"No Evi, you need to peel the skin off." I instructed my daughter.
I was currently trying to teach the girls how to make a simple potato and carrot soup with bread. Adah caught on very quickly and exceled but Evi, much like her father, seemed to have a hard time paying attention. Shem did sometimes help with the cooking, but he was only good for about ten minutes, then he would leave and do something he found more exciting.
"Her mother, taste this." Adah said.
I took a sip of her soup, "It is delicious Adah."
"That is no fair, she has helped cook before." Evi whined.
For an eleven year old, who had recently matured into a woman, she did not like to act her age. By the time I was her age, I was helping Naameh cook and clean and helped watch after Japheth.
"Mother is lunch almost ready?" Elijah called from the hearth, where he was playing cat's cradle with Naomi.
"Yes Adah will bring you some soup in a moment." I replied. "Here Adah pour three bowls and make sure to bring one outside for your father.
"Yes mother." She said, getting to her new task.
"Mama help me." Evi whined once more.
"Evi you must speak like a woman, not a child. Use these potatoes that I have already peeled and put them in the pot along with some of these herbs, then once the broth is boiling you need to add the chopped carrots." I told her.
"How will I know if it is boiling?" She asked.
"When it is boiling, there will be bubbles." I replied.
"Father wants more bread." Adah said, coming back into our cooking room and grabbing a few more pieces of flat bread.
"Well tell him when he is done eating to take Elijah fishing, I am cooking the last fish we have for supper." I told her.
She nodded and left with the bread.
"Should I cut the carrots now mother?" Evi asked me.
"Yes. First cut them the long way, then you cut those this way." I replied, showing her how to properly cut the carrot.
"Mama I want to help!" Naomi yelled, running in with her empty soup bowl.
"Why don't you go outside and pick some berries for later." I told her. "Ask Adah to go with you."
"Adah, we are going to pick berries!" Naomi excitedly screamed.
"Keep cutting those carrots, I am going to speak to father." I said to Evi.
"Hurry back." She responded.
I walked outside and found Shem sitting on the ground, dipping his bread in his almost empty bowl of soup.
"She is a good cook." I commented.
"Not as good as you." Shem replied. "How many fish do you want?"
"Only two, but I would ask mother if she needs any before you two go." I told him.
"Mama the water is bubbling." Evi called from the cooking area.
"You should check on her before she burns down our house." Shem said.
"I am. I love you." I told him, then leaned in and kissed him sweetly on the lips."
"I love you too. Elijah, come lets go fish." He said, going to get our son.