Bean Sauce Crocodile Steak, Boiled Crocodile Tenderloin, Dry-Tossed Crocodile Skin, Black Pepper Crocodile Strips, Boiled Crocodile atballs, Stead Crocodile atballs, Codonopsis and Astragalus Crocodile Tail Soup...
A grand total of over twenty dishes, all quite generous in portion, made all the relatives’ mouths water imdiately.
"Thank you, elders, for coming. This All Crocodile Banquet was a joint effort by Lin Xu, Yan Bao, and . Please feel free to give any feedback; we will continue to improve next ti," Shen Baobao said, delivering a pre-al speech as if she were the head chef.
This prompted the relatives to quickly put down their utensils and applaud in acknowledgnt.
Although everyone knew that the two girls were only playing a minor role in the kitchen, they were still contributing. Among the relatives present, they were the only two willing to step into the kitchen.
The other cousins were so pampered and spoiled they would probably want a nanny to tie their shoelaces for them.
By comparison, Shen Baobao and Chen Yan suddenly received a wave of complints.
Chen Yan’s mother, Shen Guofang, couldn’t help but praise her daughter, "This noon, our Xiao Yan stead egg custard for the old lady, made aspic, and after the al, she prepared Waterlon Curd and Peach Cheese. The old lady was overjoyed."
This round of praise made Chen Yan, who always felt underappreciated, tightly grasp Shen Baobao’s hand.
Ha, I never imagined I’d be praised one day, no longer just a backdrop for my cousin.
Just as she was feeling elated, Shen Guofang spoke up again, "Can you believe it? My Xiao Yan is so pretty and capable, and she’s earned quite a bit these past few years, yet she still can’t find a partner? Everyone, please keep an eye out. She’s almost thirty; if she doesn’t get married soon, she’ll beco an old maid."
Chen Yan was speechless. BOO HOO HOO HOO, I’ve been so well-behaved and sensible, why bring this up again? Can’t I just quietly enjoy the delicious food?
To change the subject, Chen Yan stood up and began lifting the lids off the dishes one by one.
With every dish revealed, the astonishnt on the relatives’ faces grew.
It couldn’t be helped; the dishes were just too beautiful, fragrant, and delicious, each with its own unique character. Both the presentation and the flavor were incredibly enticing.
Shen Guofu’s smile stretched from ear to ear, clearly delighted. "Lin Xu is really full of surprises. Luckily I bought the crocodile this ti; otherwise, who knows how long this kid would have kept his talents hidden."
Lin Xu forced a smile, then started pouring drinks for the elders.
Better eat quickly to prevent my father-in-law, that die-hard fan, from stirring up any more trouble.
Everyone picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
"Oh my, this alligator leg is full of collagen, even tastier than pig elbow skin!"
"This soup is so rich and delicious; you’d never guess it’s made from crocodile tail."
"The flavor of this crocodile at is really fresh, kind of like bullfrog but even more fragrant."
"Delicious, so delicious! Lin Xu’s cooking skills are truly beyond words!"
"Next ti, let’s have crocodile again. This at is so good, especially the crocodile skin—it’s full of collagen. Eating more of it seems like it would be good for the skin."
"..."
Everyone chatted while eating.
Every person was enjoying their al. Even Shen Guofu was so engrossed in tackling the dishes that he forgot to drink his wine.
In the midst of eating, Han Shuzhen asked, "Lin Xu, did you use up that entire big crocodile?"
"No, about half of the at is left. I plan to bring it to the restaurant tomorrow for the staff to try."
"Alright, take it with you. Save your father-in-law from constantly thinking about it."
Shen Guofu was taken aback. I’m not the one constantly thinking about it! You are, aren’t you?
Thinking of his wife’s fondness for foods rich in collagen, Shen Guofu felt that he could find an opening to "break through" during this "reform period."
But exactly how to break through, that would be his son-in-law’s problem to figure out later.
Yes, my super invincible son-in-law is the best; he can handle any ingredient with ease. Lin Xu, my boy, whether Dad gets to eat at in the future, it all depends on you!
While the Shen Family’s villa buzzed with toasts and banter, Lin Ji’s Food was experiencing its evening rush.
With the boss away for the day, the managent staff beca extra proactive, fearing any mistakes or mishaps in the operations they were responsible for.
At the entrance to the kitchen, Wei Qian was busy checking the dishes when Song Tiantian appeared at the door.
"Master Wei, could you co out for a mont?"
Wei Qian stepped out of the kitchen and asked curiously, "What’s up, Tiantian? Is there an issue at the front desk?"
"It’s not the front desk; I have a problem."
"What problem?"
Song Tiantian said in a coy, quiet voice, "I heard that recently there have been hoodlums harassing girls at night. I’m on the late shift today, so Master Wei, could you ride a shared bike and see ho after work? I’m scared..."
Wei Qian was utterly baffled. You’re scared? What are you afraid of? Afraid you won’t be able to control your strength and accidentally kill a hoodlum with one punch?
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