Olivia's Dumplings

One day your older daughter asks you to buy cabbage because she wants to make dumplings for dinner. Actually, she asks your husband because he is the errand runner in the house. The next thing you know, she is in the kitchen, mixing flour and water to make dough.

Before you can stop yourself, you say "Are you making your own dough?!?!" And you tell her that it would be much easier if she used wonton wrappers instead. But she tells you, "It's just flour and water" and asks, "What are wontons, anyway?" And she continues to mix, and knead, and roll, singing to herself.

Later, she enlists her little sister, who wants to be just like her, to grate and chop and mix. And they are happy together, working side by side.

You peek in and don't want to break the spell but can't help standing in the doorway staring. You grab your camera and take picture after picture. Even after the eye rolling, you snap away, wanting to watch, and hoping that they'll forget about you if you hide behind the camera.

You are struck by how much she is like you, researching dumpling recipes and coming up with her own spin because she loves dumplings and has been reading a book in which the characters eat lots of dumplings and now she wants to make her own.

But she is also not you. Because you love dumplings, too, but have never made your own and definitely would have taken a short cut for your first try by using wonton wrappers.

And also because she has her own way, of developing the recipe, of creating, of cooking. Of being.

There she is, completely undaunted, forging on. And you are in awe. You cannot believe that this girl began life in your womb and that you leaned over her making silly faces at her tiny one to make her smile. That she was once a toddler who cried every day when you left for work in a way that broke just a tiny piece of your heart off each time. You stand there rooted to the ground as the memories flood over you and you snap away on your camera. 

You realize that this will not be the last time that you are overwhelmed by her, that as time rolls forward there will be other times like this where she will surprise and impress you with the person that she has become. And although you are nostalgic for the days that have passed, you are also excited to see what comes next.

Olivia's Dumplings

P.S. They're very tasty too!

Makes about 4 dozen dumplings
Approximately 90 minutes preparation time
20 minutes cooking time

For the filling:
1 red onion finely chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped ginger
2 cups grated Savoy cabbage
2 cups grated carrot
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
salt
canola oil

For the dough:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup boiling water

For the dipping sauce:
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil

To make the filling, heat a tablespoon or so of canola oil in a large sauté pan and sauté the onions and ginger. Add the cabbage and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Remove the mixture from the heat and add the sesame oil and cilantro. Taste and add more salt and pepper if you like. Set aside.

To make the dough, mix the boiling water with the flour until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough until it is smooth, about 5 minutes. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a roll approximately 12 inches long. Cut each roll across into half-inch slices. Flatten each slice on a well-floured surface and roll it into a circle approximately 3 inches in diameter. Continue with the remaining pieces of dough.

Put one tablespoon of the filling mixture in the center of each circle. Fold the circle in half and pinch the dough along the seam to seal it. Place about a tablespoon of canola oil in a non-stick skilled over high heat. Add as many dumplings to the pan as you can, leaving just a bit of space between them. Cook the dumplings, turning them once or twice, until they are golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.

To make the dipping sauce, mix the soy sauce and sesame oil in a small bowl. Serve with the dumplings.

Print Recipe

Comments

[Eva]

the beautiful girl that her parents should take credit for, they let her BE. I remember telling my son Gabe you should help Olivia (3 yrs.old) pick what she wears, and he said, NO, we like her to be who she is, that's what she likes so is fine....A TRUE FREE SPIRIT!
And now a great dumpling maker! How were they? Love you Oli!

[Margy]

Thanks, Eva. And the dumplings were as delicious as the process of watching her make them.

[Neha]

You made me cry in my office! She is such an impressive young girl. Very sweet post.

[Lisa]

I love this story and your writing! Love the tie-in to the book. Love all the bracelets on Olivia's wrist. Isabel is following right behind Olivia chronologically and I understand this all. I can only hope the younger sib would be included in the parallel scenario in our house.
Thanks for sharing.

[Chantal]

She is going to be a great wife and Mother. Mmmmmmmmmmm! Does that sound sexist? I did not mean to.