NFBE Chapter 489 Nuts Lotus Root Powder
Chapter 489 Nuts Lotus Root Powder
Madam Cao looked nostalgic. She sighed softly and said slowly, "Yes, the days go by so fast! I am free and unrestrained here. I can leisurely go up the mountain to pick those delicious wild fruits, and I can also enjoy playing mahjong with friends in the spacious courtyard. There are also various delicacies that I have never tasted before. I really appreciate the endless fun of life. However, now I have to return to the capital, which makes me sad!"
After saying this, she couldn't help but shook her head, her eyes revealing deep attachment and regret.
Zheng Zhimin said with a smile: "Madam Cao, in my opinion, you can stay in Qingshui County for a while longer. Nowadays, this county is becoming more and more lively!"
Madam Cao sighed softly and responded, "Alas, even so, I will only stay for a few more days to accompany my grandchildren before returning to the capital. After all, I still need to hurry back to taste your grandmother's birthday noodles. With that Sisi girl in charge, the banquet will surely be extremely delicious. How can I miss such a delicacy?"
Everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter when they heard this. This old lady Cao was really funny. It was obvious that she had been successfully "brainwashed" by old lady Zheng and had turned into an out-and-out foodie!
The next morning, the sun shone through the thin clouds and fell on the ground. Zheng Sisi got up early and carefully planned what to do today.
She called a group of guards and ordered them to go to the quiet lotus pond to dig lotus roots.
As time goes by, after several months of rest and recuperation, the lotus pond is like a beauty waking up from a deep sleep, and is full of vitality again.
The tender green lotus leaves are crowded together, covering the entire surface of the water; the emerald green lotus pods stand tall and graceful, emitting bursts of fragrance. The lotus roots hidden deep in the mud under the water are growing quietly in the darkness, and now it is time to harvest them.
The guards were all strong and skilled. They stepped into the lotus pond and carefully groped for the lotus root nodes.
With a series of crisp sounds, the plump and tender lotus roots were pulled up one by one, bringing out strings of crystal clear water droplets. They did not dare to delay for a moment and quickly sent the dug lotus roots to the courtyard to be carefully cleaned.
The next step is to make lotus root powder. As they have experience in making kudzu root powder, they are familiar with the similar process.
They were busy in an orderly manner, cutting the washed lotus roots into small pieces, grinding them into pulp in a stone mill, and then filtering, settling and other tedious steps to finally obtain the silky lotus root powder.
At the same time, Zheng Sisi also specifically asked Sheng Zhen to go to the grocery store and pastry shop in the county town to buy some nut snacks.
However, things did not go as planned. Although Sheng Zhen ran through the streets and alleys, he still could not find what he needed. In desperation, he had to return to the yard with his only bag of sunflower seeds.
Zheng Sisi was not discouraged. If she couldn't find it, she would slowly look for it. She used the existing ingredients to prepare walnuts, peanuts, melon seeds, and hawthorn slices. She chopped them up, added wolfberries and mixed them together, making a delicious tonic drink.
Due to the addition of these nuts, the cooked lotus root powder exudes a unique aroma that is mouth-watering and is loved by everyone.
Zheng Sisi named it "Nut Lotus Root Powder".
Time flies by, and it is already mid-October. The weather is getting cooler and colder. Zheng Sisi is worried that the newly made lotus root powder and kudzu root powder will get damp and moldy if they are not exposed to sunlight.
So, she was very smart and came up with a clever idea - she taught the guards to build two earthen kangs in a secluded side room, light a fire underneath to heat them, and then place the carefully prepared food on the kangs to bake until dry.
In this way, the food can be completely dried and the risk of being burnt can be avoided because there is a layer in the middle. It is both safe and secure.
As soon as this ingenious earthen kang came out, it attracted constant amazement and praise from everyone.
Duke Zheng Lao, who had been guarding the northern frontier, lived in a harsh environment with a very cold climate. When he saw the kang, he couldn't help but excitedly asked, "Can this kang be used for people to rest and sleep?" His words were full of admiration and expectation for this innovative invention.
When Zheng Sisi heard her grandfather's question, she immediately understood his intention. Her grandfather was thinking of his uncle who was far away in the north and the soldiers guarding the border. With this earthen kang, the winter would not be cold.