Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 344 You have to learn how to do it. I can’t do it alone.

Wen Yuan coughed lightly to cover up, and wanted to say a few nice words, but didn't know where to start.

He could only bite the bullet and say, "My master is a kind-hearted person. Although he is old, he is still the same... so straightforward..."

As he spoke, he realized he couldn't praise anymore and his voice lowered.

Shen Yu smiled slightly and changed the subject: "Master Wen Yuan, let's go check out the ingredients in the kitchen."

"Although there are still seven or eight days until the Wanshou Festival, I will make a small amount first and let the chefs in the kitchen learn how to make it."

"If you don't practice and just follow along, it's really hard for a novice to make so many cakes at once."

After hearing this, Wen Yuan felt relieved and said hurriedly, "Miss Shen is right, let's go over there now."

He stood up and led Shen Yu to the warehouse where the food was stored.

Perhaps because Guang'an Temple is very popular, there are quite a few monks in the temple, and there are often wandering monks who stay here.

Therefore, the warehouse was piled high with food, much more than the food reserves in Shen Yu's snack shop.

The ingredients used to make shortbread crust are nothing more than flour, oil, salt and sugar. The changes in flavor lie in the fillings and the various vegetables used for coloring.

Shen Yu took a look and found that there were many ingredients for making the pie crust, but the available fillings were only red bean paste and jujube paste.

The fillings appear to be homemade. Judging from the appearance, the red bean paste filling is very solid and dry, while the jujube paste filling is watery. I just don't know how it tastes.

Shen Yu shook his head in his heart, but he didn't say anything on the surface. He just said, "Master Wen Yuan, are you only planning to make cakes with two kinds of fillings this year?"

Wen Yuan nodded: "I only know how to make these two kinds of fillings. The fillings out there are too sweet and greasy. I tried them and didn't think they tasted good, so I made them myself."

"For example, this red bean paste is made by boiling and mashing red beans with a little sugar. If you make it yourself, you can add less."

This time even Chef Xu couldn't help himself: "Master Wenyuan, the common people are not like monks. The food they eat is not so light."

"The filling should be sweeter, and the pastry skin should have more oil to be crispy."

Wen Yuan nodded hurriedly: "Old Xu is right. We want to change it now, but even if we change it, there are only these two fillings."

Shen Yu took a deep breath, knowing that making cakes this time would be a lot of trouble and that there was still a long way to go.

She smiled slightly and encouraged herself again.

After adjusting his mood, he said, "Master Wen Yuan, how about this? If you want the cakes to be delicious this year, just follow the recipe I gave you and prepare the fillings according to the ingredients I want."

"Let's try making some today, and then in the few days before the Wanshou Festival, when we have free time, let the chefs working in the kitchen practice making some, and by the time of the Wanshou Festival, they will be able to make almost everything."

When Wen Yuan heard what Shen Yu said, he knew that the production of flower cakes this year could be saved, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He quickly put his hands together and saluted: "Miss Shen, this time it all depends on you."

"Tell me what ingredients you need. If there are any in the warehouse, I'll have someone bring them over. If there are none, I'll send someone to buy them right away."

"The good thing about our Guang'an Temple is that it is very close to any market. We can buy any food we want in a short time."

Shen Yu didn't hesitate to walk around the warehouse and ordered all the ingredients that could be used.

Wen Yuan called two little monks over from behind. They moved whatever Shen Yu pointed at. Soon, all the necessary ingredients were prepared.

Shen Yu asked for another piece of paper and wrote down the missing vegetables that could be used as dyes, as well as several kinds of fruits and candied fruits that could be bought directly as fillings, and nuts that could be used as fillings.

The temples collect a lot of money from incense donations, and it is also very convenient to spend it.

Wen Yuan took the list, without even looking at it, and handed it directly to the monk following him, instructing him to buy the items according to the list quickly.

The monk was probably in charge of purchasing on weekdays. He folded his hands, said "yes", and walked away quickly with the list.

Shen Yu discussed with Chef Xu and asked him if he had ever fried fillings or made puff pastries. If so, she and Chef Xu could do it separately at the same time, which would be faster.

Chef Xu said a little embarrassedly, "I have never made cakes and pastries in a restaurant before. I just saw the chef making them a few times. He was afraid of learning the skills, so he always avoided me making them. Later, I didn't like to watch him anymore."

Shen Yu thought for a moment and said, "Then Master Wen Yuan, please call over the masters who can make pastries. I will make the filling first, then the pastry skin, and finally fry it."

"Make the flower pastry from start to finish, and you can learn from me so that we can prepare it for the Wanshou Festival. I can't do it alone."

Wen Yuan immediately did as he was told and told the little monk to call for help.

After a while, several monks who knew how to make cakes gathered together and stood behind Wen Yuan.

Wen Yuan explained what Shen Yu meant.

When those people heard that the abbot had invited Miss Shen to teach everyone how to make cakes, they had no objection. They all nodded in agreement and stood aside, watching Shen Yu's every move seriously.

Shen Yu was used to cooking in restaurants, so he didn't feel uncomfortable being watched by a group of monks.

She smiled generously: "Don't be nervous, Masters, cooking is actually the same for everyone."

"Since you can make cakes with fillings, I think it won't be difficult for you to learn how to make my flower-shaped cakes. Just watch me make them once and you'll naturally be able to do it."

Among them was a monk who looked only eighteen or nineteen years old. After hearing what Shen Yu said, he couldn't help but look bitter.

He hesitated for a moment, then said boldly, "It's easy for Miss Shen to say that. We have all seen the flower cake you made."

"That's not a skill you can learn just by watching it once. I think I'm too stupid to learn it."

When he said this, the people around him all nodded: "It's not like we have been learning cooking since we were young."

“Vegetarian food is easy to prepare because it is simple and uses simple ingredients.”

"That flower cake, it looks like it takes a lot of time and effort, how can it be so easy to learn it."

When Wen Yuan heard this, he realized that several of his disciples were already stage frightened before they even started, which made him lose face.

He couldn't help but pull his face down and scold the one who took the lead: "Yan Xin, just do whatever the girl says, and watch it first."

"Miss Shen said that this flower pastry is much simpler than flower cake. If you really can't learn it, you can find a way when the time comes."

Shen Yu didn't expect this situation to happen.

Come to think of it, they just work in the dining hall, they are not professional cooks. It is a bit difficult for people without basic skills to learn this. How can we give them the confidence?

Shen Yu glanced around the kitchen and saw a large bamboo plate on the table over there, filled with steaming pancakes.

She had an idea in her mind.