a dumpling, potsticker, gyoza, jiaozi, mandu, whatever you want to call it - It's one of the only things I know how to cook.  I enjoy cooking, it's just that my mom owns our kitchen so I only cook once in a blue moon. 
When I do get in my cooking zone, my mom tries to give me space but don't be surprised if you see her sneaking around trying to wash my veggies or prep my bowls for me.   I'm no Rachel Ray, but rest assured I would never let my family starve.

Today's menu:  Meatless Potsticker. And Berry-filled Wonton dessert.

1.  I tried a new recipe - rather than use pork, I tried to go all healthy and use tofu, squash, carrots, clear potato-starch vermicelli, and garlic.  All I was missing are those black mushrooms you rehydrate in water, but I'd have to make do without, no biggie.

2.  You mix it all together, and voilà!  OK, so it doesn't look as pretty as the final product.

3. It took me over an hour to wrap like 100 of these suckers.  I overdid it and made too much filling, which I'm going to save for some eggrolls tomorrow.   If you make too many potstickers, you can always freeze these and cook them another day. 

4. Fry 'em up, and this is what you get.  I don't know how long, I don't use recipes or times, I just eyeball it and when it's done, it's done.

5. But guotie without soysauce and vinegar is like fries without ketchup.  I'm pretty fond of the apple-cider vinegar and I always do the original soy sauce, none of that low-sodium light crap.  I know my blood pressure might kick my butt 20 years from now.

6. I felt like carrying the Asian theme over to dessert, too, so here's my berry concoction.   My mom likes to eat my wonton chips alone, but I like to add a little fruit parfait on top.

7.  Decided it was missing something - so how about some almonds?