Timely post with Chinese New Year coming on Friday. Dumplings are considered to be a lucky food (I think it has something to do with the resemblance to a small purse). A couple of tips based on my 40+ years of experience making these: 1. Easiest tool for rolling the wrappers is a short wooden dowel from the hardware store (3/4 inch dia., and around 8 inch long). It gives you the most control, and is really cheap. 2. Easiest method for pleating the half moon dumplings is to fold the wrapper around the filling, pinching closed at the top dead center. Then pleat from the center towards the ends, with pleats facing the center. You can let the dumpling rest on the counter while you pleat. This method is so simple that a child could do it (that's how my mother taught me when I was 8 years old).

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