5
August's Scoop
A/N: Thanks guys for all your awesome reviews! Hope you like the recipes at the end and the chapter too!
Mr. Fox woke up at precisely six thirty and then went to wake up his son, whose job it was to feed and water the sixty turkeys in the enclosure before he went to school each morning. He padded silently into Ash's room and shook the boy gently. "Ash. Time to wake up, son."
Ash opened one brown eye blearily. "Aww, Dad! Five more minutes!" His shock of red hair stood up from his head. He half-burrowed under the covers.
"Get up!" Fox ordered, giving the boy a quick cuff to the back of the head. "You're burning daylight and those turkeys won't wait to be fed. Got to keep them in top condition so they're ready to be eaten by tomorrow."
Ash muffled a yelp and groused, "Okay, I'm up!" He turned over and glared at his father.
"Then get going, boy," Fox said gruffly and left the room.
Muttering under his breath, the twelve-year-old got up and got dressed. "Stupid turkeys! I wish they'd all disappear!"
He pulled on his anorak and went outside in the frosty air, stamping his feet slightly. He was a medium-sized lanky kid with a slender pointed face and large brown eyes and a shock of bright auburn hair. He was not very popular in school, mostly because he was shy and quiet, and could have a snarky tongue on him at times. He was also the son of a rather shady businessman, and he knew that at times his father had been less than honest with people.
Ash wasn't proud of that, but since there was nothing he could do about it, he chose to just ignore it . . . as much as possible anyhow.
He went across the lawn and to the chain link fence where the turkeys were kept. Usually they'd be gobbling by now for their breakfast. But it was strangely silent.
Ash halted about two feet from the enclosure, seeing the open gate, the padlock lying on the ground before it. He sprinted inside and then he saw the open barn door . . . and the barn was empty of turkeys.
"Dad! Dad! The turkeys—they're . . . gone!"
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Fire Mountain dojo:
Emma was dreaming of soaking up the sun on a crystal clear beach in Key West, while the ocean gleamed cobalt a few strides away and her husband was sprawled on a towel beside her, gently massaging her back with some coconut-scented lotion when the shrill shriek of her pager disrupted her dream.
She woke and turned over to grab the annoying thing, hitting the retrieve button as she did so. "Dammit! Why now? It's too early for this!"
Beside her, Bae stirred. "Emma?"
"Somebody paged me. Go back to sleep," she muttered, rising and grabbing her cell and dialing the number on the pager. "Hello? Yes, this is Sheriff Gold. . . .Excuse me? You want to report . . . sixty turkeys gone missing?" she cried. "Oh, that's right . . . you're the guy who owns the turkey farm . . . and you say they were gone when your son came out to feed them this morning . . .you're sure the gate was locked? Okay, Mr. Fox . . . I'm coming over to check it out ASAP. Goodbye."
Emma clicked her cell off and started throwing on some clothes. "I don't believe this! Somebody stole sixty turkeys from Fox's Fowl Farm. How insane is that?"
Bae half-sat up. "Maybe they got really hungry," he quipped.
"You're hilarious, Baelfire," his wife snorted. "Now I have to investigate a grand theft turkey. Only in Storybrooke!"
"It's worse than Phoenix," Bae snickered. "Have fun, babe. I'm going back to sleep for a bit before I wake up Henry and Regina."
"Lucky you," Emma sighed, and blew him a kiss. "Later, hon."
Then she shoved her feet into her boots and raced out the door, grabbing her jacket, keys, and cuffs on the way. She'd stop at Granny's for coffee and a donut on the way to Fox's. This was turning out to be a hell of a Thanksgiving holiday, and it technically hadn't even started yet.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Gold residence:
Mr. Gold bent down and scratched a purring Nala behind the ears as she twined about his ankles. "All right, pretty baby," he crooned softly. "I'll feed you in a minute."
He summoned a can of cat food from his pantry and opened it, putting it in the black cat's dish. Nala ran over and started wolfing it down, while he added fresh water in another ceramic dish, since his vet told him that cats didn't like to drink water out of plastic bowls, apparently they could smell the odor of the plastic in the water or something.
