Chapter 1430 - 558: Traditional Sweet Potato Dried Snack Recipe! Lin Xu: Asking Mom Solves Everything! [Subscription Request]

Chapter 1430: Chapter 558: Traditional Sweet Potato Dried Snack Recipe! Lin Xu: Asking Mom Solves Everything! [Subscription Request]

"The freshly dug sweet potato starch has a high content, not tasty, but it can be used to make vermicelli and brew wine. Typically, vermicelli is made in late autumn. Your grandpa used to love the local sweet potato brew, which was made around that time. After the winter solstice, the starch in sweet potatoes gradually transforms into sugar, making them crispier and sweeter. That’s when families start making the dried sweet potatoes that kids love."

So that’s how it is.

Lin Xu understood now.

But what about after they’re steamed?

He curiously asked:

"What do we do next?"

"After steaming, peel them, cut them into strips or slices, and sun-dry them on bamboo mats. Right now, there are no flies, no insects, and the dried sweet potatoes come out sweeter than honey."

Chen Meijuan continued:

"After making dried sweet potatoes, some leftover sweet potatoes aren’t consumed but rather saved for the New Year to make fried sweet potato balls or candied sweet potatoes—basically various festive dishes. The remaining sweet potatoes are buried in the ground; after sprouting in spring, they grow into vines. You cut and plant them in the soil, and by autumn, you can harvest many sweet potatoes."

It’s indeed the wisdom of our ancestors.

Different times bring different ways of eating, organizing the life cycle of sweet potatoes clearly.

Even though modern society has technological advancements and material abundance, in terms of survival skills, we’re not as capable as those in the past—not even understanding the twenty-four solar terms.

Soon, the eggs are done boiling.

Lin Xu scooped them out and placed them in cold water to soak for a while, then took them out when they weren’t too hot to touch, peeling off the shells one by one.

At that moment, the goose blood steamed for Dundun was ready, Shen Jiayue was outside feeding the little one, while Xiaolei and the others surrounded them, enough to make Dundun embarrassed.

Lin Xu poured the remaining goose blood into a basin, added a bit of salt, stirred and filtered it to prevent any goose feathers getting mixed in, while also filtering the bubbles, making the texture of the blood blocks finer.

After preparing these, he placed the small basin in the pot, steaming it over water.

Later, when the goose blood is steamed into shape, they’ll cut it into large blocks and soak them in brine.

The resulting goose blood supposedly has an exceptional texture and strong marinated aroma, which Lin Xu hasn’t tried yet. Today is the perfect opportunity to taste it, and if it’s delicious, he can make it again next time.

The fatty goose in the pot was marinated for about fifteen minutes when Lin Xu lifted the lid, flipping it over.

Then, he continued the low-heat marination.

At this time, the sweet potatoes in the steamer were almost done, Chen Meijuan opened the cabinet, pulled out a baking tray, and stabbed a large sweet potato with chopsticks.

If it can be pierced through, it means they’re ready.

She took out all the steam trays and said to Lin Xu:

"For making dried sweet potatoes, don’t over-steam them. As soon as they’re cooked through, take them out of the pot. If they’re over-steamed, they won’t retain their shape and can only be used for porridge."

She brought the sweet potatoes outside, allowing them to cool down before peeling for the next step of preparation.

This method prevents scalding hands and, with cooling, further compresses the moisture in the sweet potatoes. Even if originally over-steamed, they won’t turn soft or mushy.

Setting the sweet potatoes outside, Chen Meijuan found they weren’t quite enough. The kids at home were in their peak eating years, and this small amount of dried sweet potatoes wouldn’t be enough for them for even a day.

She selected some more, stuffing the steamer full to prepare another batch.

As for the rest, instead of making sweet potato sugar, just make candied sweet potatoes or fry them into sweet potato balls, and let the family enjoy another treat.

While discussing these with Lin Xu in the kitchen, Chen Shaokang approached the steam trays, picked a smaller sweet potato while peeling it:

"Not sure if the ones Meiguan steamed are cooked, I’ll try first."

Following his lead, Xiao Xun came over:

"I heard many sweet potatoes are bad these days. I’ll help Auntie pick them."

Enjoying the last day of holiday before returning to school for classes tomorrow, Lin Bin also picked one:

"My aunt used to be the family cooking expert, let me taste if there’s anything different about these sweet potatoes."

Listening nearby made Shen Jiayue chuckle.

Just listening to these few, you’d think several people had steamed the sweet potatoes, but actually, whether it’s the ’third aunt’ in Chen Shaokang’s words, ’Auntie’ in Xiao Xu’s, or the ’auntie’ mentioned by Lin Bin, they’re all referring to Chen Meijuan.

Different relatives have different titles; anyone unfamiliar with this could easily be puzzled by their words.

"Wow, these sweet potatoes are so sweet. Sister Xiaolei, sis-in-law, Moli, you guys hurry over and try them."

"Exactly, super sweet, like eating candy."

"No wonder many families intentionally wait until New Year to eat sweet potatoes—they’re fragrant, sweet, and taste so good."

Shen Jiayue was initially waiting to eat the marinated goose, but couldn’t resist the temptation, so she got up, walked over, took one, peeled off the red skin, and tasted it. It was indeed very sweet.

The sweet potatoes were slightly mealy, with little moisture. As soon as she tasted it, the sweet fragrance filled her mouth, resembling the roasted white sweet potatoes from her childhood.

Delicious!

No wonder the sweet potatoes steamed by Mother-in-law tasted so fantastic!

She held the sweet potato in front of Dundun, smiling and saying:

"Grandma steamed these sweet potatoes, do you want to try?"

Initially, she was just teasing the little one, but surprisingly, Dundun sniffed and approached the sweet potato with an eager expression.

Shen Jiayue broke off a piece with her hand, placed it on the plate Dundun had just eaten goose blood from.

"Taste it! If you decide not to eat, remember you’ll have to pay mommy back a sweet potato."

Dundun lowered its head, licked the sweet potato with its tongue. It seemed to feel that the taste was different from its usual food. It paused for a moment, then lifted its head, glanced around, and seeing everyone eating, tried tasting it again.