Strawberries are a spring fruit. Although the interstellar research institute has developed strawberries that grow in winter, they are very expensive. The price Lu Mingming paid was five times that of winter strawberries produced on Earth.
Considering the high cost of raw materials, Lu Mingming did not prepare too many strawberries and brown sugar. As a result, during yesterday's preliminary experiment with candied strawberries, the two little ones only got a taste of the sweet brown sugar sauce.
Since learning that Lu Mingming was making snacks for class A, Morian had been craving candied strawberries and was calculating in his mind.
"The outer layer is edible rice paper."
Seeing the man staring blankly at the outer shell of the candied strawberry, Lu Mingming reminded him softly.
Morian lowered his gaze and thanked her.
In fact, he knew this because he had secretly eaten milk candy too many times.
The man held a candied strawberry, the unpeeled rice paper perfectly separating his fingers from the sticky candy shell.
He first placed the pointed tip of the candied strawberry into his mouth to taste it.
The texture was like a hard glass bead, with a faint hint of brown sugar discernible, but no strawberry flavor at all.
It shouldn't be so bland, right?
Morian, with a tentative thought, bit directly into the entire pointed tip of the strawberry.
As the clear sugar syrup shattered, a crisp "crack" sound made the cubs in front involuntarily wince, fearing their teacher's teeth might break.
Contrary to what the cubs imagined, after biting through the crystal-clear brown sugar shell, he then bit through the strawberry.
The fresh sweet flavor mixed with the brown sugar syrup burst in Morian's mouth, bringing a wave of sweetness.
It was a fresh and natural sweetness, completely different from the usual desserts he ate.
The rice paper dissolved on his tongue instantly, the soft, juicy fruit flesh filling his mouth with satisfaction. The sweet but not cloying sugar shell mixed with the strawberry pulp brought sweetness to the heart, and a warmth of winter unfolded on his taste buds.
It did not disappoint his expectations.
Morian wiped the sugar residue from the corner of his mouth with his finger, feeling exceptionally satisfied:
"This is my first time eating this, candied strawberry? It's delicious, classmates can try it."
Morian's words were full of affirmation for Lu Mingming.
"Thank you."
Lu Mingming smiled brightly. She had spent a long time making them yesterday, and her own cubs hadn't tried them yet.
Morian, chewing on the brown sugar shell, lowered his head to study the candied strawberry in his hand. Morian recalled seeing this item in ancient recipes, and its original name seemed to be "Tanghulu"?
However, the candied strawberries before him bore no resemblance to gourds.
Thinking of this, Morian began his live broadcast, introducing the origin of Tanghulu to the cubs, finally emphasizing that this was a delicacy from ancient planetary recipes and a rare treat.
Let alone the little ones, even Lu Mingming's eyes widened a little as she listened to Morian's narration.
Only a handful of people in the entire interstellar knew about the existence of ancient Earth. She never expected this homeroom teacher to be so knowledgeable, recognizing the ancient Earth snack, Tanghulu?
Actually, Lu Mingming had originally wanted to prepare Tanghulu, but hawthorn was not sold in the entire star net market. In desperation, she settled for candied strawberries.
Compared to Tanghulu made by coating strings of hawthorn with sugar syrup, Lu Mingming used individual strawberries.
The strawberries sold by the research institute in Sal City were red and large. Paired with the brown sugar coating, they were sweet and sour, and the sugar shell on top looked crystal clear, making a crisp cracking sound when bitten, which was very satisfying.
Outside the window, a strong cold wind blew, rustling the branches of the nearby trees and causing layers of snow to fall, blending with the sugar frost on the candied strawberries.
Hui Lan, who did not trust Lu Mingming, immediately asked, "Did you put the snow outside on the strawberries? I'm not that easily fooled!"
If residual snow was used for decoration, it would melt shortly after coming into contact with the hot sugar syrup and would not last until it was served to them.
Lu Mingming curved her eyebrows and explained, "The outside of the strawberry is brushed with a layer of brown sugar, and the small white 'snowflakes' are sugar frosting, all of which are edible. Teacher loved eating candied strawberries when she was little, try them."
The young cubs, born into noble families, truly did not want to eat them, all looking at the strawberries in their hands with disdain.
Their homes had all sorts of pastries, so why eat these messy foods, which might not be clean.
"Do you know how to appreciate Teacher Mingming's kindness?"
Morian's sudden reminder evoked the cubs' nightmare memories of being disciplined.
Under Morian's watchful "tyranny," the little cubs, with furrowed brows, forcibly closed their eyes and stuffed the Tanghulu into their mouths.
A few children who dared not eat "inferior goods" stuck out their tongues to lick the outermost sugar shell. After tasting it, their small eyes lit up.
Hui Lan sat under the podium, trying to overcome his aversion to the rice paper. With his small hands, he painstakingly peeled off the outer rice paper, muttering all the while:
"So strange... who gives children paper to eat."
After spending half the day, Hui Lan still hadn't removed all the rice paper.
Helpless, he pinched his nose and forced the whole strawberry into his mouth.
The next second, Hui Lan's eyes suddenly widened.
Feeling the sweet juice dissolving in his mouth, his white teeth crunched through the sweet brown sugar shell, and he had never eaten anything so delicious!
It was ten times, no, a hundred times better than the desserts at those five-star hotels!
Hui Lan regretted that he could only count to a hundred, otherwise his evaluation would have been even higher.
So this is the deliciousness in the world!
Although the little cubs did not say it aloud, the expressions on their faces showed their heartfelt approval of the candied strawberries.
Some children were eager to contact their parents, instructing them to buy a factory to produce candied strawberries, but Lu Mingming intercepted them. Then another cub turned to make a video call.
Lu Mingming stood beside the podium and clapped her hands. The crisp applause instantly drew the attention of all the cubs.
Now, Lu Mingming was not just their caregiver, but a master creator of delicious food, the hunger in their bellies, and the saliva flowing incessantly in their mouths.
Everyone's eyes were fixed, afraid of missing the next candied strawberry.
Lu Mingming said, "Candied strawberry is Teacher's exclusive recipe. Others don't know how to make it, so babies, don't trouble your family members or manufacturers."
The little cubs, with disappointed faces, put away their optical brains. The mischievous thoughts of the giant rabbit Hui Lan, after eating the candied strawberry, subsided considerably. His eyes sparkled, and without any shyness, he asked again, "Teacher, do you have any more food? I want more."
Lu Mingming promised, "I know how to make many snacks. If everyone likes them, and you are good for these three days, I will give everyone snacks. I guarantee that other classes won't get them!"
Children are naturally inclined to compete unconsciously. Hearing that other classes wouldn't get them, they responded with fierce spirit in unison, "Okay."
Lu Mingming chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. As expected, they were little foodies who couldn't be without delicious food.
Since the candied strawberries were so well-received, she would bring two for the dumplings and ice cream when she saw them later.