He had just added some fresh Seafood Supreme Fancy Feast dry food in her other dish and put the kettle on for tea when his phone rang.
Still in his pajamas, he padded over to where the cordless rested on its base on the counter and picked it up. "Hello? Bae? Why are you calling at this hour of the morning? Is something wrong?"
"Papa? I . . . I'm calling to ask . . . is Henry over there with Regina? Because . . . I went to wake them up and they're . . . missing!"Bae's voice sounded frantic. "Emma's out on a call, something about Fox's turkeys being stolen, and I didn't call her yet, because I wanted to check with you first."
"Bae, he's not here," Rumple said softly, alarmed. "Are you sure he didn't leave a note or something telling you where he went?"
"No. I checked. Papa, they're both gone and so's his bike and the Radio Flyer and his backpack. I don't get it. Why would he . . . run away? With Regina?"
"Have you checked down by the park? You know how he likes to play in that old castle. Maybe he took Regina there," Rumple suggested.
"Uh, no. Have you talked to Alina? Maybe she knows?" Bae asked, still sounding shaky.
"She's staying over at Grace's house. They were making some desserts for Thanksgiving with Alice," Rumple said. "Why don't you give Alice a call while I speak with Belle? If they're not there, come by and I'll help you search."
"Can you . . . will you use your magic?" Bae queried.
"Yes, if you want me to," Rumple said cautiously.
"I do. Please! What if they've been . . . kidnapped?"
"In Storybrooke?" Rumple frowned. "I doubt that. They're probably off playing or something."
"This early in the morning?" Bae asked, starting to calm down some and now sounding more annoyed than frantic. "I swear, Papa, when I get hold of him, he'll be lucky if I don't paddle his little ass for making me crazy."
Rumple chuckled slightly. "I said the same thing once upon a time, Bae. When you kept wandering off on me."
"When did I do that?"
"You were around Regina's age then, and forever running off to explore . . . and making me crazy looking for you."
"Great! I guess this is what it means when somebody tells you the best revenge is having kids just like you," Bae groaned.
"Just remember, you said it, Baelfire, not me," Rumple stated.
"Yeah, okay, Papa. Let me call Alice, then I'll call you back and let you know what's up," Bae said, then hung up the phone.
A concerned Rumple poured tea for himself and Belle, praying that his grandson and niece were all right.
After he'd fixed their tea and made some toast and yogurt with fruit for Belle, he went to call her down to breakfast and tell her about Henry and Regina. He hated to upset her, but she deserved to know, and she would be spitting mad if she found out he'd kept this from her in an attempt to protect her.
He was so concerned over his missing grandson and niece that he forgot all about the other thing he wished to discuss with her—her odd nocturnal ramblings and episodes and if there was something she wasn't telling him about the babies.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Bae's next phone call to Alice revealed that Henry and Regina weren't at the Carstairs residence, though Alice suggested he check with Granny since Alina and Grace were over there meeting the Zimmermans and Hans Mason for some kind of school project and having breakfast also before school.
Bae called the diner then, and hoped his son was there and had just been stupid and forgotten to tell him where he was going. But the phone rang and rang and no one answered. After the tenth ring, Bae hung up and resolved to go check there himself.
But when he arrived at the familiar hang out, he found no children inside, and when he glanced at the traffic light, saw the school bus pulling away from it, and assumed that the kids were on it, going to school. He went and asked Ruby if she'd seen Henry that morning . . . or Regina with him.
"No, can't say I have," she said. "Something the matter, hot stuff?" she said, giving him a teasing wink.
"Uh . . . not really," Bae said, trying to keep calm. But his heart was pounding away a mile a minute as he imagined all kinds of terrible things. "Thanks, Ruby."
"Hey, you want some coffee?" she asked.
"To go, please," Bae said, figuring the caffeine would keep him energized.
Ruby handed him a Styrofoam cup with some coffee in it, cream and one sugar, just like he always had it. "See ya around, Bae!"
He waved and then climbed back in his Escape and took off.
