socalfunplaces Chapter 373
Chapter 373
Unfortunately, the imperial chefs all shook their heads and answered: I have never heard of it.
The old king kept it in mind and sent someone to inquire about the Hu merchants in Chang'an when he had time.
After Master Cheng pounded the pepper, Su Chen marinated the meat slices and looked at the time, and asked the imperial chef to make other dishes first, and Su Chen would cook the boiled meat slices himself at the end.
On weekdays, Li Shimin and Empress Changsun usually had eight dishes for dinner.
Today, eight people probably also had eight dishes.
There were more than a dozen stoves in the imperial kitchen, and the imperial chefs finished cooking the other dishes in less than 20 minutes.
Su Chen started to cook boiled meat slices, and those studious imperial chefs watched carefully.
From time to time, Su Chen would talk about some details that need to be paid attention to when making boiled meat slices, and the imperial chefs listened carefully.
"Heat the oil in the pot, add the chili segments and minced garlic to stir-fry, and then add the right amount of water."
As for how much is the right amount, it depends on personal understanding.
"Put in the seasonings and bring the soup to a boil, then use a spoon to scoop out the granular seasonings and discard them.
Add the yellow rolls and black fungus, cook until done, scoop them out, and put them in a bowl as a base."
"Finally, boil the soup over high heat and then turn to low heat, and add the marinated meat slices into the soup one by one.
Remember not to use high heat and not to stir the meat slices."
Su Chen orally taught the other imperial chefs each step as he performed it.
"When the meat slices are cooked, scoop them out and spread them on top of the side dishes in the bowl. Don't pour too much soup into the bowl, just enough to cover the side dishes."
"Finally, place the remaining minced garlic and chili, pepper, and green onion slices on the meat slices, and pour boiling oil on them."
It would be even better if there were white sesame seeds!
Su Chen had only seen black sesame seeds in the Tang Dynasty, which they called: sesame or oil sesame. After being fried, they can be used to extract oil, and it is said that Zhang Qian got it from the Western Regions.
Su Chen poured hot oil on the meat slices, and smoke sizzled on them.
Suddenly, the imperial kitchen was filled with fragrance.
"All done!"
"Serve!"
After finishing everything, Su Chen threw away the pot and spoon and clapped his hands.
...
Li Zheng Palace.
Empress Changsun and others surrounded Princess Changle and humbly asked for knitting techniques.
Princess Changle was overwhelmed and then remembered the needlework instructions Su Chen gave her.
"Mother, all aunts, this book contains detailed explanations of knitting techniques for various types of knitted clothes. Li Zhi has just learned it not long ago."
Princess Changle gave each of them a copy, but did not bring any extra knitting needles.
"You girl, why didn't you say it earlier!"
Empress Changsun and others took the instructions and dispersed, each studying the needlework taught in the book.
Li Shimin was not interested in women's knitting crafts. Sitting quietly aside, as if thinking about something.
He glanced at the only set of pure cotton underwear left beside him, and Li Chengqian was nowhere to be found at this time. I had not noticed it when I returned to the palace just now, but now I found that Li Chengqian was missing.
Li Shimin understood instantly that he must have run back to the East Palace with his underwear.
Coincidentally, Li Chengqian came from outside the palace.
He saw that Empress Changsun and others each had a book in their hands, but there was no sign of Su Chen. Just as he was about to ask, he found that Li Shimin was staring at him.
"Father!" Li Chengqian bowed respectfully.
Li Shimin nodded lightly and motioned Li Chengqian to sit down, "How many sets of underwear did you take?"
"Uh~Father, my brother-in-law gave me two sets." Li Chengqian answered carefully, half of his buttocks raised, ready to run away at any time.
To Li Chengqian's surprise, Li Shimin did not react at all, but just looked at his watch.
"Father, where is Su Chen?"
"Haha! That kid..." Before Li Shimin finished speaking, Su Chen shouted from outside the palace: "The dishes are here, get ready to eat!"
Hearing Su Chen's call, the people in the palace put down their things.
Su Chen led the way, followed by a dozen eunuchs serving food, each holding various dishes or tableware.
