Chapter 26: Finger Foods

“What? Finger foods?” Zhu Jia’s eyes widened with curiosity.

Liang Sisi nodded slightly. “Yes. Babies can start eating finger foods around seven or eight months old. Finger foods are bite-sized pieces that babies can hold and eat on their own. They’re great for developing their grasping skills, fine motor abilities, and interest in eating.”

She gently stroked Yuan Yuan’s head. “Yuan Yuan started with simple finger foods at seven months. Eating finger foods also helps train babies to eat independently!”

“Train them to eat independently? That means no more chasing them around during meals!” Zhu Jia’s eyes lit up as she rubbed her hands together in excitement. “That sounds amazing! Teach me how, please!”

“Today, I’ll show you two simple recipes that Yuan Yuan loved when she was younger,” Liang Sisi said.

“Will we need all these things?” Zhu Jia gestured at the pile of baby products and tools on the sofa.

“Just these two for now. The rest are things I thought you might find useful or delicious to try. We still have plenty at home,” Liang Sisi replied, picking up a steaming mold and a box of piping bags.

Feeling touched, Zhu Jia stepped forward and gave Liang Sisi a gentle hug. “Thank you, Sisi.”

Liang Sisi, who was typically straightforward and outgoing, blushed slightly. “Let’s head to the kitchen and get started.”

Zhu Jia nodded and called Aunt Liu to watch the two children temporarily.

“We’ll start with purple sweet potato sausages and egg yolk rings,” Liang Sisi explained once they entered the kitchen. “Babies love variety. Baby food should be diverse, both in ingredients and presentation, to keep them engaged.”

Pausing to pick up a long purple sweet potato, Liang Sisi continued, “Even a single ingredient, like purple sweet potato, can be made into various dishes—porridge, cakes, rolls, sticks, cookies, and more.”

Zhu Jia listened attentively. This was her first exposure to cooking. As a child, she had meals at the orphanage or with her adoptive parents, and as an adult, she ate at the school cafeteria. Now, it was a brand-new experience.

“The purple sweet potato sausages we’ll make today are a type of steamed cake. They’re shaped like sausages using molds. Once your son passes his allergy test for purple sweet potato, he can eat this starting at seven months.”

Liang Sisi opened a box of molds containing three designs: sausage-shaped, cat paw-shaped, and heart-shaped.

“First, we peel the purple sweet potato, cut it into small pieces, and steam it until soft,” Liang Sisi instructed while Zhu Jia got to work.

This step was simple enough for Zhu Jia, who quickly prepared and steamed the sweet potato. Soon, the aroma of the soft and sticky sweet potato filled the kitchen. Zhu Jia retrieved the pieces from the steamer and placed them into a small bowl.

“Next, we add some formula milk and flour to the sweet potato, then blend everything into a smooth mixture using a baby food processor,” Liang Sisi explained, pulling out a bag of flour and pouring some into the bowl. “Mix 50 milliliters of formula milk and pour it in.”

Just as Zhu Jia nodded, a cry from Yuan Yuan came from outside the kitchen. Zhu Jia quickly said, “Sisi, go check on Yuan Yuan. This part is easy; I’ll handle it.”

Seeing Zhu Jia’s confidence, Liang Sisi agreed and stepped out.

Zhu Jia, meanwhile, added water to prepare the formula but accidentally poured too much. She glanced at the measurement line and decided not to waste it, reasoning that it could all go into the mixture anyway. After mixing the formula, flour, and sweet potato in the food processor, the batter became smooth.

“This is so simple!” Zhu Jia thought, happily chatting with her internal system. “System, how many points will I get for making this purple sweet potato sausage?”

“If successful, you’ll earn 500 points,” the system replied.

Five hundred points! Zhu Jia’s smile grew wider as she realized how easy it was. While waiting for Liang Sisi to return, she idly browsed short videos on her phone.

Soon, Liang Sisi returned, carrying Yuan Yuan. “Yuan Yuan feels a bit shy since it’s her first time here and just wants to stick to me,” she said apologetically.

“That’s understandable,” Zhu Jia replied with a smile. “Just tell me the next steps—I’ll take care of it. You can go play with Yuan Yuan.”

After some hesitation, Liang Sisi agreed. “Alright. Next, you put the batter into a piping bag, squeeze it into the molds, and steam for 20 minutes.”

“Got it,” Zhu Jia said confidently, urging Liang Sisi to leave.

She then filled a piping bag with the purple mixture and carefully squeezed it into the molds before placing them in the steamer.

She glanced at the time, set a 20-minute timer, and brewed herself a cup of milk tea to relax while waiting.

As time ticked by, the alarm on Zhu Jia’s phone went off. She walked over, turned off the stove, and carefully removed the steaming molds from the pot using a towel.

Rubbing her hands together in anticipation, she cautiously removed the lid of the mold despite the heat.

“Jia Jia, how did it turn out?” Liang Sisi walked over, holding Yuan Yuan in her arms. “Is it ready?”

She noticed Zhu Jia standing by the kitchen window, her figure slightly silhouetted against the backlight. For a moment, Liang Sisi felt a subtle sense of loneliness in Zhu Jia’s stance.

