There are eight kinds of seasonings in total, including "clove, licorice, cinnamon, cinnamon bark, dried tangerine peel, cardamom, grass fruit and amomum villosum", which are the ingredients of Suzhou soup.
However, there are too many possible ratios for the amount of each ingredient used.
This requires continuous experimentation and trying various ratios to determine.
Therefore, Su Jinrong's recall of the eight seasonings was just the beginning of Feng Yifan and his father-in-law's subsequent efforts.
But now that we have the ingredient list, it means we have a direction for the next step.
When Feng Ruoruo saw that her father did not continue to fan her, the little girl immediately shouted, "Dad, Dad, why don't you fan me? If you don't fan me, my mom, grandpa, and brother Haohao will all be so hot."
His daughter's cry brought Feng Yifan back to his senses, and he waved the fan again to create a gust of wind.
Su Ruoxi could see that her husband was thinking about something and knew that he and his father were studying an old family recipe.
So after her husband slapped her twice and her daughter jumped for joy, she bent down and said to her daughter, "Ruoruo, can we go out and play with our brother? Daddy and grandpa are still busy, and we can't keep disturbing them here, so are you willing to listen and go out?"
Feng Ruoruo was originally in the video, cheering and jumping for joy with Yang Xiaoxi, especially when her hair was blown up by the fans, the little girl would scream in the video.
Yang Xiaoxi, who was watching the video, also cheered when she saw Feng Ruoruo's hair being blown.
The two little girls interacting with each other across the air like this was really joyful, even Yue Qihao next to them found it particularly interesting.
Hearing her mother's words, Feng Ruoruo raised her head and looked at her mother and said, "But Xixi and I both want Dad to fan us. Dad can blow out such a strong wind."
On the other side of the video, Yang Xiaoxi also leaned close to her video phone and said, "Aunt Su, we want Father Feng to fan us. I can feel the wind that Father Feng is fanning us."
As soon as Yang Xiaoxi finished speaking, Yang Zhiyi's voice was heard from the other side.
"You little girl, the wind you feel is obviously your daddy fanning you, okay?"
The wind that Yang Xiaoxi felt on the other side of the video was indeed being fanned by her father Yang Zhiyi.
Because Yang Xiaoxi saw Feng Ruoruo being fanned by her father, the little girl thought it was very interesting, so she ran to pull her father over and asked her father to fan her too, but she did not allow her father to appear on camera.
In order to satisfy his little daughter's request, Yang Zhiyi could only move a small stool and sit beside his daughter's bed, fanning her with a small fan.
So this is the scene where Feng Ruoruo's hair is blown by the wind because of her father's fanning, and Yang Xiaoxi's hair is also blown by the wind in the other side of the video.
Before Yang Zhiyi spoke, Feng Ruoruo was still very curious. Why could Xixi on the other side of the video also enjoy the wind when her father was fanning her
Now after hearing what Uncle Yang said on the video, Feng Ruoruo finally understood.
When Yang Xiaoxi heard that his father had exposed the truth, he immediately became unhappy and started to "denounce" his father on the video.
"Dad, we agreed that you are not allowed to come out. You can't talk. Ruoruo and the others can't hear you. How can you go back on your word?"
On the other side of the video, Yang Zhiyi was really a little depressed. His own daughter really didn't give him any face at all.
But his daughter's appearance made Yang Zhiyi unable to vent his anger, so he could only comfort her.
"Okay, it's Daddy's fault. Daddy shouldn't have been exposed and shouldn't have disturbed you and Ruoruo's video call. So, Daddy will come out? You and Ruoruo can continue the video call, okay?"
When Yang Xiaoxi heard her father say this, she immediately got up from the bed, ran over and grabbed her father.
"Dad, don't go. You still have to fan me."
Yang Zhiyi was a little excited when his daughter held him, but when he heard what his daughter said, his excitement disappeared instantly and his face fell a little.
All of this was watched by everyone on the video, and everyone was laughing so hard when they saw the scenes between the father and daughter.
After Su Ruoxi finished laughing, she said to her daughter, "Okay, let's go out. Don't you still want to show Xixi the duckling?"
Feng Ruoruo immediately thought of her little duck: "Yes, Xixi, I'll take you to see the little duck."
On the other side of the video, Yang Xiaoxi also responded immediately: "Okay, let's watch the little duck."
Su Ruoxi then carried the fruit plate and led the two children out of the kitchen. When she walked out of the kitchen, she did not forget to say to her father and husband: "Dad, you have to take care of your health. And Yifan, you guys study the recipes. Take your time and don't rush. We all believe in the abilities of you two chefs."
