Eli: The magic meal

My dad's tsung you bing (scallion pancakes) was a Saturday morning favorite growing up. Probably because it had bacon in it and what doesn't taste better with a little bacon? They were hand delivered to us while we watched Saturday morning cartoons and crammed in last minute Chinese school homework.

My dad doesn't have a recipe and in fact, we tried to make one several Christmases ago while peeking over his shoulder. It's just some combo of flour/water for a basic batter, bacon bits and chopped scallions for "stuff", and onion and garlic powders/salts for seasoning. And of course oil. And while I've tried to duplicate recipe and technique, it never quite comes out like his. Even when my mom pans fries a batter that my dad made, it doesn't come out the same. The only time my dad's tsung you bing's were NOT a hit was when my parents went health conscious on us and bought Bacos instead of real bacon. The horror.

But regardless, this Christmas Eli ate Gong-Gong's tsung you bing like he was watching Smurfs and getting ready to go to Chinese school himself. And while I depend on Costco Hormel already cooked REAL bacon bits to make my job easier, Eli has gotten hooked on even my tsung you bing. I'm not only happy he's eating something, but I'm tickled that a Lih tradition gets passed down another generation.