In your heart, there must be one or several dishes that carry the taste of mom, their aroma and flavor forever etched in our sense of smell and taste. They are the "most delicious dishes," the ones we "never get tired of eating." They comfort our stomachs and warm our hearts. "Every time I eat this dish, I can always think of her"—are these also the dishes that best represent your mom?
Mom's cooking is an everlasting food tear-jerker.
▼ These dishes are the ones mom makes most often, all of which are her specialties.
Spicy Pepper Century Egg
The century eggs pickled by mom have white patterns on the surface, containing a unique aroma, and that distinctive flavor still lingers in my mouth. Dad says eating too many century eggs will make you stupid, so this dish is always placed farthest from me on the table, and the more I can't eat it, the more I want it.
Garlic Eggplant
I don't know who invented garlic eggplant, but eggplant is rich in nutrients, and garlic is spicy and antibacterial, making this combination very beneficial for health. The eggplant steamed by mom is soft and tender, and with various seasonings, it has a fresh and refreshing taste, making it a must-have on our dining table in summer.
Vinegar Cabbage
In the past, every household stored a large pile of cabbage for winter. As a result, in my mind, cabbage = plain water, which is quite boring and tasteless. If there is a slightly better impression, it is at most mom's vinegar cabbage. This seemingly unremarkable vinegar cabbage, paired with fragrant white rice, is indeed a delightful meal in winter.
Sour and Spicy Shredded Potatoes
^ ^ After all these years, I still have a soft spot for sour and spicy shredded potatoes. This is definitely the dish with the highest culinary skill among mom's cooking, and its taste is absolutely comparable to that of restaurant dishes. That sourness is truly delicious.
Tomato and Scrambled Eggs
The first time I ate tomato and scrambled eggs was made by mom, but my memory of it is not quite the same as now: first, fry the tomatoes, then pour the beaten egg mixture directly into the pan to mix with the tomatoes, and it can be taken out once it is almost set. By the way, a lot of sugar was added, and although it tastes sweet, it is a wonderful thing to eat with rice. I wonder if that was mom's original recipe or if it was just how it was done back then?
▼ Mom often worries that we don't get enough nutrition, always buying these foods she thinks are the most nourishing.
Fried River Shrimp
Do you remember the fried river shrimp we often ate as kids? It was truly a childhood delicacy. The larger river shrimp, about half a bunch long, mom would coat in flour and fry in oil, delicious and sweet in taste. For the smaller river shrimp, mom would mix them with egg liquid and fry them, making them a great side dish. Mom would fry while I would eat, sometimes she couldn't keep up with my eating speed!
Braised Pork Belly
The dish that appears most frequently on the dining table when mom cooks, usually braised in soy sauce, is a deep red color, and the whole family can eat it for several meals without finishing it.
Red Braised Fish
In mom's eyes, red braised fish is definitely a big dish. In my childhood memory, our family rarely ate fish, and mom always only ate the fish head, saying "the fish head is delicious," while she picked the tender fish meat and put it in my bowl. Growing up, every time I see the fish head that no one cares about when dining out with friends, I deeply understand why my mother said, "the fish head is delicious."
Fried Vegetarian Balls
Actually, what attracts me most about fried vegetarian balls is mom's excellent skills! I saw her in the bowl, mixing finely chopped vegetables with batter, stirring well, then taking a small portion in her hands, performing a gymnastic-like motion, frequently alternating and rubbing her hands, and one by one, the round balls would go into the pot... draining the oil, taking them out, everything was so skillful. I, who was greedy, would definitely be the first to reach for the still hot balls, blowing on them as I took them, putting them in my mouth, biting into one, wow! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fragrant and soft...
Fried Ribbonfish
In the past, when we couldn't get any rare foods, my mom's fried ribbonfish was definitely the warmest scent in my winter memories.
Stewed Chicken
Not long ago, when I returned home, mom was busy in the kitchen, and the rich aroma of chicken soup filled the air, instantly bringing back childhood memories. Back then, chicken soup was only available when we were sick or during the New Year, and drinking a bowl of chicken soup floating with butter, pulling a chicken leg, was pure happiness in my mouth.
▼ Besides these, mom also makes the most characteristic foods of our hometown~
Stir-fried Pork Skin
The stir-fried pork skin made by my nanny is truly unforgettable. The thin slices of pork skin are coated with a layer of shiny oil, and the texture of the pork skin is still showing a red color from the dark soy sauce, with a few green scallions evenly sprinkled on each slice. Just looking at it is already a delight, and when the dish is served, a strong aroma wafts in, making one instinctively swallow. Picking up a slice and putting it in my mouth, ah, words can't describe this feeling; only those who have eaten it know.
Stir-fried Pickled Vegetables
Friends living in the countryside of Fengfeng should know that in winter, mom often stir-fries the radish pickled this year with shredded meat, and it is really fragrant and delicious.
Steamed Flower Buns
Whenever the New Year approaches, mom steams a lot of buns and puts them in a small jar under the eaves outside, to be eaten during the Spring Festival. The ones steamed closer to the New Year are various shapes, with different flowers made from red dates as the flower center, and there are little cat and dog shapes. My favorite is the little dog bun because I was born in the year of the dog, and this little dog belongs to me. I always hold it, reluctant to take a bite. Of course, my big sister was born in the year of the rabbit, so the little rabbit bun belongs to her, and I naturally don't fight with her for it.
Lamb and Radish Dumplings
During the years I was studying away from home, mom knew I loved lamb and carrot dumplings the most. Every time I hadn't arrived home yet, mom would already go to the market to buy lamb, prepare the dough, grate the carrots, and season the filling. As soon as I walked in the door, the steaming dumplings would be on the table. I love eating dumplings, and I can eat without counting. Mom always says, "Have a few more!" Her kind smile is forever etched in my memory.
The above are just a portion of the home-cooked dishes that I love. There are many more delicious home-cooked dishes in Fengfeng. These are all authentic Fengfeng flavors, the taste of home! If you are from Fengfeng, no matter where you are, I believe these must be the flavors of your mom in your memories!