latelenovela Chapter 96 So delicious
Chapter 96 So delicious
Su Nuannuan thought for a moment, then answered methodically, "Hmm...of course, we also need to prepare some salt. Find a slightly deeper plate and pour all the salt into it, spreading it out. Then, carefully place the intact duck egg yolks that we just picked out into the plate full of salt. After placing them in, remember to cover them completely with the remaining salt. Leave them like this overnight, and they'll be ready to use tomorrow!"
After listening to Su Nuannuan's detailed explanation, Zhixiang nodded repeatedly and replied, "Understood, Your Highness. This servant will immediately arrange for someone to prepare the salt and plates you need." After speaking, Zhixiang gently beckoned to another palace maid who was waiting not far away, carefully explained the relevant matters to her, and then the palace maid hurriedly left to carry out her task.
Then, Su Nuannuan calmly and meticulously explained the specific methods for making various fillings. After she finished speaking, she gently waved to the person beside her, signaling to bring the molds needed for making the reunion cakes.
Not long after, an exquisite wooden box was carefully placed in front of Su Nuannuan. She gently opened the box, inside which were several wooden molds. Su Nuannuan carefully examined these molds and saw that although the carved patterns were somewhat simple, the overall craftsmanship was quite good, without any obvious flaws or roughness.
However, if it's just for personal consumption, such a mold is perfectly acceptable. But if these reunion cakes are to be sold as commodities, the somewhat monotonous pattern will likely fail to attract customers' attention. Thinking of this, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but frown slightly.
Suddenly, as if she had remembered something, she abruptly put down the mold in her hand and raised her voice to shout, "Li Quan!" Her voice echoed in the air, carrying a hint of urgency and expectation.
"Your servant is here!" A voice called out from afar, growing clearer as Li Quan arrived, jogging all the way. He was panting heavily as he bowed to Su Nuannuan and said, "Your Majesty, what are your orders?"
Su Nuannuan raised her head slightly and said softly, "Go to the first drawer of my desk in my study and bring me the flower pattern that's on top."
"Yes." Li Quan responded and immediately turned around and strode towards Su Nuannuan's study. Although his steps were unsteady, they were still firm.
Not long after, Li Quan hurried over, carrying several drawings in his hands. When he reached Su Nuannuan, he stopped, respectfully handed over the drawings, and asked, "Your Majesty, are these the ones?"
Su Nuannuan didn't reach out to take them, but casually glanced at the patterns and nodded in reply, "Yes, these are the ones. Go to the Ministry of Works right now and have them carefully carve several molds for making reunion cakes, based on the patterns in these designs. Remember, make them exquisite; I need them tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Majesty! I understand! I will do as you say!" Li Quan quickly agreed. Suddenly, as if he remembered something, a smile appeared on his face, and he continued, "By the way, Your Majesty, I can also pick up the wooden horses that were ordered for the two young masters at the same time."
After saying this, Li Quan bowed to Su Nuannuan again, then turned to leave. Because he was in a hurry, and because he already had some difficulty walking, he walked with a limp. Even so, he still managed to leave as quickly as possible.
Next, Su Nuannuan walked to Zhixiang's side with a smile and began to verbally instruct her on how to make mooncakes.
It turns out that the reunion cake that Su Nuannuan mentioned was actually the mooncake she knew well in her previous life.
Unfortunately, there was no oven to be found in the small kitchen of Cuiwei Palace. So, the mooncakes had to be made using the traditional method of steaming.
Just then, Su Nuannuan couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Sigh, I really don't know if it's still possible to set up a small temporary oven now?" After all, it sounds simple, but it's actually quite troublesome to do!
First, she had to apply to the Empress for approval. Only after successfully obtaining the approval slip could she go to the Imperial Household Department to collect the various materials needed to build the oven. Then, after the oven was finally completed, she had to report to the Imperial Household Department again for record-keeping. Only after the Imperial Household Department properly kept the relevant records could she officially use this hard-won oven. With such a tedious and complicated process, who knows how long it would take to complete? It might be a long time coming.
When the first batch of mooncakes were steamed, their enticing aroma instantly filled the entire small kitchen.
Su Nuannuan happily brought out the freshly steamed mooncakes and warmly invited the people around her to come and taste them first.
The palace servants in Cuiwei Palace were so astonished that they couldn't stop smiling. They never imagined that such a wonderful thing would happen to them.
Everyone held the precious reunion cake in their hands with immense excitement, as if it were a rare treasure, afraid of dropping and breaking it. At the same time, they did not forget to express their deepest gratitude to Su Nuannuan.
With a smile, Su Nuannuan picked up two mooncakes and introduced them to Zhixiang and the others beside her: "This one with cloud patterns is filled with sweet and delicious red bean paste; the other one is made with various delicious nuts." After saying that, she added kindly, "Come on, you should all try some!"
Immediately afterwards, Su Nuannuan stopped being reserved and took a big, carefree bite of the red bean paste mooncake in her hand.
While eating, she said without any concern for her image, "Actually, if you leave these reunion cakes until tomorrow and let them absorb the oil, they will taste even better!"
Because the mooncakes made this time have a particularly thin crust and are filled with a generous amount of filling, you can taste the rich flavor of the filling in just one small bite.
"It's so delicious! I never expected that this reunion cake would be so tasty after adding the filling!" Yaoqin exclaimed in amazement as she savored the reunion cake in her mouth.
She never expected that the ordinary reunion cake could be made in such a unique way and taste so good.
"The Reunion Festival is in five days. Once we get the mooncake molds back tomorrow, we can make a lot more. Then we can send some to the Empress Dowager, the Empress, Consort Qin, and Consort Li to have a taste. Hmm... right, we can't forget the Emperor either." When Su Nuannuan mentioned sending some to the Emperor, a hint of reluctance unconsciously crept into her voice.