He's gotten better at being able to tell when he's hungry. Sure, he doesn't eat as often as he probably should, but at least he's trying. The only issue is that North really only keeps sweets and cookies around, and Jack was not in the mood for sweet.
He was in the mood for something hot and fresh and creamy and savory.

Immediately, two problems arise.
For one, Jack has no idea how to cook. He's never needed to learn, so he's never tried.
And two, nobody was home.
North was off collecting more materials for toys and the other Guardians were busy doing their own jobs.
He could ask the yetis to help, but he's not really well-versed in their language yet. And there's no way he's asking the elves.

Alone it is.

Shouldn't be too hard. Jamie and Sophie cook with their parents all the time and their house is still in one piece. Although Sophie did burn some eggs and toast once and Jamie still isn't allowed to use the oven alone…maybe he should just wait for someone to get back.
No.
He spent 300 years alone and he did just fine, he could surely figure out how to make himself a simple meal.
Buuuut, the Guardians keep telling him to start relying on them more, so maybe he should wait.
He also didn't want to get in trouble with North by accidentally burning his kitchen down, or chopping all his fingers off.

Waiting it is.

Except. He's starting to recognize how truly hungry he is now. What was the last thing he ate? When was the last time he ate?
Maybe the fact that he can't remember is a sign that he should be eating more.
Jack took in a breath and held it for a second, lightly tapping his hands at the side of his legs. He felt like a kid waiting for their parents as he stood still in the middle of the hallway, his racing thoughts harshly contrasting the calm environment the workshop had today.

He wants to cook, but he can't do it himself.
He wants to wait for North to help him, but he's hungry now.
He wants to make food, but he's afraid he'll mess it up.
He wants to show the Guardians he trusts them to help him, but he knows he can take care of himself just fine.
Should he just have some cookies to tide him over?
But he doesn't want to spoil his appetite for later.

Jack bit his bottom lip. The Guardians have made it clear before that they didn't like how skinny he was.
Maybe he should be eating more? A lot more? Should he be full all the time? Is that normal? Would the others like seeing him eat more?
But he liked being this skinny. Sure, on a mortal, it wouldn't be such a healthy weight, but as an immortal it made him more limber and flexible and quicker and quieter.
Literally the opposite of North
Jack softly chuckled to himself at the idea of North trying to be sly and quiet, "What's so funny?"

Speak of the devil

Jack turned to see North decked in his signature black fur coat, carrying a big box of what Jack could only assume was the new toy materials. North noticed Jack eyeballing the box and hefted it up further in his arms, "Would you like to help me sort through this?"
Jack answered before he even felt his mouth move, "duh"
North smiled. He knew Jack has been trying to adapt to the others different schedules and routines, so having the kid help out with smaller tasks was a way to get work done, but still have fun. As North turned to walk down the hall towards his office, Jack started to follow, swiftly remembering the dilemma he was having not seconds ago.

"Uh, actually. I'm getting kind of hungry"
North turned around to face him, "Of course. There is fruitcake and milk in kitchen" a pause, "Thank you for telling me"
Jack turned his head down to stare at his feet, hiding this shy smirk.
Clearing his throat, he brought his head back up, "Do you have anything less….sugary?"
North paused, setting the box down to think.

"You do not want fruitcake?"
Jack shrugged, "I don't know. Just. Something a bit more filling?"
North brought his hands to his hips as he struggled to come up with an answer.
Jack was about to admit defeat and grab some cookies before North's eyes lit up and he jumped slightly in excitement, "Stroganoff!"

"Gesundheit"
North laughed, "Beef Stroganoff. Is meal my Mama and I would make together" he felt pride in his heart as he watched Jack's eyes grow with excitement and wonder.
Ignoring the box on the floor—the yetis would take care of it later—North led Jack to the kitchen and began to pull out hidden pots and pans from places Jack was sure didn't exist moments ago.
"Jack, why don't you start cooking the noodles" North asked while hunched over looking for ingredients.

Jack eyed the box of pasta and empty pot North set on the counter for him.
Okay. He could do this. No way anyone can mess up pasta, right?
North noticed Jack hadn't moved yet and looked back, "Would you rather measure ingredients?"
Perhaps the boy was nervous to handle boiling water?

"No, no, I want to help" Jack said, grabbing the box of pasta and opening it, hesitantly pouring the noodles into the pot as North eyed him curiously.
This was fine. A simple task to start off with.
Jack had seen Jamie make spaghetti with his dad before, so he knew the pot needed water.
He just hoped he didn't freeze it before it got to the stove.

Walking over to the sink, Jack turned the tap on and let the pot fill almost all the way to the top and carefully brought it over to where North was setting everything out.
The older man smiled softly and turned to the younger, "Jack, can I help you?"

Dang it. He messed up.

