Chapter Two: Flour and Soot
Marron woke at 5:00 am, flitting about her room gathering her things. Taking her clothes she went into the bathroom to wash up and get dressed. Once she was done, wearing a pale yellow top and a peach cream skirt, she headed downstairs to get her things ready.
let's see, recipe book, measuring cups, fresh vegetables and fruit, mini knife set, chicken, ground beef, long and short grain rice, and fresh ginger. I'm sure Pan will have anything else we'll need at her house.
Now 7:00, Marron dragged her bags out to her jet flier and started it up, heading across the water surrounding the island towards the mountains Pan's house rested in. Arriving at 7:30 she rung the bell once before stepping in through the always unlocked door.
She called, slipping her shoes off and going into the kitchen to put her things down. A few minutes later Pan shuffled into the kitchen, still wearing her pajama's with her hair disheveled and her eyes half closed. Marron immediately turned her friend around and pointed her to the stairs. Oh no you don't young lady. You aren't cooking until you're nice and clean, now go get in the tub and put somefresh clothes on. The others will be here at noon so hurry up.
Huh? Wait! Pan protested. What others?
I don't want to hear it. Get upstairs, we've got a lot of work to do, now go. Sighing Pan reluctantly drudged back up the stairs to wash up and change. Marron smiled and walked back into the kitchen to begin arranging her things.
Still in a daze Pan quickly washed and changed and went back to the kitchen where Marron had set her things up. Pan's blurred vision scanned the table and looked at Marron with a feeling of hopelessness. Being the good friend she is Marron put down the bag of flour she was scooping out and went to her friend.
Panny, Panny. She said sweetly. You mustn't be discouraged. You'll cook I promise. You just need to figure out what you're cooking for and then you'll be all set.
What I'm cooking for?
Yeah. You can't just cook for no reason. I used to cook to impress my parents and you guys because I lacked a personal skill. I mean you have fighting and Bra hasumm, well fashion and stuff. Now I have cooking y'know?
What do you cook for now? Pan asked, beginning to understand her friends motives and realizing there might be more to Marron than she had previously thought.
Well pretty much the same reason but I cook because I like it now. I feel good when I cook or eat a meal that I made. It's more about impressing myself now.
Pan smiled and nodded in understanding so Marron began to explain the things she had brought with her. She quickly went over the meats and how to tell them apart and rushed through the knives because Pan held too much interest in them. Eventually she was done and she sent Pan to wash her hands.
Okay Pan, I figured we'd make a nice lunch so I invited Bra, Trunks and Goten over. Pan's fist closed on the soap bar, sending it up into the air. She turned with a look of anger plastered on her face but the expression didn't last as the soap came back down onto Pan's head and both girls broke into fits of laughter.
After several minutes of hysterical giggling, Marron managed to stiffle her
laughter and eventually stop. She waited patiently until the ¼ saiyan
next to her stopped laughing as well. Okay then. Marron said once
the two were calm. As I said we're making a lunch for everybody.
Pan opened up her mouth to protest but Marron stopped her. No buts about
it. If you want to learn to cook you have to let others try, and don't
worry I'm right here. We're gonna make some chicken fingers with sweet
and sour sauce. It's really easy and I'm sure you can do it. I'm
not sure but if we have time we'll make some Richmond Town too.
Richmond Town? Pan asked, scrunching her face in confusion. It's a friends, sisters recipe. She explained, then they both turned to the work before them.
So the two set to work and Marron realized she had her work cut out for her. At first asking Pan to start making pasta, she found that the girl couldn't even boil water, lifting the pot lid every minute to check on it. Then rather than flour, Pan filled a bowl with baking soda, and then added the rice vinegar, causing the mixture to rise out of the bowl and all over the fresh vegetables Marron had been peeling. More than a little frustrated the older girl set the younger to chopping vegetables which she was able to do with pure expertise. Every piece was completely even and well shaped, and she did it in half the time Marron would have. 'Atleast there's something she's good at.' Marron thought, releasing a heavy sigh. Now I just have to keep her from messing anything else up.
While Pan was inspecting her vegetables, or rather performing busy work Marron had given her, Marron finished the batter for the chicken and heated the oil for frying. Okay Pan. She said. Now it's time to fry the chicken. All you have to do it cut the chicken in strips and we'll be set. Pan grabbed a knife with an evil grin and sliced up the chicken and Marron finished off the sauce. When the chicken was cut she dipped a piece in batter and placed in in the oil, then told Pan to do the same while she prepared to make Richmond Town since their friends wouldn't be over for twenty minutes or so. Although batter and hot oil got over the entire stove, Pan succesfully got the chicken in the pan and awaited Marron's instuctions.
Marron began, as the pot of water she had began to boil. Richmond Town is the simplest, stupidest recipe in the world and I'm sure you can make it just fine. First boil a pot of water and lower the heat, then begin dumping in some spices. There's no measurement since the whole recipe was a big accident. Let's see here, pepper, bunch of salt, garlic powder, peprika, and a ton of ginger powder. Pan, chop up a carrot, half an onion and half a red pepper. In the mean time I'm gonna dump like half a cup of rice in here.
Pan quickly peeled and chopped the vegetables into small pieces and watched as Marron stirred the mixture till it started boiling. Then she pushed the veggies into the smelly boiling pot. Now, it's time for the secret ingredient. Marron went to the cabinet and after searching for several minutes, pulled out a packet of dry taco mix. This will get rid of some of the ginger smell and spice this stuff up a bit. She quickly dumped the mix in and stirred in the pot until the rice was cooked, then poured it into a bowl.
We're pretty much
done now Panny. Put the sweet and sour sauce in a bowl, and some chicken
on each plate with pasta. The bowl can be used as dip and the Richmond Town
can go on the pasta or be eaten plain to. Personally I like it with crackers.
Pan nodded and grabbed the sweet and sour sauce. Half of it ended up on the
floor but what didn't looked great in the bowl, and she didn't mind
the burns she gave herself as she grabbed the chicken that had just been pulled
from the pan. The meal looked delicious and that was what mattered.
Within minutes Trunks, Bra and Goten arrived with empty stomachs. They gladly sat down to the fine looking meal and then stared at the two cooks oddly. Marron stood poised, calm and neat while Pan leaned over the table watching the earnestly. She and her clothes were covered in flour, vegetable peelings and half a dozen other things. Various cuts and burns decorated her hands and arms and as they looked at all the food in her hair, her friends couldn't help worrying hair was in the food too. Causously the three took there first bites and Pan began jumping around as smiles spread across their faces. I'm glad you like it. Marron said. Pan helped a lot and chopped all the vegetable very well. She fried up the chicken herself too. Goten clapped for his neice and Trunks nodded his head encouragingly, his mouth too full to say anything. Bra smiled at her best friends and said a quick good job before continuing to eat. Marron and Pan joined their friends and as she looked over her friends, Pan thought she might know what she was cooking for, and she knew Marron had been right.
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I'm not sure what made me start this story, but I definitely know that one of my best friends inspired this chapter the day I tried to help her cook. Boy wasn't that a fun day? :p Anyway she made some of the same mistakes as Pan (like with boiling water), but after she got her water boiling she went crazy dumping in spices so I threw in some rice and veggies and she named it Richmond Town! You should try making it. It's like the perfect spicyness and it actually cleared my dads sinus problems for a whole day when they were at their worst. :D As for the other recipe I've been watching too much o' Ming Tsai so that's his recipe. It's really good and if you want the recipe go to www.footv.com, and then go to East Meets West. Sigh, that's enough non T&P cooking stuff for now.
Panny