Chapter 80: Longevity Peach
Gu Taohua was guarding the small kitchen, while Tong Huaqiong was sitting on a chair near the inside with her eyes slightly closed.
Soon, Tong Huaqiong entered the space, and then Maner followed in carrying cherries.
Tong Huaqiong came to the kitchen familiarly. After putting down the cherries, Maner followed Tong Huaqiong to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door without being told.
"Wow, this birthday peach is so beautiful." Maner clapped her hands excitedly when she saw the birthday peach in the refrigerator that looked exactly like the real ones.
She knew that these were prepared for Old Mrs. Huang, and her task was to take them out.
"Don't be in a hurry, have an ice cream first." Tong Huaqiong opened the freezer and filled up the freezer with ice cream of various flavors.
Maner had already gotten used to everything in the room. She reached out and took an ice cream in a colorful wrapper, tore open the wrapper and started eating.
After Maner finished eating the ice cream, she started to get things outside according to Tong Huaqiong's instructions.
Peach, red bean paste, coconut flakes, cream, condensed milk...
After moving these things to Old Lady Huang's small kitchen, Maner also thoughtfully took two ice creams for her aunt Gu Taohua.
"Oh, niece, you are so thoughtful." Gu Taohua smiled with stars in her eyes.
Gu Taohua was fat, and the weather was getting hot. She took the ice cream as if it were a life-saving weapon. She tore open the wrapping paper and ate it, not forgetting to throw the wrapping paper into the stove to burn it.
Gu Taohua licked the ice cream and sighed, if it was Yaozu, that kid would definitely eat alone and not think of me, but Man'er was considerate, thinking of me even when she was moving things in such a hurry. In the past, I was so confused and greasy, I was so mean to my sister-in-law and Man'er, fortunately my mother woke me up.
"Grandma, when will this beautiful cake be taken out?" Maner walked in and asked Tong Huaqiong.
"Take it out when the birthday banquet is almost over." Tong Huaqiong said.
Tong Huaqiong is using an electric whisk to beat butter and cream.
At first she cursed God for only giving her one-third of the golden finger, but now she began to be grateful. Although she could not take things out of the room, she could use various tools in the room.
Processes like whipping butter would be hard work if you don't have any electric tools and have to use chopsticks with your hands.
Before she knew that she could use space tools, she was in the Gu family’s kitchen, forcing Gu Dashu to whip cream and egg whites. Gu Dashu stirred with two pairs of chopsticks from morning to night until his arms were swollen, and he lay on the bed wailing.
When he was called into the kitchen, his face turned pale.
Just by using the whipping tool, you can achieve the desired dense and fluffy effect in a few minutes.
It would be great if there was such a tool in Tong Dajiao's time. Maner could take it out, but there is no electricity in this era, so it is useless to take it out.
Tong Huaqiong wants to open a pastry shop. If she wants to stand out, she must combine Chinese and Western pastries. Western pastries require beating tools. If she hires people to beat them with chopsticks held in both hands, it is estimated that even if they break both hands, they still cannot meet the needs of the shop.
She couldn't keep hiding in the space, otherwise she would be exposed sooner or later.
Therefore, she planned to let Maner take the whisking tool out and find a skilled craftsman to disassemble and replicate it, so as to make a tool that can be easily whisked by hand. Even if the efficiency is not as high as the electric one, it is better than simply using chopsticks.
She believes in the wisdom of skilled craftsmen since ancient times. The ancient textile machines, irrigation tools, earthquake detectors and other parts of the splendid Chinese civilization were all invented by skilled craftsmen.
The ancients just had low productivity, they were not stupid.
She believed that if she gave them some inspiration, they would definitely be able to create the tools she wanted.
Just as Gu Jingzhe could draw an oven based on her description, Qin Qingyou could build an oven based on Gu Jingzhe's drawing.
There is no shortage of smart people like Gu Jingzhe and Qin Qingyou in this era.
Thinking of this, Tong Huaqiong felt relieved and put the whipped butter and cream in a bowl. Man'er cooperated with her very well. When she saw her turn off the power tools, she took the bowl and took it to Mrs. Huang's small kitchen and gave it to Gu Taohua.
