pots pots pots

So tonight was a beautiful night. And as assumed by the title, it had something to do with pot. No, not the drug, the actual cooking pot from a kitchen. I made pot stickers! I was hoping my mom would make them for me before I left for Europe but as she was too busy, I was unable to get any. Fortunately, I love challenging myself with a recipe. I gathered my guts and my debit card and went to the asian grocery store to pick up the necessities. After mixing the meat and kneading the dough and filling the dumplings (about 1.5 hours) I finally had enough dumplings (about 40) to feed me, my landlord, and two friends. I still have enough filling left over to make about 60 more dumplings but I will have to make it when I'm not so exhausted. It will be good to have a few frozen for a quick meal. The pot stickers turned out just as they would at home. Spot on seasoned meat/veggie mixture in the filling (might increase the amount of veggies though), and a thick, slightly chewy skin with a crispy almost burnt bottom. Hot glistening perfection was the end result of hours of labor. 

Now making this many homemade dumplings is no small task, I had to recruit Tina and Elliot in order to finish making the pot stickers by dinner time. It was indeed harsh on them, especially since they are both sick, but they seemed to enjoy the food very much :). As they departed we said our goodbyes and had a few pictures.

BY THE WAY. Remember that post about how much I hated spiders? Well I hate them even more now. Why? Because one freaking bit me!

Its a little hard to see but it is definitely bigger and more painful than it looks. 

Today was also the massive once-a-year garage sale in Lyon. Hundreds of people line the streets to sell their non-valuables in hopes that it might be valuable to someone else. It was a jam packed event where everyone was trying to get a deal or give a deal. I was on a search for a decent pair of hiking boots since I am headed to Scandinavia soon, but to my dismay, they were all too big, too small, or too old. I did, however, find a nice pair of pants and a nice shirt dress and paid a total of 3,50 euros. I don't think it can get much cheaper than that.