He arrived at Gold's Victorian a few minutes later, and found his parents waiting anxiously in the kitchen, Belle was wearing a pretty violet maternity top and a matching sweater Rumple had knitted for her over frost-colored leggings and Velcro sheepskin slippers, since her feet were swollen at times and that was all she could wear nowadays. Rumple was in his usual dark Armani with his red Ferragamo and smoky gray shirt, his hair loosely combed.
"Bae, did you find them?" Belle asked as he came through the door.
Baelfire shook his head. "No, Mama. I've been looking all over and I . . ."
She put a hand on his arm and said softly, "Sit down, Bae. Rumple, get him some tea."
Bae sighed. "I'd rather have a shot of whiskey. It's like they disappeared, Papa. I called Alice like you said and . . ." he filled Rumple in on his most recent activities, then said, "I haven't even told Emma yet, she's going to flip."
"You call her, Bae, while I cast a locator spell," Rumple said.
Belle suddenly rose and pulled on her coat. "Rumple, I have to go. I have my doctor's appointment in fifteen minutes. Dr. Jo's doing another ultrasound today and I can't miss it."
"Okay, dearie. Is Alice picking you up?" Rumple asked. "You know I'd go with you but with Henry and Regina missing . . ."
"I know. You just concentrate on finding them," Belle said quickly. "Alice and I will be fine." She didn't mention that she was also going to pay a visit to the convent and speak with Blue about her strange symptoms. Based on what the Blue Fairy told her, she would talk to Rumple later on about it.
She gave her husband a kiss and then left, saying as she did so, "Call me on my cell when you find out anything, okay?"
"I will. And let me know what Dr. Jo says about the babies. Bring me another picture too," Rumple said, waving at his wife as she went out the door. He heard Alice honk the horn in the driveway. Then he turned to look at Bae and said, "All right, son. Let me see where he is."
Bae exhaled sharply. "Thank you, Papa."
Rumple didn't bother answering, simply lowered his head and concentrated hard. His spell was a simple one, he searched for Henry's magical signature in the arcane web, and being his teacher in magic as well as his relative helped him locate the boy's signature rather quickly.
Rumple opened his eyes. "Bae, I've found him. He's okay, at least as far as I can determine. He's not in any danger."
"Where is he? How do you know that?"
"Because if he was in danger, it would reflect in his magical signature. It doesn't. He's okay," Rumple repeated reassuringly. "And he's at the convent."
"The . . . convent? With the nuns . . . I mean the fairies?" Bae cried. "And what about Regina? Is she with him?"
"Yes. I felt her beside him. As to why, I have no idea. But let's go there and find out," Rumple said, getting up.
Bae nodded, feeling an insurmountable relief. "And he'd better have a damn good explanation for what he's doing there." Suddenly his stomach growled.
"Hungry?" Rumple queried.
"Yeah, I . . . uh . . . didn't eat anything this morning since I found them gone," Bae admitted.
"Why don't we go over to Granny's and we can have breakfast?" Rumple suggested. "Now that we know they're not in danger, we have time."
"Maybe that's a good idea," Bae said. "I am starving and it'll give me time to cool down and lose my desire to wallop him into next week."
"Sounds like a plan," Rumple said. "And you can call Emma afterwards."
"Yeah. Otherwise she'll strangle me," Bae said, and then the two went out to Gold's Cadillac.
Page~*~*~*~*~*~Break
"So . . . Mother Superior . . . what's going on with all these turkeys in the convent?" August queried after he'd been admitted into the convent's hallowed halls. "You and the sisters organizing a Thanksgiving feed the needy party or something?"
Blue shook her head. "No, although we are taking donations for both the poor families in Storybrooke and to rescue the turkeys from their fate."
"Meaning you don't want them becoming the main course at Thanksgiving?" August clarified.
"It's not so much that I don't want that to happen—although I am an avowed vegetarian—as are all my sisters, but the children who brought the turkeys here are adamant that they be saved. The children have asked for sanctuary for themselves and the flock and I've granted it, as is my right," Blue said serenely.
August's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Sanctuary? For turkeys? But . . . I thought that was only for people!"
"It's for any who ask . . . and the children asked on behalf of the birds. Sanctuary is for all living things, August, and that includes dumb beasts."
