After eating, the two of them cleaned up and went back to the bedroom to lie down for a while.
After all, I have been doing physical labor all morning, which consumes a lot of energy. In the afternoon, I have to steam buns and other things, which still requires consumption.
Zhang Yu was confused for half an hour, then turned to look at Mengyi and found that she was still sleeping.
Carefully moved Mengyi's arm and started busy with the afternoon's work.
He found a basin and filled it with three bowls of white flour. Suddenly, Zhang Yu remembered that there was no yeast at home?
Zhang Yu looked through the memory in his mind and confirmed that there was no such thing.
If not, then go buy it!
Zhang Yu picked up his bag and was about to go out when he was stopped by Mengyi.
"Zhang Yu, where are you going?"
"Oh? You're awake. Aren't you going to make steamed buns this afternoon? There's no yeast at home. I'm going to buy some from the supply and marketing cooperative."
Zhang Yu expressed his thoughts.
This touches on Mengyi’s knowledge blind spot.
"Ah? Do you need to add yeast to steamed buns? I remember my mother didn't add yeast when she made them!"
"You can add yeast or not. Steamed buns with yeast are softer and sweeter."
"Steamed buns without yeast are chewier when eaten. It depends on your personal taste."
Relatively speaking, Zhang Yu prefers to eat soft steamed buns, the kind that are hard and chewy.
Mengyi nodded ignorantly, but that didn’t stop Mengyi from going with him to buy it.
"Then, I want to go too."
"Okay, let's go together."
Zhang Yu took Mengyi to the supply and marketing cooperative again. During this period, yeast was rarely used in individual households.
The reason is that the development history of yeast is still somewhat short.
Before 1949, only Shanghai Dahuali Hygienic Food Factory and Shanghai Xinya Enzyme Factory produced baker's yeast, with an annual output of only 12t (based on dry yeast).
In the 1950s, the country's yeast production developed greatly, with dozens of production plants established and an independent industrial system formed.
In this era, yeast is only used in canteens in factories.
The two bought yeast and when they got home, Zhang Yu started busy steaming steamed buns.
As for the steamed buns, there is no need to add yeast, and there is no precedent for adding yeast.
In later generations, some stores would add some yeast when making steamed buns, but it was still rare.
Eating steamed buns gives you the sweet and fragrant taste of corn. As long as it is cooked well, you can eat it on an empty stomach.
"Mengyi, help me get some warm water. I'll need it later."
"Okay."
Making steamed buns also depends on personal taste. Some people like to add sugar to steamed buns. I am not complaining about this method. It really depends on the individual's eating style. After all, the role of sugar can improve the freshness to a certain extent.
Zhang Yu doesn't plan to put sugar in it. For one thing, sugar is a scarce commodity in today's society, and for another, he just doesn't like to eat it.
Mengyi brought the warm water over, and Zhang Yu dissolved the yeast in the warm water.
Then he brought the basin over and poured the yeast into it while stirring constantly to prevent the problem of too much water and too little flour.
Stir until the flour becomes fluffy, and then you can start kneading the dough. Knead the dough into a smooth dough, cover it with a cage cloth, and leave it to ferment in the sun. The dough will ferment until it doubles in size and becomes honeycomb-shaped inside.
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Taking advantage of this waiting time, Zhang Yu mixed the cornmeal and started making steamed buns.
Mengyi rolled up her sleeves and followed Zhang Yu's example, pinching them again and again.
Every time I pinched one, let Zhang Yu take a look. Zhang Yu was not stingy at all and was full of praise.
There is really no skill involved in this thing. Compared with steamed buns, this thing is indeed very simple.
In addition, Mengyi is also very skilled with her hands, and after just a few pinches, she has a good look.
With Zhang Yu's praise, Mengyi was particularly motivated and drove Zhang Yu aside.
"I'll knead it, I'll knead it, you go and see if the dough is ready."
It made Zhang Yu dumbfounded. This is a typical example of forgetting the master after gaining skills.
