As the saying goes: "the master is in the folk", this sentence is also applicable to food. Folk cuisine is not only the "master" of many cuisines, but also the most down-to-earth famous food. Fuliang alkali water dumpling, as a folk dish, is deeply rooted in the depths of my taste buds, making me taste endlessly; fuliang alkali water dumpling, as a famous food that carries warm feelings, is forever remembered in my soul and makes me nostalgic.
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That was 30 years ago, and as soon as I entered the Waxing Moon, my mother prepared materials for the New Year. After all, the family is thin, except for a small amount of fine rice and white noodles, it is coarse grain. At that time, it was fashionable to bring rice cakes with relatives - other relatives could not bring rice cakes, but it was necessary to go to my grandmother's house. Grandma had four daughters, while the mother was the youngest. Each family has a flock of children. Every year on the second day of the Chinese New Year, like a party, they flock to my grandmother's house, and there is a "project" that is "rice cake". See whose rice cake tastes good and beautiful, a big family reviews this and that, and relaxes the toil and mood of the past year in its happy harmony. Although it is a small "rice cake competition" of family nature, my mother does not want to be ugly in public, and she always uses very exquisite "cooking skills" to make this rice cake.
On the second day of the Chinese New Year, sure enough, the "Rice Cake Contest" was on the table. The response from my mother was good. Say "Millet is golden, the shape is good, but it's a little sticky!" "Grandpa always commented." Made of millet, sticky, can it not stick to the teeth? The mother smiled and said. As soon as a dim sum similar to rice cakes appeared at the second aunt's house, it immediately attracted the attention of everyone. Only to see the long, square block, the gray-yellow surface is shining like gold, touch it, there is a feeling of warmth like jade, where is this food? It is clearly a work of art, and it is even more amazing to taste. The aroma is rich, sour and refreshing, and people want to eat it! "You're a god! What kind of craftsmanship is used to make this snack! "What kind of material is this made of?" ”...... Just when everyone asked about it endlessly, the second aunt said the "mystery" - it turned out that her eldest son was a soldier in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, and the son said that the folk specialty of that place, "Fuliang Alkali Water Dumpling", was famous, and was an indispensable delicacy during the New Year, compared to our northern rice cakes, which were fragrant and nutritious, suitable for all ages, so that our family could taste it! "The nephew has the ability, and it is rare for him to have a piece of filial piety!" I sent my grandmother a floating beam alkali water stick that I had never eaten before! Delicious mail from thousands of miles away, oh, I also used it once! Grandma said happily.
Of course, that year, the second aunt's lye water dumplings came out on top in the "rice cake competition". At that time, in my little heart, I wrote down the name of "floating beam alkali water raccoon". On the way back from my grandmother's house, my mother said that if I ate the floating beam alkali water every year, it would be good! ——Such a good food, we northerners will not do, do not know the recipe and process. Moreover, we do not have the raw material rice to make floating beam alkali water! A few years later, her loving mother died of illness. Her wish to eat the floating beam alkali water dumpling again did not come true. Every new year, I always think of my mother who loves me, and I always see a piece of the best floating beam alkali water in front of my eyes!
In college, once the students talked about "food". I also talked about the old story of eating fumigation alkali water for the first time when I was a relative when I was a child. Such a topic touched the mood of a female classmate from Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, who has been a fan of Fuliang alkali water since childhood. She said generously that when she came back from vacation, she would definitely bring me a delicious fugue alkali water. She introduced to me in detail the secret of the production of this delicacy: the "alkali" used in this kind of alkali water is not the "ice alkali" sold in the market, but the villagers use crops such as early rice stalks to burn ash filter water alkali, this alkali is green and healthy, and also has a special fragrance, which is the key to ensuring the production of authentic floating beam alkali water, without this raw material, the "alkali water" made has no fragrance, dry and hard, and the nutrition and taste are far behind. Using the best rice refining paste, mixed with pre-made lye water, like making rice cakes, steaming can be basketed, although the production process is simple, raw materials are also extremely common, but it is mixed with this special "lye water" invented by the folk, just like "brine point tofu" has produced a magical effect. When eating, the floating beam alkali water is cut into thin slices, whether it is scrambled eggs, or with fried bacon, garlic and vegetables, etc., are very good, both as a staple food, but also as a delicacy with wine, originally a folk snack, but has long been on the luxury hotel banquet, simple quality, beautiful taste, is the best reputation, by the diners praise is a very natural thing.
Sure enough, this female classmate brought me the floating beam alkali water dumplings made by her family, although there was no pattern of packaging, pure green, pristine local snacks. The beautiful taste has always lingered on the tip of the tongue and immersed in the heart. Despite graduation, she and I were separated. However, every New Year's Day, I think of her; I think of the floating beam alkali water she gave me! Later, it was learned that fuliang alkali water dumplings have been large-scale industrial production, the use of modern technology, integrated into the traditional technology, but also to maintain the original taste of folk cuisine, the use of careful vacuum packaging, a large number of listing, widely welcomed by consumers!
"Jing Chun, now I work in the provincial city of Nanchang, come here when you have time!" I accompany you to Fuliang Mountain Township to enjoy the freshly ground Fuliang alkali water - that is, the original ecological mountain spring water, high-quality rice as raw materials, the use of rural stone mills as tools to make, pure natural, green alkali water smell will definitely make you satisfied! You can't just say no! "My classmates called. However, I was cumbersome, and I was still unable to go on a trip to taste the excellent flavor of freshly ground floating beam alkali water. However, my heart has flown with her words to the beautiful and charming Jiangxi Fuliang land, it seems to hear the singing of turning stone mills, it seems to see the steaming heat coming out of the distillation alkali water, and it seems to feel that the annual flavor of human affection and friendship is coming...
In a sense, fuliang alkali water chestnut is not only a folk cuisine, but also a carrier for inheriting gastronomic culture and regional culture. Those folklore and historical stories about the floating beam alkali water dumpling, all vividly interpret this point, the floating beam alkali water dumpling, with eternal vitality, born in the floating beam this hot land of the beautiful and warm food story, must be fermented into mellow and sweet feelings in people's hearts!
Ah, I love lye water, I love floating beam alkali water lye - its taste has penetrated into the tip of my tongue; its connotation is more integrated into my heart, let me often imagine, often reminisce Oh...
(Author: Xu Jingchun)