Originally, Su Chen saw white tofu in the kitchen and planned to make another dish of Mapo tofu. But he gave up because he didn't have starch to thicken it. Mapo tofu without starch is soulless.
When a large bowl of boiled pork slices was brought into the hall, Li Shimin sniffed and stood up and walked towards the eunuch serving food.
Soon, the big bowl of boiled pork slices was "tasted". The fragrance came from this dish.
The eunuch didn't dare to move and stood still.
"Is this boiled pork slices? It doesn't look like it's boiled. There are large pieces of oil floating on it!"
"Your Majesty, don't worry about it for now. These dishes should be eaten while they are hot!" Su Chen gently waved his hand to signal the eunuch to put the dishes on the round table.
"Well, that makes sense." Li Shimin nodded in agreement. This dish smelled very fragrant and must be delicious when eaten.
As soon as the voice fell, he took his seat first, and the boiled pork slices were right in front of Li Shimin.
I guess no one dared to turn the turntable of the round table.
The palace maids and eunuchs placed the dishes one by one and poured a cup of imperial wine from the wine jar.
Soon, everyone took their seats.
"Let's eat!"Li Shimin grabbed the cup and poured himself a cup, then passed it to Su Chen.
"Why, you don't drink?"
Li Shimin saw Su Chen pass the cup to Li Chengqian and said provocatively.
"Uh~! Then I'll drink a cup with you two, just one cup!" Su Chen always just ate when he was at the table, and he was not very interested in drinking.
On Li Shimin's left sat Empress Changsun, on his right sat Su Chen, and Li Chengqian sat next to Su Chen. No one dared to believe it if it was said that the status of the prince was not as good as Su Chen, a son-in-law who was just a little bit of a concubine.
"Brother-in-law, I'll fill it up for you!" Li Chengqian was so focused on the boiled pork slices that he didn't react at all when Su Chen poured him the wine.
"Your Majesty, how about everyone try the boiled pork slices while it's hot!"
Su Chen gently turned the turntable, and the boiled pork slices stopped between Li Shimin and Empress Changsun. This big bowl of boiled pork slices, at least 18 taels of pure lean meat, was enough for eight people.
"Good! Guanyin, try it!" Li Shimin picked up the meat slices very considerately and stuffed them into his mouth.
After tasting it carefully, he couldn't help but praise:
"It's spicy, fresh, and fragrant. The boiled meat slices are really wonderful!"
"Come on, boy, drink this cup with me!"
Empress Changsun put down her chopsticks, poked Li Shimin's waist with her fingers, and then looked at Su Chen and smiled.
"Well, you can't drink much, so just taste it."
Su Chen smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I can't drink much. But I drink happily. I'll finish it in one gulp and then I'll eat!"
Without saying anything, he raised his head and drank a glass of white wine.
"Hiss~ha!"
Fortunately, this glass is a special white wine cup, which is about 80 grams when it is poured eight points full. Unlike the wine cups they used before, which can hold more than two taels.
"Haha, good!" Li Shimin saw Su Chen finish drinking and followed him to drink it.
"Take the wine away and eat!"
Li Chengqian heard this and quickly finished the wine in his glass.
"Su Chen, your cooking skills are so great that the imperial chefs are not as good as you." After tasting the boiled pork slices, Empress Changsun and others praised them highly.
Su Chen was thinking of saying something modest, but Princess Changle said first:
"Mother, Su Chen made a new dish a few days ago, called: Pig Blood Tofu.
The taste is even better!"
Empress Changsun and others were puzzled when they heard this, how can pig blood be used in cooking.
"Can pig blood be eaten?"
"Mother, pig blood is the same as tofu after coagulation. Su Chen said that eating pig blood twice a week can supplement the nutrients needed by the human body.
Pig blood should not be eaten too much, just taste it occasionally."
At that time, Su Chen was talking about nutrition to Princess Changle, not vitamins.
If it was vitamins, it would inevitably require a lot of explanations.
Vitamins are elements that maintain physiological functions, and it seems that they don't understand this explanation.
"My dear son-in-law, transfer the chef from the manor to the imperial kitchen tomorrow and teach him all the dishes." Li Shimin was very straightforward and directly brought the chef into the palace.
"Okay."
...