"What prompted these kids to bring the turkeys here, do you know?" August probed.
"I do. But I'll not reveal that confidence. If you want to know, I suggest you go and ask them yourself. They'll tell you . . . if you ask them nicely and don't judge them," Blue said.
"Me? Lady, I'm the last person to judge anybody," August chuckled. "Okay. Thanks and where can I find them?"
"They're in the prayer garden. I believe Sister Astrid is with them," Mother Superior answered.
"This ought to be good," August said happily. Finally an interesting story!
Five minutes later he was scribbling down quotes as he talked first to Alina Gold, then to her nephew Henry, and then to little Regina Nolan. "So . . . you all decided to save the turkeys from Mr. Fox and the rest of the people who want to kill and eat them for Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah, 'cause it's mean and nasty to kill them!" Regina said. "They oughta be left alone in peace!"
August raised an eyebrow. "She's got the whole Greenpeace thing down cold. Who taught her that?"
"I think it's because her dad took her to see that movie Free Birds," Henry said.
"And also because her mom loves birds and taught Regina to love them too," Alina reminded them.
Regina nodded. "Turkeys are our friends! And they're pretty too! Their tails got lots of colors an' they shake them like this!" She promptly demonstrated the way a turkey waddled and shook its tail by imitating it and shaking her behind.
August started grinning. "Oh, God! That's so priceless! I have to get that on camera!"
"Here," Henry handed August his phone.
August snapped a picture and then gave it back. "Thanks, Henry." Then he turned to the other children. "And you all agree with this . . . Save the Birds rally you've got going here?"
"Yeah," said Grace.
"We do," said Eva.
"Fox cheated my dad, so now we can cheat him outta his turkeys," Hans said. "Fair's fair."
"What do you mean by that, Mr. Mason?" asked August.
Hans explained what he meant, and August wrote it down.
Then August said, "But what about the fact that you . . . asking for sanctuary for these birds is going to make Mr. Fox and some other people unhappy about . . . err . . . taking their turkeys from them? It's sort of like stealing."
"Uh . . ." Grace now looked uneasy, as clearly that hadn't crossed her mind until August mentioned it.
"We weren't really stealing the turkeys, August," Henry protested. "We were liberating them from certain death."
"It's not like we want to sell them to the highest bidder," Alina pointed out. "We just want to protect them. Sort of like you'd protect an abused animal."
The Zimmermans nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and we've read about terrible things they do to the poor turkeys to . . . uh . .fatten them up, like force feeding them and giving them antibodies and stuff," Nick said.
"Antibiotics," Alina corrected. "So they . .. uh . . . get fatter and they can't fly. It's just . . . disgusting to treat them like that. I mean, I've eaten turkey before, but I never thought about . . . err . . . how they were treated before they became dinner."
"Alina's right. I didn't either, and now that I do know . . . I don't think I could eat turkey right now," Henry said softly. "But I'm not saying that everyone shouldn't . . . just that's how I feel . . . and maybe people should think about stuff like that and not just . . . follow along because it's tradition."
Grace shook her head in agreement. "Some traditions are good and some aren't. And this one . . . isn't really good for me."
"We'd rather eat poultry," the Zimmermans chorused.
"Or ham. I like ham," Hans added.
"Pizza!" Regina cried. "Then no turkeys will die! An' the president can pardon 'em."
"How do you figure that, Regina?" asked August.
"Like in the movie. You know," she said, and gave him a look like he was an imbecile.
"I've never seen it. So . . . tell me about it," he encouraged.
Then he listened while Regina told him all about Free Birds and how turkeys were beautiful animals and they didn't deserve to be eaten for dinner, no matter what.
She was so earnest and endearing that he found himself unable to quit smiling at her. "Okay . . . but what about the people who want to eat turkey for dinner? What would you tell them?"
"Let 'em eat cake! An' pizza instead!"
August quickly scribbled down more quotes, and wished he'd thought to bring along his mini recorder, but it was still on his desk back at the TV station. At any rate, this was the best scoop he'd had in a month of Sundays, and if this didn't please his boss, he'd eat his hat and quit journalism.