Is it okay to just make a steamed bun?
As for the dough, Zhang Yu didn't even need to look at it. He estimated the time by himself. It was still early.
Mengyi refused to let her pinch her, and Zhang Yu also had something to do, so he started to light a fire and boil water.
Zhang Yuhe doesn’t have many faces, and I’m just a bit of an idiot. Mengyi pinched a few and then disappeared, looking like he wasn’t satisfied.
"Zhang Yu, wait a minute, can I learn how to steam steamed buns with you?"
Mengyi looked at the dough that was about to ferment again.
"Let's learn. If I don't let you learn, why don't you learn?"
"That's right. Wait a minute and help me knead the dough together. It's a strenuous job. Can you do it?"
When Mengyi heard this, she felt that Zhang Yu was looking down on her, and her face immediately became unhappy.
"Hey, who are you looking down on? I'm very strong."
"Okay, okay, yes, yes, it's my fault. I shouldn't doubt you. Then you will be the main force later, right?"
Mengyi, a cute little newbie, doesn’t know that the world is dangerous. Kneading dough is not that simple. It’s not just a matter of four people, but it also takes a long time.
Even Mengyi didn’t believe it, and it was all in vain.
"Huh, isn't it just kneading dough? Just watch it!"
At this time, the water in the pot also boiled. Zhang Yu put the embryos in place, placed the steamed buns on the embryos, and closed the lid.
Just as the time estimated by Zhang Yu arrived, Zhang Yu sprinkled a layer of flour on the chopping board and poured the fermented dough onto the chopping board.
Zhang Yu rolled up his sleeves and prepared to knead the dough, but he didn't forget to remind Mengyi to watch.
"Watch it, I will only teach you once."
Then I started to knead the dough to deflate it, and kneaded for a long time.
Although he said that Mengyi would be the main force, Zhang Yu was reluctant to let Mengyi do this.
Mengyi saw Zhang Yu dominating the chopping board and refused to let go.
"Didn't I agree that I would come? I have learned everything. I will come and I will do it."
"Okay, okay, I'll leave this to you. I just want you to watch it for a while."
Seeing how anxious Mengyi was, Zhang Yu had no choice but to give up his seat to Mengyi.
Hey, this man will not give up until he reaches the Yellow River, and you will cry later.
Mengyi took the dough and kneaded it vigorously at first, but not long after kneading, her arms began to get sore and her whole wrist couldn't use any strength.
Sweat started to trickle down my cheeks, and I lost the excitement I felt at the beginning.
Zhang Yu saw Mengyi's difficulty and quickly found a towel to wipe her sweat.
"Go and help me take out the steamed bun. I'll rub it for you first."
Mengyi didn't stand in front of her, Zhang Yu also gave her a step, and Mengyi just followed it down.
"Okay, you can rub it for me for a while, and I'll rub it again later."
You are so tough with your mouth! But your body is very honest!
Zhang Yu didn't give Mengyi a chance, and kneaded the dough hard into a smooth dough.
Then knead the dough into a long strip, cut it into small pieces of uniform size, and knead the small pieces into a small ball.
Put the small dumplings aside and let them continue to ferment.
Smelling the freshly baked steamed buns, the sweet smell of corn hits your face.
Zhang Yu quickly took one, split it in two, and handed the other half to Mengyi.
Take your own half and put it directly into your mouth regardless of whether it's hot or not. Really, I'm not bragging, it really tastes good.
Mengyi also looked satisfied.
Zhang Yu finished the steamed buns in a few mouthfuls. Although he still wanted to eat them, he had to endure it because there were still steamed buns left.
I added some water to the pot, took out the steamed buns on the embryos, found something to hold them, and put the embryos back into the pot.
After waiting for the pot to boil, Zhang Yu put small dumplings on top of the embryos and covered the pot with the lid.
The next step is to wait. Steam over high heat for about 20-25 minutes. After the time is up, turn off the heat and simmer for about 3-5 minutes. By then, the sweet and delicious steamed buns will be ready.