Hot Pot Night
1On cold Friday nights, the Chen family has hot pot for dinner. Dad sets a pot of broth on a little burner in the middle of the table. Soon the broth is bubbling, and steam curls up toward the ceiling.
2Everyone cooks their own food in the pot. Mei drops in thin slices of mushroom and cabbage. Her little brother Kai adds cubes of tofu one at a time. He uses a long spoon so the hot broth does not splash.
3Grandma Lan brings a big plate of shrimp dumplings. She makes sure everyone gets the same number. Then she gives her last dumpling to Kai. "You are growing," she says with a wink.
4Kai wants to eat right away. "Is it ready yet?" he asks. Mei shows him how to watch the dumplings. "When they float, they are done," she says. Kai folds his hands and waits. At last, the dumplings bob to the top.
5After dinner, Kai helps Dad stack the bowls, and Mei wipes the table. The kitchen smells like ginger and green onions. Mei thinks hot pot is the coziest dinner of the year.