I developed a fondness for cooking only recently. My cooking reputation was not a good one. I once burned water. Who knew that was even possible? Well I can tell you it is. And my poor son can also attest to my lack of mad cooking skills. But now I am on the upswing. Maybe I will beat Bobby Flay. Probs not.
Our group was invited to dine in the country and it was actually out in the country. Eat a few of these and sweat pours out of your face. Our friend from Texas on this trip, Thomas, has done it. And his face was sweating. True story.
The colors and smells of a Chinese kitchen are awesome. It is a mix of steam, garlic, cilantro (colander here), and hot spices of all kinds.
Bright reds, whitest white rice, and the greenest of green are everywhere the eye looks.
Sticky rice pancakes drying out almost ready to bake. Sometimes they are breaded and fried. I have also seen them pressed between green tea wafers and fried. Sesame seeds cover the edges before they are served.
Tea isn't an event. It is a way of life. The end.
Some sort of fruit was drying here. They tasted like huge California golden raisins.
Big chopsticks are used for cooking. They are usually pretty long. About 1 & 1/2 feet or so in length.
Rice, rice and rice. That is what breakfast, lunch and dinners have. Only it is served well into a meal. Not throughout.
There are small woks in family kitchens. And industrial sized ones for school cafeterias.
Spices for cooking include tons of sea sesame oil, garlic, garlic, garlic, colander, green onion , hot green and red peppers of every kind, sugar and soy.
Yes children, there are others that suffer the task worldwide of doing the dishes.
This lady is making soy milk. She puts a few ladles of soaked beans in the top of this contraption.
Then she uses muscles and physics and milk pours into bucket. It is strained and served hot. All drinks are warm or hot. Nothing like steaming hot beverages on a 110 degree day.
Our bus driver helped out beating rice into a sticky oblivian.
This rice will be taken and partitioned into pancakes, or breaded and fried then rolled in sugar for dessert. Not a huge fan of this. Sort of like a cross between a fried donut, gummy candy and a hash brown.
We took in a game of the Mahjong. Very different from virtual versions available online. The whole crowd around us had advice. We had no idea what the heck we were doing until the end.
The people of this neighborhood gave us the warmest welcome and were generous beyond words. Our groups picture now hangs in the mahjong Game Center 'a wall. So fun.
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