Title: The secret of Yoda's swamp stew or Teaching Padawan's to cook
Author: Jei-El
Disclaimer: Not mine. No profit.
Setting: During Luke's training with Yoda on Dagobah.
Dagobah
'Growl.'
Luke's eyes blinked open, the level of meditation he had been holding was lost.
'Growl.' Luke's stomach rumbled.
Between the choices of his dwindling hard rations and Master Yoda's cooking 'skill' Luke hadn't had a good meal since he arrived on Dagobah and his stomach was lodging a complaint. Luke had never thought he would miss Aunt Beru's cooking so much. She had managed as best she could with limited resources, her menu had been repetitive but good.
Getting up and dusting himself off Luke went to see what the pint size master was brewing for dinner. Crouching to fit through the door there was no sign of Yoda but there was a good smell filling the small mud hut. The smell seemed to be coming from the the pot bubbling on the heating unit. Most of Yoda's cooking smelled like a womp rat's nest. Although living on rations and mystery stew might be skewing his point of view. This smelt wonderful.
Grabbing his bowl Luke took a big whiff then started to fill his bowl.
"Fit for human consumption yet, that is not." Came Yoda's gravelly voice. "If eat it now you do, hallucinate for a week you will. Leftovers from last night there are."
Luke looked at the small old-fashioned cooler thinking about the 'meal' they ate last night and cringed. Part of Luke wanted to ask, 'Just how bad of hallucinations?' Because it smelled like it might be worth it.
"Tomorrow, safe for you to eat it will be. Over 20 human padawans trained to knighthood I have. From my cooking none have died." Yoda said taking the half full bowl of tempting stew from Luke's firm grip. "An interest for cooking my padawans found, when away from the temple we were."
"There weren't many kinds of plants on Tattooine and survival training from the rebellion hasn't covered identifying whether something is safe to eat or not." Luke said with a sigh pulling out the leftovers and setting them on the warmer next to the stew pot. When Luke turned around Yoda's ears were drooped and he wasn't seeing the stew he was stirring.
"Forget sometimes I do, how much taught you were not. Lesson taught to a youngling that received you have not." Yoda said with a sigh. "Your fault it is not. But harder for you it will make many things. Tomorrow, after your share of stew you eat, teach you to find edibles I will."
"How young would a youngling have been at the temple when they learned that." Luke asked curiously.
"By nine passed those lessons they would." Yoda answered. "Basic survival needed before padawans they could become. Padawans with their Masters on missions would go. Learning by observing and acting as Jedi, under guidance of their master."
"Many of the lesson used I did, here work do not. Tools there are not. Time there is not." Turning to look at Luke. "Focused your lessons, on the Force have been. Jedi you can not be, if survive you do not. Till fend for yourself you can, your tastes more in mind I will keep. Loose a padawan to starvation I will not." Yoda ended in a joking tone.
"Thank you, Master Yoda." Luke said picking at his dinner.