Tong Huaqiong tidied up the room and then walked out of the space.
Gu Taohua had already lit the fire in the stove, placed a large steamer on the stove and covered it with a cloth.
Tong Huaqiong knew that they were planning to steam longevity peaches.
Steaming longevity peaches is very simple. Just follow the method of steaming steamed buns. You don’t even need to control the heat.
Put the steamed buns in water and steam them for twenty minutes before taking them out of the steamer.
Because there is a huge birthday peach at the end, the show needs to be extended by twenty minutes.
The Huang family’s small kitchen is much more advanced than the Gu family’s. It even has an hourglass to record time, which makes it more convenient for Tong Huaqiong to operate.
"Taohua, rub more oil on the cage cloth." Tong Huaqiong instructed Gu Taohua carefully.
The fire of an earthen stove is not as easy to control as the electric steamer or gas stove of later generations. An earthen stove steamer will easily cause the steamed buns to burn on the bottom. Although the steamed buns with a burnt bottom are very fragrant, these are longevity peaches for birthday celebrations. Their ornamental value is greater than their edible value, and the burnt bottom affects their appearance.
"I understand, mother."
Gu Taohua deftly applied oil on the steamer with a brush, then carefully placed the longevity peaches in the steamer. After covering the pot with the lid, she moved herself to the door of the pot to start boiling the pot.
Tong Huaqiong cleared away all irrelevant things on the chopping board and began to make various Chinese pastries with high ornamental value, such as peach blossom pastries, plum blossom pastries, lotus pastries, etc. In addition, she also planned to make some cake rolls to serve as after-meal desserts.
If you want to be a big hit at Mrs. Huang’s birthday party, you must have something like a cake roll that no one has ever eaten.
Tong Huaqiong made a set of peach blossom cakes and put them in the oven.
The time on the clepsydra showed that the longevity peaches were ready to be taken out of the pot, so Gu Taohua stood up and opened the lid of the pot.
After the steam dissipated, Gu Taohua smiled in surprise and said, "Mom, the steamed longevity peaches look just like the real ones."
Tong Huaqiong leaned over and looked over, a smile on her face.
A huge longevity peach lies in the center of the steamer, and it has risen just right. The red blush on the top of the peach and the surrounding leaves have not changed color at all after being exposed to the steam. Especially the leaves that surround the peach so vividly, they look as fresh and delicious as if they were just picked from the tree.
After the steam dissipated, Tong Huaqiong brought a bowl of cold water, and together with Gu Taohua, they dipped their hands in water and took out the longevity peaches little by little, placing them on the bamboo grate on the shelf next to them.
Tong Huaqiong checked the sides and bottom of the longevity peach. There was no burnt bottom or edges, and the big longevity character on the side of the longevity peach facing Tong Huaqiong was not deformed. She was very satisfied.
After the longevity peaches have cooled down, Tong Huaqiong will place the small longevity peaches that she had prepared in advance around the table.
The big birthday peach is surrounded by small birthday peaches, looking festive and lively. Which old lady would not be happy seeing it?
Tong Huaqiong was sure that this game would definitely make Old Mrs. Huang very happy.
Didn’t Yuqin say that if Old Lady Huang was happy there would be a generous reward? Tong Huaqiong had already seen the money waving towards her.
"Mom, this longevity peach is so beautiful." Gu Taohua exclaimed.
"That's right. Don't you take a look at your mother's idea?" Tong Huaqiong couldn't help but brag.
"What should we do next?" Gu Taohua asked.
"You go and wrap the lotus cakes, and I'll shape them. You'll have to light the fire later, as the lotus cakes need to be fried before they can bloom." Tong Huaqiong said.
Tong Huaqiong thinks that lotus pastry is the most beautiful of all pastry types. The lifelike lotus flowers blooming on the plate are so suitable for the occasion when paired with longevity peaches.
Presenting both ends together is very consistent with Mr. Huang's character, and the main point is to look cool!