University of Chicago

Cheese Dumplings. Whenever I eat, ravioli, pierogi, or any other dumplings, I’m amazed by the variety of tastes wrapped inside the thin layer of dough. In my culture, dumplings—or jiaozi—aren’t merely about flavor. They are the core of Chinese tradition, and the absolute star of the Spring Festival feast. In my junior year, my 82-year-old grandma flew to America to celebrate the Spring Festival with us. I begged my mom for the last few medallions of dough and made my own filling: pork, cabbage, mushrooms, and one more secret ingredient. Against my mother’s protest, I added American cheese in…