OK. So, I made the wrappers too thick. This makes sense…not only did they taste not quite right, nor did they feel wuite right in the mouth, the quantity of dumplings was off. Katie’s recipe says enough for 200. I halved the recipe including the wrapper dough. Using half the dough recipe, I ended up with almost 30 dumplings as opposed to something closer to 100 as one might expect if the recipe is right.
Today, I used the last of the filling that I had left. I did not alter it to test to see if the wrapper thickness would affect the broth content of the dumplings. I made a wrapper dough batch using just 1 cup of flour or one-sixth the recipe. One might expect that this would yield 33 dumplings. I ended up with 20, so definitely more then last time given the quantity, but still not on track to make 200 with a full recipe. Nonetheless, I made much thinner wrappers, although a few were too large, so I probably could have been more careful and ended up with 25. Even at 20, that’s twice as many as before.
So, after all this math, were they better? Turns out, yes they were much better. The dumplings were not pouring out broth like the ones I had in Shanghai, but they were clearly “wet” inside, and I could see a little broth pooling in the spoon as I bit them open.
Next time, I’ll try increasing the aspic to meat ratio, and working on even thinner wrappers. Like some comments I read on a blog Katie referenced, I may need to pull out my pasta maker and use it to roll the dough even thinner…but I’d rather not have to resort to that if possible. Maybe brute force (ie just add more aspic) will do the trick.
Arrived at JFK and made my way through customs without any fuss. Got over to JetBlue and then headed for the food court. Not surprisingly there’s a trusty Dunkin Donuts here. I just might have a cup. Maybe decaf although it probably won’t matter. I slept for a lot of the 14 hour flight coming back. I think I slept more on the plane then any single night in China or Korea. So, it’s like 8 am in China and I’m well rested now.
My latest meal on my travels needs no explanation. I’ll just post the photo. Welcome back to the USA right?
I’ll catch up and write a few final posts about time in China, although since we were fed at as a group for all meals, the food was less then spectacular.
Anyway, I’ll upload thus then switch to my computer and see what I can write up before my next flight.
Arrived at Hangzhou airport too early. They check by flights at the desk, not by airline so I can’t check in yet. So, I’m going to eat a little. Just had a confused exchange with the waitress. The menu said dumplings and 15 in one column and 58 in the other. I asked for dumplings and she asked how many. I assumed maybe it was 1 for 15 and so many for 58. I tried to find out how many for 58 and she kept saying 1. Then I asked about 15 and she said 1. It was a bit like who’s in first. I think we finally agreed that it was 1 order of 15 dumplings for 58 rmb. I guess I’ll know soon when it arrives! I also ordered coffee. Typical me, there is no such thing as just coffee. I settled on milk coffee on the menu. I’m hoping that means coffee with cream, but it might also be a latte. Or perhaps a coffee flat white as they say down under.
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Dumplings for breakfast
Argh…I was writing this on my phone using the new WordPress 2.0 app for iPhone. It doesn’t seem to work as well, imho, as the last one. It lost the end of my post and two photos I took of breakfast…fortunately, I took some back ups on the phone using the regular camera app.
White Coffee
By now, I’ve made it to Seoul, and have taken advantage of the nicest waiting lounge space I’ve seen in any airport anywhere. Air Korea maintains a lounge which wasn’t overwhelmed with people, for reasons unknown, that included places to get food, an Internet cafe, tv/movie space with cushy chairs, large lounge chairs built to take naps on, free showers, and a place to get a massage. I availed myself of the napping area and the massage…who can resist?
Now I’m “stealing” power from a telecom provider that has a posh setup with a bunch of MacBooks on nice tables to use for free. One of their stations is without a MacBook, buy the MagSafe connector is still here bolted to the table. I forgot and I packed into my check bag the converter for Korea, so I’m unable to plug in otherwise. Good thing I found this place. I’m surprised they use Macs as people told me that Korea is almost entirely PC-based…at least in schools that was the case.
Anyway, I am getting weird looks from the women who work here…I think they are not happy with me squatting in their space with my laptop. I think I’ll post this and move on…I can’t get enough power to be truly useful anyway since this flight will be 15 hours long, and I won’t have a power plug on board. Hopefully I won’t be sitting between two huge men like last time! Next stop New York City!
I stopped by one of the shops in the airport to spend some of my last Chinese yuan. The cashier’s family name was Mao. Her family is from Beijing. I’m sure I’ll never know if there is a relationship, but if legends are to be believed, we are somewhere in the past.
After my last meal here in China. Went to a Chinese fast food place, and had a bowl of rice, pork and water chestnuts. Not too bad for 30 yuan.
Well, no lucky upgrades to business class this time, but I managed economy plus and a front row seat so I have better leg room and no one will lean back into my lap.
I’m standing now leaning on the divider wall In front of my seat. At least the overhead is tapered so I can stand up straight here. I have feeling I may be taking advantge of this head room later.
