Li Ying selected tender pork tenderloins, sliced them into thick pieces, and beat them with the back of a knife to make the meat tender. Then she cut them into bite - sized chunks.
She prepared a paste with soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, eggs, and cornstarch. After marinating the tenderloin chunks in the paste to let them absorb the flavors, she deep - fried them in a pan.
After frying them twice, the pork tenderloin, with the excess oil drained off, had a golden and crispy outer skin, while the inside was soft, tender, and juicy. It was excellent to eat on its own as a snack with wine.
By this time, the pineapple chunks had been soaked in saltwater. The faint saltiness actually brought out the natural sweetness of the fruit, making them perfect for cooking.
She stir - fried tomato paste until it turned bright red, then added rock sugar and cornstarch and simmered until the sauce thickened. She poured the tenderloin into the pan and stir - fried it evenly.
Next, she added the pineapple chunks and garnished the dish with green and red peppers. With a spoonful of salt to adjust the flavor, a delicious Pineapple Sweet and Sour Pork was ready, steaming with heat.
This Pineapple Sweet and Sour Pork had a rosy color. It tasted sweet and sour when eaten. The fresh aroma of the pineapple perfectly neutralized the greasiness of the fried tenderloin. On this summer day when the heat had not yet subsided, it was appetizing and made people's mouths water.
Li Ying thought that both the Empress Dowager and the little princess from the South Seas had a sweet tooth. She quickly tidied up the mess on the cutting board and then turned her attention to the several shrimps in the water tank.
These shrimps had been bought early in the morning. They were still lively and bounced vigorously. One could easily imagine how crispy and sweet they would taste if cooked into a dish.
She left two shrimps for Mianmian and Maomao to play with. She shelled the remaining shrimps, removed the mud veins, flattened them with the back of a knife, and then minced them into shrimp paste.
She gradually mixed yellow rice wine, pepper powder, and sea salt into the shrimp paste, stirring it in one direction repeatedly until it became sticky. Then she added some cornstarch water.
The well - mixed shrimp paste was smooth and chewy. She carefully stuffed it into the hollow part of the deep - fried dough sticks. She fried the shrimp - stuffed dough sticks over a low heat until the shrimp paste was cooked and the dough sticks regained their golden and crispy texture.
After they cooled down, she could mix the shrimp - stuffed dough sticks with pineapple and homemade salad dressing and sprinkle some black sesame seeds on top for decoration.
This "Pineapple Shrimp - Stuffed Deep - Fried Dough Sticks" had a crispy outer skin. The shrimp paste inside was tender and chewy. The sweet juice of the pineapple made the taste extremely rich. It was sweet and sour, truly an appetizing snack.
After preparing these dishes, Li Ying casually sliced some pineapples. She brewed a pot of fresh fruit tea with small green tangerines and cucumbers and garnished it with a few freshly picked mint leaves.
The refreshing aroma and the fresh yellow - green color of the tea made people feel that the summer heat had vanished just by taking a look.
She sent in her visiting card, prepared the carriage, and headed straight for the posthouse where the little princess from the South Seas was staying.
The two had met a few times before. The little princess had a good impression of Li Ying. When she heard that Li Ying had come to visit with some delicious dishes she had cooked herself, although she understood the principle of "never visit without a reason" and "never accept rewards without merit", she still quickly got up to greet her in person.
Li Ying greeted the princess and exchanged a few pleasantries. Then she calmly opened the food box and introduced the dishes she had prepared today.
"Lord Su, the junior minister of the Court of Judicial Review, brought back pineapples after his mission to the South Seas for me to prepare the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. I thought privately that the princess had been away from home for many days and must be missing her homeland. These dishes are just a small token of my appreciation. I hope they can relieve the princess's homesickness."
As Li Ying spoke, she carefully stole glances at the little princess's expression.
Sure enough, at first, the princess was slightly stunned. Then, a look of unhidden joy flashed across her eyes.
She thanked Li Ying and carefully picked up a piece of the "Pineapple Shortcake" and took a small bite.
The shortcake melted in her mouth. Under the milky - flavored crust, the unique fragrance of the pineapple rushed towards her like a violent storm, as if the huge waves on the South Sea had instantly engulfed her.
She took another bite of the Pineapple Shrimp - Stuffed Deep - Fried Dough Sticks. The saltiness of the shrimp meat and the sweetness of the pineapple complemented each other.
Li Ying was very innovative. When making the salad dressing, she squeezed in a lot of lime juice to reduce the greasiness. The sweet and sour salad dressing blended all the flavors on the plate harmoniously.
The crispy outer skin of the deep - fried dough sticks fully locked in the juice of the shrimp paste, preserving its freshness and crispness. Every bite was full of flavor.
The more the little princess tasted, the more satisfied she became. She took a sip of the cucumber - pineapple tea. After a long time, she finally let out a gentle breath contentedly.
"Sister Li, your cooking skills are really amazing! No wonder the Empress has authorized you to prepare the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. I'm sure that after the banquet, you will become famous, and from then on, the Li's Restaurant will be well - known throughout the capital!"
The little princess from the South Seas was full. These words were said sincerely, and her eyes when looking at Li Ying could not hide her admiration.
Li Ying just let out a soft sigh and looked steadily at her.
"I hope your words will come true. To be bold, I do have some confidence in my cooking skills, but..."
She deliberately evaded the main topic. As expected, the little princess quickly asked, "What's wrong? Sister Li, have you encountered any difficulties? If you trust me, you can tell me. If there's anything I can do to help, I will do my best!"
This was exactly what Li Ying wanted. She no longer concealed anything and told the little princess the whole story about the Imperial Textile Commissioner Cao and the Peacock Gold Brocade robe.
"Li Ying is so bold as to ask the princess to find a unique blue peacock from the South Seas to weave a brand - new Peacock Gold Brocade robe as a tribute to the Empress Dowager!"
Li Ying calmly stated her intention. Seeing that the little princess was still hesitating, she took a deep breath, lowered her voice, and whispered in her ear.
"The princess came for a political marriage, but now she is trapped in the capital without any proper title. She has been here for several months. Pardon my bluntness, but in this situation, it's no different from being a hostage."
The Empress had given birth to a legitimate son, and Uncle Pei had regained military power. In this situation, in order to show his deep affection for the Empress and bestow favors on the Pei family, the Emperor would naturally not take the little princess from the South Seas into the palace.
But since the turmoil in the South Seas had just been quelled, the Emperor was still worried. He was afraid of setting a dangerous enemy free. So, although he didn't say it explicitly, he always kept the little princess, the only daughter of the King of the South Seas, in the capital to make the king hesitate and be cautious.
"Your Highness, after eating these pineapple dishes today, don't you want to return to your homeland soon? I have a way. As long as we can present this Peacock Gold Brocade robe on time, I can ensure that His Majesty will let you return to the South Seas!"
Li Ying said confidently. The little princess looked at her doubtfully, with a look of hesitation on her face.
After a long time, she seemed to finally make up her mind and nodded seriously.
"Sister Li, if you really have such a wonderful plan, even if it means taking risks, I'm willing to follow your arrangement and take a chance!"