For those who are interested in making a classic Chinese dish, it's a bit of work, but so much fun!! :)

Meat (usu Pork) Dumplings

ingredients for meat dumplings:

- 1 kilo ground meat

- 2 tbsp soy sauce

- 2 tsp salt

- 2 tsp black peppers

- 1 tsp white pepper

- 2 tsp brandy / aromatic alcohol (I think this can be optional)

- 1 tsp sesame oil

- 1 inch ginger

- 3-4 stalks spring onion

- 1 small clump fresh cilantro

- 1 very small clump chives

- 1 small head chinese cabbage

make meat dumplings:

- drain water of chinese cabbage and other veggie stuff (do this many times!!)

- chop cabbage like crazy

- add soy sauce and salt to meat

- stir slowly in same direction

- add remaining ingredients, including the veggie stuff

- test the scent: if it's not aromatic, add more sesame oil / onion

- test the stickiness: fry a tsp of dumpling stuff, it should stick together; if it doesnt: a) too dry = add more veggie/oil or b) too moist = add more meat

- to boil the dumplings, put into boiling water. When water reboils, add cold water to the pot; repeat the process 3 times

- make sure to buy dumpling sauce! Or you can mix some soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.

*Celery is a good substitute if you don't like chives.

Vegetarian Dumplings (recipe used for theme project):

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/vegetarian-steamed-dumplings-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound firm tofu
• 1/2 cup coarsely grated carrots
• 1/2 cup shredded Napa cabbage
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red pepper
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions
• 2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• dumplings wrappers

*Alex and Amy followed this recipe for the theme project, except they didn't have hoisin sauce or sesame oil (veg oil sub), and they added in some celery and a lot more veggies. They also boiled the dumplings as opposed to steaming them.

*Some recipes also use bean thread, which is good too.