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Dumplings, My Personal Favorite

I grew up in China with my grandparents. My grandma is a wonderful, talented cook who loves to create and experiment with new dishes. I don't remember when the first time she served me dumplings was, but I do remember the delight I felt when I first tasted it.

A dumpling is made of a steamed dough enclosed around a savory filling. Although it is mostly made with pork, my grandmother would also use vegetables for the filling. She would always roll out the dough from scratch and prepare the seasoning herself. This task would always take a long time, and she often spent an entire afternoon just preparing the dumplings for dinner.

I would sit by the table watching her, trying to be helpful by handing her the rolling pin and cups of water, while simultaneously trying not to disturb her concentration. She would roll out each dough and add each filling with immense care. When she finished, she would have a platter of plump dumplings, all equal in size and shape.

Dinner is always the most important meal in China. Whenever we have dumplings, my aunt and uncle would always join us, because no one wanted to miss my grandma's specialty. I would always compete with my uncle to see who could eat the most dumplings, and I successfully defeated him once by eating twenty-five.

My grandma, expressing her artistry, would sometimes make dumplings resembling porcupines and ducks, adding green and red food coloring to make them more life-like. Through her creativity, she not only made the dumplings good to eat, but also fun to eat.

When I became a little older, my grandma taught me how to make dumplings. However, it was very difficult for my five-year-old chubby fingers to fold the dough neatly around the filling while concurrently creating an outer lace ring at the same time. My oddly shaped dumplings sitting next to her perfectly shaped golden nuggets resembled of old battle-worn boots that had been trampled mercilessly. Nevertheless, they still tasted delicious.

From then on, my love for dumplings grew. My grandma and I shared many happy afternoons making dumplings, laughing over spilled flour and crushed dough. As we sit there rolling the dough into round pieces, she would tell me exciting stories about her childhood and her days as an elementary school principal. Through all the hours we spent making dumplings together, we have developed a strong, unique bond.

When I was six, I moved to America to live with my parents. I was scared of this new different, unfamiliar country. It was difficult for me to make friends in school, because I strained to understand the odd language they were speaking. At lunchtime, assimilating to western "cuisine", instead of eating fried rice or noodles, I would eat ham and cheese sandwiches, something I had never tasted before. However, when I came home from school after a long day, my mom would always greet me with a freshly cooked plate of sweet dumplings to cheer me up.

As the years passed, my English improved dramatically and I learned to love the new American foods that I was earlier forced to eat. But to me, dumplings will always remain a personal favorite. Whenever I eat them, I am reminded of my loving grandmother and all the laughter and joyful times we shared. I am also reminded of my Chinese heritage and the beautiful home that I had lived in for six years.

I feel fortunate to be able to experience the traditions of two countries and incorporate both cultures in my life. Nowadays, I share the joy of making dumplings with my mom. We discovered that the great teacher in my grandmother has enabled her to help us both master the technique of dumpling making. Many afternoons, my mom and I would make many different kinds of dumplings and store them in our freezer. Whenever we're too busy or too tired to cook, we would resort to the dumplings for a quick, scrumptious meal. However, not only do the dumplings serve as our fast food, they also serve as an excellent dish to bring to potlucks and parties. When my family invites our American friends for dinner, we always make sure to place a plate of dumplings next to the chicken, salad, and mashed potatoes. Dumplings have been a vital part of my childhood and I will continue to hold them in high importance throughout my life. Whenever I eat dumplings here, the diverse flavors remind me of my diverse upbringing and my appreciation for this delicious experience I have had in my life.  

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