"Did—I do something wrong?"
"No. You did perfect. It's just a lot of water. Will boil over and spill" North explained
"Oh" Jack took the pot back and poured a little water out, "but then the top of the noodles aren't in the water"
"When the water boils, it softens the noodles so they bend and will sink into the water on their own"

"Oh"

North had a feeling his previous hunch was correct.
Jack had probably never cooked anything in his immortal life and didn't really know how to approach the skill.
Which was fair, he never had anyone to teach him. North couldn't be mad at that.
He'd be patient, he'd explain things as they went, and he would not treat Jack like a child.
That would not end well.

Keeping in mind that Jack was still new at cooking, and factoring in his natural temperature, North figured the boy might not be comfortable cooking a steak. Today at least. They could work up to it.
"Okay. I will cook steak, do you want to make sauce?"
"Uh, sure"
North ignored the almost invisible look of panic in Jacks eyes.

"Everything is measured and lined up in order of when you'll add them to the pan" North smiled, "and the recipe is right here"
He slid a beat up, cloth recipe book towards Jack and pointed at the page.
Choosing not to comment on the whispered "okay" Jack breathed to himself, North started the process of seasoning and searing the steak. Subtly keeping an eye on Jack to make sure he didn't need help.

A calm air followed as both Guardians became wrapped up in their own tasks.
North softly humming a tune, Jack reading and re-reading the recipe book as he slowly added each ingredient to the pan.
The loud sizzling of the steak and the soft rumble of the pasta boiling made Jack feel homesick for something he couldn't quite name.

Missing something he never had.
Was that even a thing?
Jack internally shrugged as he added another cup of…beef broth? to the pan.
Only having one more thing to add in, Jack finally let himself relax. He hadn't burned the place down or lost any limbs. Good for him. Though the heat from the stove was making him feel a bit dizzy, so he tried to distract himself.

He glanced back down at the book and took notice of a little note in the upper corner.
He'd noticed it before, but he thought it was just another set of instructions.
However, now that he was really looking at it, the note wasn't in the same handwriting as the rest of the recipe. And also not in English.

"Korova, poteryavshaya vse nogi, — eto govyazhiy farsh"
("What's a cow without legs called — ground beef")

Jack snickered, "that's dumb. Hey North, what's this joke at the top of the page?"
North didn't even turn around, "Is my Mama's handwriting. She and Papa wrote jokes and messages on all the pages"
Jack flipped to the next page to see another small note in yet another different font

"kazhdomu ovoshchu svoye vremya"
("Every vegetable has its time")

A recipe on Ratatouille.
"Your parents were dorks"
"HA, that is the truth!" North laughed in agreement, taking the steak off the pan and onto a cutting board.
Removing his own pan from the heat, Jack flipped the page again

"ty budesh' so mnoy, kogda ya uydu, ya budu s toboy, kogda ty vyrastesh'"
("You will be with me as I go, I will be with you as you grow")

"Yesli kogda-nibud' ya tebe ponadoblyus', ya skazhu tebe to, chto tebe nuzhno uslyshat'"
("If ever you need me, I'll tell you what you need to hear")

Jack watched as North strained the pasta, cut the steak and combined everything together, "they really loved you"
North paused, turning to face Jack, "They did. And I loved them. Papa would've taken a liking to you, Mama always complaining about the jokes he pulled"
They both smiled, "thank you. For helping me"
North waved him off, "You did not need help. You did great on your own."

"Really?"
"Da, the first time I tried making this I burned the sauce and it stuck to the pan" North chuckled, "We can make more food another time if you would like?"
"Yes" Jack cleared his throat, "That is, maybe something easier next time?"
North nodded, "Sandwich?"
"Sandwiches sound great"

Smiling as he pulled out two plates, North let Jack get his helping first and made sure the stove was turned off before sitting at the large table.
Setting his plate down just in time to see Jack take a big mouthful of the noodles.

"Oh. Wow"

North smiled knowingly, "Is good, no?"
"It's amazing." Jack replied, taking another bite
North chuckled as he took a forkful for himself. He knew it tasted good, old family recipes always do.

"Why haven't you made this before? It's so good"
North shrugged as he swallowed, "No one asks. Everyone just settles for cookies and cake"
Jack sat with this thought for the rest of the meal. After all the food had either been eaten or packaged up safely, Jack finally spoke,
"Maybe you could make something for the next meeting?"

North turned around from cleaning a pan to face Jack with surprised eyebrows, "You think?"
"Totally. It might make the whole thing less boring" Jack muttered that last part.
North hummed, pretending not to hear the light jab, "Perhaps. What should we have?"
"Oh, uh. Maybe something small? I don't know, like finger food?" Jack shrugged. He wasn't expecting to be put on the spot

"Meatballs!" North smiled. "Is small and easy to eat. Da, perfect"
And all the sudden, Jack wasn't completely dreading their next meeting.

I apologize if any of the Russian isn't grammatically correct. It's not a language I speak :/