plonq | I made this!

One of the important elements of learning to cook is the lesson in what not to do in the future. For instance, if one is going to make red-bean filled dumplings, one should buy the canned bean paste and not bother making the paste from scratch. That is not to say that one cannot make red-bean paste from scratch if one has more time and energy than brains, but one quickly learns that it's probably not something that one wants to do a second time.

Let's just say that it was more work than I had anticipated.

What inspired me to make the bean paste was some steamed rolls that

dronon made awhile back for a pot luck supper. The rolls were very good, and while I was munching on one I kept thinking how they were just about the right consistency to make some steamed, sweet red-bean filled dumplings...

It tastes much better than it looks.
Tastes better than it looks.��Not actual size.

Tastes better than it looks.��Not actual size.

I can't shake the feeling that I've probably perverted a few existing recipes to come up with these (aren't the dumplings usually made from rice flower?) but that's one of the other important lessons in cooking; don't be afraid to experiment. If we end up entertaining friends again this weekend then I may haul out the steamer and make another batch (I have lots of bean paste left over).