Though it has only been a little over a month since we welcomed 2021 with the solar calendar, it is time to begin the year 4719 on the lunar calendar this weekend with the 15-day long Spring Festival known as Chinese/Lunar New Year! Festivities will begin on February 12th and run until February 26th. As is true to form for us here at The Cardboard Cantina, we will be celebrating with traditional foods, gifting of hongbao (red envelopes), and playing a board game or two before settling down to watch the local lion and dragon dance performances (streaming this year, unfortunately). This particular year is the Year of the Ox, the sign of hard work, honesty, and positivity — and after last year, we could definitely use all of that in our lives!
Having grown up eating both the traditional and American Chinese foods that my mother had learned to make while working in a Chinese restaurant in her youth, I have collected quite a few Asian cookbooks over the years. However, none of them have been as fun and well-loved as Amanda Roberts’ Crazy Dumplings Cookbook & Crazy Dumplings Two: Even Dumplinger!. Both of the books were crowdfunded on Kickstarter. The Crazy Dumplings Cookbook was funded in 2014 and Crazy Dumplings Two: Even Dumplinger! in 2016. Each book contains over 75 recipes accompanied by full-color photographs taken by Ruth Silbermeyr-Song. I am still patiently waiting to see if and when there will be a Crazy Dumplings Three…and secretly hoping there will be as I can not recommend these books enough!
Not all of the included recipes in these books are “geeky,” but there are quite a few that are and they make excellent finger foods for a board game night without a lot of prep time. If you are the kind of person who likes to bring food to the party and want something different then look no further. There are great recipes in both books, with the geekier and more exotic ones primarily in the first volume and the second containing a wide variety of new and interesting combinations. As the titles suggest, very few of these recipes are for traditional dumplings! Instead, there is a wide range of recipes to choose from including options for breakfast, vegetarian, desserts, or even utilizing your leftovers! I’ve made many of these dumplings over the years and some of my favorite recipes from these two books include Cola Chinese Chicken Dumplings, Lamb with Pomegranate Salsa Dumplings, Sweet and Sour Chicken Dumplings, Timey-Wimey Dumplings (don’t worry, the recipe calls for a savory custard to go with the fish instead of a sweet one!), and S’mores Dumplings.
For those that have never made dumplings before, don’t fret as there are picture instructions for several different types of dumpling folds as well as recipes for the dumpling wrappers themselves and for dipping sauces. Not up for folding dumplings? That’s okay, too, as there are dumpling presses available online and in most international markets. Each recipe makes a dozen (12) dumplings, which I feel is the perfect amount for a meal for two yet also leaves room for us to use multiple recipes during game night while ensuring we are not overwhelming ourselves with too much food.
For anyone looking for a unique twist on traditional foods, something fun to try for Chinese New Year, or for a few new finger foods to try out, I would highly recommend either – or both – of the Crazy Dumplings cookbooks by Amanda Roberts! In addition to being able to purchase these from Amazon.com, you can purchase them directly from Roberts’ blog: Amanda Roberts Writes. With recipes ranging from traditional to those inspired by various ingredients and combinations from across the globe and even a few with a geeky twist, there is sure to be a savory or sweet dumpling recipe for everyone within the pages of these two cookbooks!
All photos used in this review were taken and edited by Krista unless otherwise stated.