Homemade Dumplings

LAST Tuesday (I know, I'm a procrastinator) a bunch of our co-workers came over and showed us how to make homemade dumplings! There are quite a lot of steps involved and I captured them all by photo and video:
Step 1: Combine all ingredients to make dough.

How cute are Clair and Vivian!?!

Step 2: Knead the dough until it is smooth on the surface, adding water as necessary. This kneading is not for the faint of heart; Yogi brought along her boyfriend Daniel and as he was kneading he said "it is good for me, I am so skinny - it will make me strong" haha

Step 2/3 by video:

Step 3: Clean leeks and carrots and whatever other veggies you desire and cut/shred them.

Step 4: Shake the eggs before you crack them! Then mix them all up! Notice that Daniel is STILL kneading the bread! And look how fast Vivian stirs those eggs!!!!

Step 5: Mix the pork with egg and salt and leeks.

Step 6: Fry the eggs and ginger and carrots - these will make the veggie dumplings!

Step 7: Once the dough was all kneaded and ready to go, Eva pulled it into this funky donut-shaped circle and started pulling it into little balls.

Step 8: Flatten said little balls into circles, then roll out with a rolling pin. It's crazy to watch a legit Chinese person do this....it must be in their genes to be speedy dumpling rollers.

Step 9: Fill the dumplings! There is a whole art behind how to pinch the dough together and I ended up creating my own little version similar to the way Vivian taught me.
(I have a video to put here and I'm working on uploading it....but the internet is taking FOREVER and I have other posts to do and I want them to go in order! So check back later for this video if you remember!)

Step 10: Boil dumplings. For meat: bring water to boil, add dumplings and bring to boil again, add cold water and bring to boil again, repeat cold water and boil, repeat cold water and boil, boil, strain - done! For vegetables you only have to boil them and add cold water once, bring to a boil again, then strain.

Step 11: Enjoy your yummy dumplings with all your friends! By the time we took this picture we were all stuffed with dumplings!

So excited for dumplings!

Look at all the shoes that were in our apartment! It made us feel like we had sooooooo many friends because we NEVER have visitors haha

Here's a fun story: Chelsie and I had noticed that a lot of Chinese people have reeeeeaaaallllllllllyyyyyy long pinky nails and the rest of their nails are cut to a regular length. One of the girls in the office, Clair, is one of these people so we asked her what it was all about. She just said that her pinky is too short so she grows her nail out to make it long enough. How long is long enough you ask? The top of your pinky (or nail) should be as long as the top crease on your ring finger. Interesting......

Looking for incentive to come to China? This whole experience could happen for you, too!