Feng Yifan laughed when he heard this: "Of course you have to believe it. My father and I are undoubtedly capable."
Seeing her husband's cocky look, Su Ruoxi said with a smile, "Just show off and make something first."
After his wife took the children out, Feng Yifan began to discuss the specific ratios with his father-in-law.
The father-in-law and son-in-law also discussed some common stew ratios.
"Dad, I think we can try the stew we usually use first. Although the stew at home may not have so many ingredients, we can adjust each one slightly and then taste it. If it is suitable, we will use it."
Su Jinrong shook his head and said, "No, the key point now is that the Su-style soup will be different in each season. The specific ratio is a bit difficult to grasp. And don't forget that the usual ratio of the stew is basically universal in winter, and now it's summer."
His father-in-law's words did remind Feng Yifan, because most home-made braised soups are indeed made in winter.
After all, home-made braised dishes are usually prepared in winter and may be eaten during the Chinese New Year.
Although many restaurants and street vendors also serve braised dishes in summer, the proportions of the braising soup are unlikely to change much.
Su Jinrong's meaning is very clear. The winter ratio is more common and applicable, but the different ratios for spring, summer and autumn in Su's soup are the key.
Feng Yifan thought for a while, then walked over and took out the various ingredients he had prepared in advance.
Putting the eight ingredients on the chopping board, Feng Yifan said seriously, "Dad, if that's the case, then we'll try again and again, and we'll eventually figure out the right ratio."
Su Jinrong thought for a moment and asked, "Then how do you determine the ratio?"
Feng Yifan thought for a while and said: "We can consider the medicinal properties of these ingredients. For example, licorice belongs to the category of 'tonifying the spleen and replenishing qi, clearing away heat and detoxifying'. If it is suitable for summer, we can put a little more.
The main function of Amomum villosum is to 'dry out dampness and eliminate cold', so we should put less of it in summer."
Feng Yifan was using his mobile phone to look up the pharmacology of these seasonings while analyzing for his father-in-law which one could be added more and which one might need to be controlled in quantity in summer.
After some analysis, I was able to roughly deduce a ratio that seems to be more reasonable.
Su Jinrong looked at the ratio given by his son-in-law, thought for a while and said, "Well, this one can be tried. You can cook a pot of soup first and try it."
Feng Yifan nodded and said, "Okay, Dad, I'll try it first."
The taste of the stew, of course, does not only depend on these seasonings, but also needs to be matched with some other flavors.
This seasoning process is a very tedious process if the ratio is not determined.
Feng Yifan needs to try again and again to confirm whether the taste is really right. Of course, there is another point that because there is no braising, the final taste may also be biased. The process of creating a dish is usually a process of trial and error.
Feng Yifan and his father-in-law made several attempts together and tasted many different proportions of the braised soup.
After several attempts, we finally decided on a ratio that should be roughly feasible.
After deciding on the stew for this pot, Feng Yifan took out the prepared front elbow.
With his front elbow on the chopping board, he looked at his father-in-law and asked, "Dad, are we starting now?"
Su Jinrong nodded: "Well, let's start."
Feng Yifan first grilled the front elbow on the stove to burn off the fluff on the skin, while also grilling away some of the fishy smell on the pork elbow.
After grilling, wash it in clean water. This process will wash away the burnt barbecue.
Wash it clean and wipe off the water.
Feng Yifan heated a pot of oil, put the pork elbow in the pot, and slowly fried the skin of the pork elbow until it turned golden brown by pouring oil continuously.
When frying the pork elbow, the aroma naturally wafts out of the kitchen.
Yue Qihao, who was playing outside, smelled the fragrance and couldn't help but exclaimed: "Wow, it smells so good."
Feng Ruoruo also smelled the fragrance and said, "Oh, it's Dad cooking. Let's go quickly and see Dad cooking. Dad must be making something delicious."
Yang Xiaoxi, who was watching the video, was also very excited when she heard Feng Ruoruo's words and shouted, "I want to see Father Feng cook. Ruoruo, please take me to see it quickly."
Feng Ruoruo stood up, holding her phone, and said, "Okay, okay, let's go and see it together."
Under the guidance of Feng Ruoruo, Yue Qihao also followed her into the kitchen again.
The temperature in the kitchen was very high, after all, the earthen stove had been lit and there was hot oil burning in the pot.
However, even though the heat wave is rolling, there is still an enticing fragrance in the heat.
Yue Qihao couldn't help swallowing a few times and said, "It smells really good."
Yang Xiaoxi heard the voice on the other side of the video and hurriedly urged Feng Ruoruo: "Ruoruo, hurry up, let me see what Father Feng is doing?"
