What Can Be Done in Three Hours

... usually alot. But I found out it really depends on what.

I sure am missing Singapore. It is so much quieter here during Chinese New Year for obvious reasons.

This year, I decided to start a tradition by making dumplings, jiaozi. Yes, yes, might not even be our extended family tradition but I figured ... small little gyozas can't faze me. Well, I also decided to make my own dumpling skins and my goodness, somebody help me, please! (I have made my own gyozas before but with store bought wrappers).

The first time I did it took me three hours to make those wraps and fill 'em up. THREE HOURS for forty! That's like one meal. Three hours to prepare ONE meal?!
I did try a few. Oh wait. That means I made forty three, not ONLY forty! Phew, to think I panicked. Back to the dumplings I ate. They were great! Homemade dumpling wrappers are so much softer and yummier! And all it took was flour, water, alittle oil and ALOT of time.

Here are some pics of my pride and glory after I put it in quick (it was afterall -25 degrees or even colder) freeze outside. You can still see bits of ice shavings from the condensation when I brought the dumplings out. +20 degrees in the house, -25, at least outside. The wonderful thing is that those babies were practically frozen in seconds so the ice wasn't even on them but fell from the cling film I covered them with.

Seafood dumplings, ta da!:

 

I bagged them for my freezer, because it was past midnight, way too late for a feast on my own:

And after all that, I am on a roll ... made some more dumpling skins today. Either that or I am a glutton for punishment.

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!


Yukari