Chapter 59: Pig Liver Two Ways

“Let’s start making food now. I originally wanted to let you try Pig Trotter tomorrow, but the Bear Cubs stole and ate them. Today we’ll have Pig Liver two ways, and I’ll make another dish for you in case you’re not used to it.” After tidying up the Bear Cubs, Liu Heming washed his hands while speaking.

George nodded happily, feeling very excited about tonight’s dinner.

Liu Heming steamed the rice and then started preparing today’s main dish—Pig Liver. He separated the Pig Liver leaf by leaf, cleaned the parts with many blood vessels at the root, and then soaked them in salt water. After that, he began cutting onions, scallions, ginger, and garlic for preparation.

This time, he felt particularly skilled while cutting—this was the direct result of his improved physical condition. It felt like with a Kitchen Knife in hand, he could conquer the world.

He decided not to stir-fry the vegetable dish and instead planned to let George try spicy tossed potato shreds. Two meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and a Tomato and Egg Soup—that would be just perfect.

However, while cutting the potato shreds, he still felt a bit uncomfortable.

The Knives here were very good and looked nice, but he always felt they weren’t as convenient as the Kitchen Knife from home. He wondered if he could find a suitable Kitchen Knife here. His hand strength had increased quite a bit, and holding these Knives gave him a light, insubstantial feeling. He couldn’t use his full strength and had to be careful while using them.

He put the cut potato shreds in a water basin to soak, then washed the Pig Liver again. It wasn’t that easy to clean; it required care and caution to avoid squeezing and breaking it.

“Dexter, are we not going to use the rest later? And why did you cut these potato shreds so finely this time?” George asked curiously, noticing that Liu Heming only used the tip part of each Pig Liver leaf.

“Back home, we used to stir-fry all of it, but today it’s just the two of us, so we’ll eat the tenderest part of the liver. We’ll boil the middle sections to eat, and the root parts will be snacks for the Bear Cubs. As for these potato shreds, the finer they are, the better they taste. That’s what I’ve learned over this period,” Liu Heming said with a smile.

Today, they would indulge a little, since the Pig Liver couldn’t be stored for too long, or the flavor would deteriorate. As for the extra parts, they would become food for the two Bear Cubs later.

He quickly blanched the soaked potato shreds in hot water, added some seasoning and Chili Oil, and finally tossed in a handful of Cilantro. He let George take over this part.

George took his assigned task very seriously. Not only did he mix it carefully, but he also sneakily tasted a bite, making the Bear Cubs sitting below watch enviously.

Liu Heming coated the liver tip slices with some starch and water, then poured them into the heated oil pan. After briefly frying them, he quickly removed the liver tips. If left too long, they would become tough and less tasty.

While Liu Heming was stir-frying the liver tips with onions, George, who had finished mixing the potato shreds, sniffed the air and gave him a thumbs-up. Regardless of how it tasted, the aroma was captivating and made his mouth water.

Liu Heming felt a slight wave of nostalgia—it was that familiar flavor. The only difference was the pan. If he had a stove like the one at his family’s restaurant, a quick stir-fry would make the taste even better.

After the liver tips were done, Liu Heming plated them and handed them to George, who was waiting nearby. George happily carried the plate to the table, and the two Bear Cubs, drawn by the smell, crawled after him.

George had thought about sneaking another piece, but seeing the Bear Cubs at his feet, he decided against it.

“How do we eat these?” George asked, pointing to the boiled Pig Liver after coming back to Liu Heming.

“Dip them in Garlic Sauce. If you like, you can also add some Chili Oil,” Liu Heming said with a smile, then tore the cooked Pig Liver into uneven pieces by hand.

He didn’t dare use a knife to cut it, as cutting with a knife would leave a metallic taste, which could greatly affect the Pig Liver’s deliciousness even if the knife was wiped clean.

“Try it and see how it tastes,” Liu Heming said with a smile after bringing the final Tomato and Egg Soup to the table.

George speared a piece of liver tip with a fork, blew on it, and put it in his mouth. “It’s very tender, and there’s no odd taste—especially no gaminess. It’s refreshing and really delicious.”

“Now try this,” Liu Heming said, pointing to the hand-torn Pig Liver.

George speared a piece, dipped it in Garlic Sauce and a little Chili Oil, then stuffed it into his mouth. “Oh my, Dexter, why do I feel like I don’t want to swallow it? It seems the more I chew, the better it tastes.”

“Haha, let’s dig in together. I’ve already set aside a portion for Megan, but the liver tips will need to be reheated later,” Liu Heming said, taking out a pack of Beer from the fridge.

George couldn’t wait any longer. He took a sip of Beer and a bite of food, thoroughly enjoying the meal.

Liu Heming had only taken a couple of bites when he felt someone poking his leg. He then remembered that in his eagerness to savor the familiar taste, he had forgotten to prepare dinner for the Bear Cubs.

Since he was eating well today, the Bear Cubs should eat well too. He sprinkled some honey on the extra Pig Liver and added some Bread for them. Not stopping there, he went to the stove and prepared some Tomato and Egg Soup without any seasoning, so they could have some soup too.

“Dexter, if you had come back any later, I think I could have finished all this Pig Liver by myself,” George said with a laugh.

“Actually, animal liver is very good for your eyes. It also helps replenish blood and iron,” Liu Heming said between bites.

“But when eating it, you must clean it thoroughly. Otherwise, the residual blood in the liver isn’t good for your health. People with high blood pressure or coronary heart disease should eat less. For someone like you, eating it occasionally is fine, but eating it often isn’t good for your body.”

“Still, this Pig Liver tastes really good,” George said, feeling a bit torn.

“When I have time to experiment and develop some lighter dishes that still taste great, you’ll be able to eat as much as you want,” Liu Heming said with a smile.

“Didn’t you notice I didn’t use any oil when making the soup? I only added a little salt. This counts as a vegetarian soup, and I think it tastes better this way.”

George nodded. Although the soup tasted a bit “light” today, it was still very good. He felt comfortable drinking it and had already finished two small bowls.

Although Liu Heming had prepared a lot of dishes, by the end of the meal, every plate and the soup bowl were completely empty.

Liu Heming hadn’t expected to have such a good appetite today. He outdid his usual performance and ate an extra bowl of rice.