Dumplings

Duanwu Festival/Dumpling Festival/Dragon Boat Festival/端午节 is coming!

Which means we will get to eat tasty dumplings! =D

But do you all make it yourself, or buy it? 

For me, every year without fail, my maternal side popo and aunt(s) and my mommy will make and wrap it ourselves! Because every year, prices of dumplings have been increasing. This year, when Duanwu Festival is approaching, the prices increases MORE. Like $3 - $4 for a meat dumpling?!?!?!!! Yes that's how they earn money. Sure, there's $1 - $3 meat dumplings selling out there. But I can assure you the amount of ingredients are going to be worth what you've paid for. Since it's a one year one time occasion, thus people are more willingly to spend more money on the dumplings, it will be fine with them to fork out $3 - $4 just for a dumpling.

But to save money on that, we always make and wrap ourselves! It may be tiring, but it's also quite fun and interesting too. You eat what you made. I love that feeling! And on top of that, we can even SELL IT. Yes we sell the extras to make some money!! A rough estimate.... guess we made more than 200 dumplings! 100  or lesser for ourselves (the whole maternal side relatives, only the closest ones get free lol), and the rest to sell. We sell $3 for each meat dumpling, so guess we popo earned quite a fair bit. Plus those who are eating and taking back home some gave $50 (each family) to cover up the ingredients cost!

So making and wrapping dumplings ourselves had already became a tradition and this year, and it had been quite an experience for me because I'VE LEARNED HOW TO WRAP IT!! 

First was because this year only my mommy, 大姨 (big aunt) and popo is helping out thus not enough manpower. Second was because I wanted to learn so I can wrap next time for my childrens or loved ones or maybe I might be able to make an income out of it if I can't find jobs in the future LOL. Third was because I'm just so filial and helpful and hardworking. Haha thank you thank you. And fourth and the final reason is because I can decide what to put inside as ingredients and what NOT to add in, in cater to my own preferred taste. And then I get to eat the dumplings made by my own hands! Guess I will feel quite accomplished too hehe. ;)

So in order to make dumplings, you will need ingredients!

The most essential ingredient in the dumpling, PORK MEAT!

Gao lat which I've no idea what it is called in Chinese/English.

Mushrooms

The untouched shrimp

The fried spicy shrimp! Or what you call hei bi hiam in Hokkien.

Of course, you need leaves (or whatever you call that) to wrap the dumplings up!

This is another dumpling we made too! It is much more smaller than the meat dumpling.

Which is this! 

It is a plain and sticky dumpling where you dip the dumpling into the orangey colour "powder" and eat it! I prefer the meat dumpling though. >:D

All the pictures were taken the night before we made the meat dumplings. The ingredients are suppose to prepare before the day and put it in the fridge! Dad and I went down to fetch mommy as she went to popo's house at 8.30AM just to help out with the other dumpling (yellow colour one). 

Also settled our dinner at popo's house and headed to a market near Pending LRT station! Bought loads of food like egg tarts (super yumz plus 2 for $1 only @_@), popiah and fruits etc!

Random insert of mommy bargaining with the shop owner lol

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So the next day, woke up as early as 7AM to prepare to head to popo's house and help out! Hardworking popo already woke up at fucking 4AM!! *salute*

Reached popo house and mommy starting frying the dumpling rice. Since I can't help out any, I went down to the market nearby with popo to buy charcoal and veges for dinner. :> Popo knows so many people there so when she walk anywhere, she will stop and chit-chat with them. Haha I find that so cute. 

After that big aunt came over too and we started wrapping the dumplings! Mommy taught me how to put in the ingredients in the leaves and then wrap it. I don't know how to tie to the strings though. So every time after wrapping up, I will pass to mommy and ask her help me tie lol. Ok at least I've helped!!

A pity that I didn't get to snap down pictures of the process though because I was busy wrapping.

After 3 to 4 hours, we finally wrapped finish with the help of popo, big aunt, mommy and me! And while wrapping, we took those that are tied up on the strings and placed it inside a pot of hot water and let it cook! So after wrapping finish EVERYTHING, we have tasty dumplings to eat!!

Dumplings that we made it our own. =DD

Tada!! Does it look yummy to you? :>

Many many meat dumplings!! :D

Enjoyed myself! I'm thankful that I get to eat my own handmade dumplings! ^-^

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Random shots of my hammy - Jacky!

 Yes, this is seriously ADORABLE. 

 Too sleepy? Or he likes to eat while sleeping? Haha.

That's Jacky sleeping inside his food bowl!!

 Falling down while scratching lol. Such a fat hamster. <3

Lying down on our hands ^.^

Toooo cute haha.

Have a good week ahead! =D And be thankful.