Feng Ruoruo held the phone in her hand, carefully approached the stove, stood next to her grandfather and stretched her head to look.
I saw some oil in the big iron pot that grandma used to cook, and a big elbow of pork was in the pot with oil being poured on it by my dad.
"Hey, Xixi, come and have a look. Dad seems to be frying something. Look, it's quite big."
Yue Qihao naturally followed over, and when he saw what was in the pot, he said, "It looks like the fried pork elbows are pork elbows, right? They're pork elbows."
Feng Yifan raised his head and said with a smile when he heard the voice: "Yes, Haohao is right, this is indeed a pork elbow."
Feng Ruoruo and Yang Xiaoxi on the other side of the video asked almost in unison: "Where is the pork elbow?"
Grandpa smiled and pointed at his elbow, "It's about the part below the pig's thigh and above the hoof. It's a place with a lot of lean meat and tastes very good."
After their grandfather's instructions, the two little girls probably understood something.
At this time, Feng Yifan had already fried the elbow and took it out of the pan.
Seeing her father fish it out, Feng Ruoruo immediately said, "Dad, can we eat it now? Ruoruo should eat it, and give some to brother Haohao too."
Seeing his daughter's eagerness, Feng Yifan smiled and said, "You can't eat it yet. This is just the initial processing. There are still many steps to go. And this is to be eaten in the evening, so Ruoruo has to wait patiently and not be impatient, understand?"
Feng Ruoruo nodded, but Yang Xiaoxi on the other side of the video was unhappy.
"Oh, Ruoruo, you can eat the food cooked by Father Feng, but I can't eat it."
Hearing what his good friend said in the video, Feng Ruoruo quickly said, "Hey, Dad, Xixi can't eat it, what should I do? Can you send it to Xixi?"
Feng Yifan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He said, "How can I ask Dad to deliver this? Xixi's home is far away. If Dad delivers it, the weather is so hot that we might not be able to eat it even if we deliver it."
Yang Xiaoxi was a little dissatisfied on the video: "Woo woo woo, Xixi can't even eat Father Feng's food."
While Feng Yifan was cleaning the frying pan, he said to Yang Xiaoxi on the video: "Don't be sad, Xixi. Daddy Feng will make it for you after we get back. Daddy Feng is experimenting this time, so it may not be the best. When we get back, Daddy Feng will have finished the experiment and it will definitely taste better."
When Yang Xiaoxi heard this, she finally felt satisfied.
"Well, that's good. Come on, Dad Feng. Xixi believes that you will make delicious food."
Feng Yifan smiled and said to the other end of the video: "Okay, thank you Xixi."
Next, Feng Yifan poured clean water into the clean pot, put the pork elbow in, and then put the previously prepared ingredients into the seasoning bag and put them into the pot.
When he was about to cover the pot, Su Jinrong suddenly said, "Add two pieces of white radish."
Feng Yifan looked at his father-in-law in surprise, but after thinking about it, it seemed that his father-in-law's approach was not wrong. White radish can absorb some odors and also remove the greasiness of the elbow.
So Feng Yifan picked out a white radish that didn't look very good, quickly washed and peeled it, cut it into two pieces and put them in the pot to cook together.
The next step is the stewing process, which is to stew the flavors of the ingredients into the pork elbow.
After Feng Yifan covered the pot, he began to add firewood under the stove.
Feng Ruoruo saw her father sitting on a very low stool, guarding under the stove and constantly adding firewood. She found it very interesting and went over to take a look.
Yang Xiaoxi also wanted to watch the video, but Feng Ruoruo was so busy watching it herself that she didn't hold the phone properly.
Yang Xiaoxi could only see a little bit. She shouted from the video: "Ruoruo, please hold your phone. I can't see clearly. I want to see Father Feng too."
Feng Ruoruo quickly picked up her phone and watched her father control the fire on the stove with her good friend in the video.
Su Jinrong did not try to stop her, because there was no need for him to stop her. After a while, Feng Ruoruo turned around and ran back to her grandfather, still shouting, "Oh, it's so hot, so hot, Grandpa Ruoruo is so hot."
Feng Yifan raised his head, wiped the sweat off his forehead and said, "It's hot, right? You and brother Haohao should go out first and go to mom to get some air conditioning."
Grandpa took out a handkerchief, wiped the sweat off his granddaughter's face and said, "Yes, Ruoruo and Brother Haohao, go out first. It's too hot here. Let mom wash your face, and then go cool down. Grandpa will help Ruoruo watch dad here and make sure he doesn't cheat on her."
After listening to her grandfather's words, the little girl finally smiled and nodded: "Okay."
Then Feng Ruoruo called her brother Haohao and left the kitchen together.