Feeling something amiss, Liang Sisi approached. She looked down at the table, where the steaming molds rested, and saw a small porcelain plate beside them. On the plate was a lumpy, sticky purple mass. Inside the molds were scattered chunks and crumbs of purple sweet potato.

“Jia Jia, I think the last step of unmolding must have failed, which is why it didn’t hold its shape,” Zhu Jia said sheepishly, glancing at Liang Sisi with an awkward smile and seeking affirmation. “Next time, I’ll be more careful during unmolding, and it should be fine.”

Liang Sisi: …

“Jia Jia, did you use the 50 milliliters of milk I mentioned earlier?” Liang Sisi asked, exasperated. “And did you mix everything thoroughly?”

Scratching her head, Zhu Jia replied, “I did add milk, just… a little more than you said. It shouldn’t make much difference, right? And I stirred it evenly.”

“Actually, the key to making steamed cakes is maintaining the proper ratio of ingredients and ensuring everything is thoroughly mixed.

Mixing evenly and mixing thoroughly are not the same. Thorough mixing takes more time. When the batter is ready, it should be thick enough that when you scoop some with a spoon, it won’t drip off easily,” Liang Sisi explained, feeling a bit guilty. She had been too distracted by Yuan Yuan earlier and had forgotten to emphasize these basics to Zhu Jia, who was a complete beginner in the kitchen.

Zhu Jia lowered her head in frustration. Why was this so complicated? She had thought it was just a matter of throwing everything together and letting it cook.

Seeing Zhu Jia’s slight dejection, Liang Sisi smiled warmly and said, “Steamed cakes can be tricky. Let’s try something simpler—egg yolk rings! They’re quick and easy to make.”

Zhu Jia’s dim eyes brightened again.

“First, crack two eggs and separate the yolks from the whites,” Liang Sisi instructed.

“How do I separate them?” Zhu Jia asked while cracking the eggs.

“It’s simple. Use a slotted spoon or your hands to gently scoop out the yolks.”

Following the advice, Zhu Jia carefully scooped out the yolks with a small slotted spoon, ensuring they were free of any egg white before transferring them to a clean bowl.

“Now add a spoonful of flour to the yolks and blend them,” Liang Sisi said, observing Zhu Jia’s progress while holding Yuan Yuan.

The resulting batter was thicker than the one for the steamed cakes. Zhu Jia transferred the golden mixture into a piping bag.

Step by step, under Liang Sisi’s guidance, Zhu Jia used the piping bag to squeeze small, ring-shaped circles onto a frying pan over low heat. The hollow centers made the rings easier for babies to grasp.

During the process, Zhu Jia accidentally ruined the shape of two rings and slightly overcooked three others. However, most of the golden yellow rings turned out beautifully.

“Ding! 500 points have been credited,” chimed the familiar voice of her internal system.

“I told you this was simple. So? Did you get the hang of it?” Liang Sisi asked with a smile.

Zhu Jia nodded vigorously, a sense of accomplishment swelling as she admired the plate of cute yellow rings. A small smile crept onto her face.

“Most pancake-style baby foods are similar to these egg yolk rings. The ingredients may vary, but once you master this method, you can experiment with other variations,” Liang Sisi explained.

Zhu Jia chuckled. “These are for Yuan Yuan today. My little Wen still can’t eat eggs. I’ll make them for him after he passes his egg allergy test.”

She placed the egg yolk rings near Yuan Yuan, who immediately grabbed three with her tiny hands, showing her enthusiasm.

“Slow down, no one’s going to take them from you,” Liang Sisi said, frowning at her daughter’s ravenous display.

Zhu Jia watched enviously. If only her little Wen ate so eagerly, half her worries would disappear.

After playing with Yuan Yuan and Wen for a while, it was nearly evening. “Sisi, why don’t you stay for dinner? Little Wen still wants to play with Yuan Yuan,” Zhu Jia suggested.

Sisi smiled apologetically. “Not today. My husband is waiting for me at home. Maybe next time.”

In truth, Liang Sisi was hesitant to run into Mo Yichen. His cold and aloof demeanor always made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t imagine staying if he were around.

Zhu Jia blinked in understanding. It seemed Liang Sisi had a good relationship with her husband. Though reluctant, Zhu Jia prepared to bid her friend goodbye.

Just as Liang Sisi reached the door, she turned back. “Oh, Jia Jia, are you free Saturday evening? Let’s go watch a movie!”

“A movie?”

“Yes! I redeemed two tickets with my credit card points. Have you heard about the new domestic sci-fi film that just premiered yesterday? The reviews are fantastic! Let’s go together,” Liang Sisi said eagerly, taking Zhu Jia’s hand.

Zhu Jia was about to agree when she glanced at Little Wen in her arms.

“Jia Jia, it’s just one evening! Think about it—you’ve barely gone out since becoming a mom. Women need to treat themselves well. When you’re happy, you’ll be better at taking care of your baby,” Liang Sisi said, playfully tapping Zhu Jia’s forehead.

“But…” Zhu Jia hesitated.

“No buts! Trust me, everyone needs a break—even moms! Look, your nanny Liu agrees. Just leave Little Wen with her for a few hours. It’ll be fine.”Aunt Liu smiled and chimed in, “Madam, you should go. Leave the young master to me.”

Zhu Jia was finally convinced and nodded at Liang Sis