Little bundles of joy

One of the most common questions I, as someone who is expecting, get asked is, "Do you have any cravings?"

To be honest, that was one of the few things I was looking forward to. Will I get any weird Brussels-sprouts-topped-with-peanut-butter cravings? Will I send kw out in the dead of the night for 4-cheese pizzas or char siew baos?

Well, to my surprise, I haven't experienced any acute or bizarre cravings. The one thing I have noticed though is that my palate has gone decidedly Asian, and I hanker for hawker, Korean and Chinese food all the time. On the flip side, I could gag at the things I used to love (and almost ate everyday) like egg white wraps, roasted pumpkin soup and muffins.

But if I had to narrow it down, I guess what I find particularly irresistable, especially over the last few weeks, has been dumplings.

红油抄手 from Ding Tai Fung

Dumplings, wantons, shui jiao, jiao zi ... Anything cocooned in flour-based dumpling skins, knobbly stuffed with pork and either chive or shrimp, boiled or steamed, served swimming in a clear broth or chili-garlic-vinegar concoction.

(O-m-drool, I'm practically salivating typing that last paragraph.)

They are just absolutely wholesome and comforting, piquing with puckery spiciness. Such bundles of joy (note: I don't even refer to kids like that)... During the reunion dinner at my parents' place, I swear my mum and I had some telepathy shingling going on as she prepared 3 different kinds of dumplings - handmade shui jiao, pork and chive cabbage and CP shrimp wantons. Where's my 'I heart Mummy' t-shirt?

红油抄手 from Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

I'm pretty much mad about dumplings these days. I've been thinking of ways to sneak in weekly trips to Ding Tai Fung or Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao without seeming too obvious... I have even been thinking of organizing a dumpling party (can you imagine a hostess being totally driven by self-interest?)... I might have blown my cover but I will keep trying - for dumplings' sake.