"Thanks, guys! I'm going to do a write up on you and your Save the Birds Crusade, maybe get some of my news crew over here to film you a bit for the morning episode," he told them.
"Like . . . we're gonna be on TV?" Hans gasped.
"On Good Morning Storybrooke?" Grace asked.
"Uh . . . yeah, as long as my boss says so," August replied. "Now, you all just sit tight here and . . . uh . . . play with the turkeys. I've got to skedaddle if I'm going to make the morning show. Oh, and by the way, what's your parents have to say about all this?"
"Uh . .. they kind of . . . don't know," Henry admitted guiltily.
"Not yet. But they will . . . once they see us on TV," Alina said. "And I think my papa's gonna flip out. And my mama too."
"Mine definitely will," Hans said glumly.
"Even our foster parents won't be too thrilled," said Nick.
"Mine will too probably," Grace said.
"My mom is going to be totally freaking out," Henry said. "And my dad too."
"Are we gonna . . . like be in serious trouble, Henry?" asked Regina nervously.
"Uh . . ." he sighed. "Yeah, maybe."
"Maybe?" repeated Hans. "I don't know about you, Gold, but I'm dead meat once I leave here. So maybe I'll just stay here with the sisters and be their chore boy. It's better than being killed."
"I'm sure your parents will understand, kids," said August gently. "I'll be back."
Then he left by the side door.
"Sure. Right," Hans snorted. "Buddy, have you met my father?" Then he shrugged. "But it was worth it to stick it to Fox for once."
"And save the turkeys," Regina reminded him.
"I wonder what Gramps and Gran will think of this?" Henry mused to Alina.
"Search me," His aunt said. Whatever they thought, it was sure to be memorable.
Page~*~*~*~*~Break
Belle clutched her new ultrasound picture her OBGYN had given her as Alice drove to the convent, looking down at the 3D picture and smiling wistfully. Dr. Jo had said the babies were doing fine, though one was a little small. "But I wouldn't worry about that, Belle," she'd said. "With twins, one is usually smaller. But they're both lively and healthy, which is what's important . . . and so are you."
Belle could have found out the sex of the babies, but had opted instead to be surprised. And now she was going over to see Blue and speak with her about a very different matter . . . and depending on what Blue said or did, she was going to have a very difficult discussion with Rumple later on. She patted her pocket where her cell was, wondering why Rumple hadn't called her with an update on Henry yet.
Alice pulled into the parking lot of the convent, and looked curiously at her best friend. "So . . . want to tell me why you need to talk to Blue all of a sudden?"
Belle looked at her. "Well . . . it's sort of complicated . . . and sort of a secret. I haven't told Rumple yet."
"Keeping secrets from your husband? How come?"
"Remember when I told you we had some trouble coming back on the plane from Manhattan with that damn sorcerer?" Belle asked. "Well, Mary Margaret and I had to sprinkle pixie dust all over . . ."
Alice's blue eyes widened to the size of saucers and she said, "Oh jumping Jehosephat! Rumple's really not gonna like hearing that? But hey, if it happened, it happened . . . and I'm sure he'll adjust."
"If it happened," Belle sighed. "Though with my symptoms, I'm almost positive it did. But Blue can confirm it." She chewed her lower lip nervously.
"Don't sweat it, Belle. Rumple might be a wee bit ticked off, but he'll understand . . . eventually." Alice said comfortingly.
"I hope so. I never meant to keep it from him this long, but . . . I was hoping maybe it was nothing and I wouldn't have to tell him . . .wish me luck," Belle said, giving Alice a small smile.
Alice squeezed her hand. "Whatever happens, girlfriend, you know I've got your back. And if Mr. G gives you a hard time, send him over to me and I'll straighten his ass out."
Belle giggled. "Okay, Alice. Will do," then she slowly got out of the car and walked up to the convent doors.
She was ushered inside by one of the sisters, and led down the hall to Mother Superior's office.
Blue looked up as she entered. "Hello, Belle!" she greeted the very pregnant woman. "You look . . . glowing so near to your time. And how are the babies doing?"
Belle smiled back at the Blue Fairy. "Acccording to Dr. Jo, they're doing great. Except . . . sonograms don't reveal something that I need to know, Blue. Something that only you can tell me."
"And what would that be?" asked Blue.
"Whether or not my babies have been affected by pixie dust."
Page~*~*~*~*~*~Break
Bae was sipping his second cup of coffee while eating his ham and cheese omelet with crunchy spicy home fries and some toast, sitting across from Rumple, who had his own mug of coffee, scrambled eggs and some bacon.
"Papa, he's still there, right?" Bae asked quietly as he ate another bite.
Rumple nodded. "Yes. Now don't talk with your mouth full, you'll choke."
Bae just rolled his eyes at that parental admission, but he did chew and swallow before saying, "Sometimes I really don't understand what gets into that kid. I mean, Emma and I have both told him to never just . . . take off, to always let us know where he's going. And now he's dragged Regina along with him. Sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a wall."
"I know. I felt that too . . . especially after that fire incident," Rumple commiserated. "We all do when our children don't listen to our advice and do something forbidden."
Bae sighed ruefully. "It's not only that he disobeyed me . . . it's that I feel like . . . I did something wrong, otherwise he wouldn't get into trouble, like I'm not a good parent . . ."
"You didn't, son. Trust me. All kids get into trouble . . . and it has nothing to do with you not being a good parent. It's just kids being kids. But I know how you feel. And you just have to keep reminding yourself that—" he trailed off as he stared at the TV screen on the wall across from Bae's head at the counter.
"Good Morning Storybrooke reporter August Booth presents the holiday story of the season, as children Henry Gold, Alina Gold, and little Regina Nolan, and their friends Grace Carstairs, Eva and Nicholas Zimmerman, and Hans Mason stage a protest over killing Thanksgiving turkeys by liberating t a flock of turkeys from Mr. Fox and taking them down to the convent for sanctuary. August will be filming individual interviews with all the kids who want to save our national bird from the menu in about an hour . . ."
Bae had a forkful of his omelet halfway to his mouth when he dropped the fork onto his plate.
Rumple's hand opened and dropped what remained of his bacon as the two men stared at each other with identical shocked expressions.
"Did they just—?" Gold began.
"Henry's involved with a turkey heist . . .?" Bae muttered.
"Alina too . . ." Rumple looked like someone had smashed him in the head with a board.
"Jesus H. Christ!" Both men said at the same time.
"Papa, we've got to get down to the convent," Bae said. "Emma's probably already there, if she's heard about it." He quickly wiped his mouth and stood up.
"Yes." Gold reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty and left it there. "Sanctuary for turkeys . . . Alina Rose, what were you thinking? Belle's going to have a conniption . . ."
Bae just shook his head. "Okay . . . our kids are officially crazy, Papa."
"And officially grounded for life," the sorcerer growled. "Come on, Bae. We need to make a few deals. Before this whole thing spirals out of control . . . if it hasn't already. And somebody ought to call David . . ."
They practically ran out of the diner to the Cadillac, while Bae dialed the mayor's office on the way.
Rumple's Recipe Corner:
Okay, dearies, today you get two for one over here!
Alice's Thanksgiving Green Bean Casserole
(not the one your mom used to make)
3 T olive oil, plus more for dish
Kosher salt and pepper
2 lbs of green beans, trimmed and halved
6 oz sweet Italian sausage, casing removed, 3 links
1 c Italian style bread crumbs
¼ c plus 2 T grated Parmesan
1 finely chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
¾ c 2% milk
4 oz lowfat cream cheese
Pinch nutmeg
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 t lemon zest
1 bunch of spinach, roughly chopped, stems discarded
Heat oven to 375. Oil a 2 qt baking dish or a foil pan. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add green beans and cook till tender, 3-4 minutes. Drain and run under water to cool.
Meanwhile, heat 1 T olive oil in large skillet. Add sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, till browned, 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl and toss with bread crumbs and 2 T Parmesan.
Wipe out skillet and heat 2 T of remaining oil over med heat. Add onion season with ½ t salt and ¼ t pepper, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally until very tender , 6-8 min. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 min.
Whisk in milk and bring to a simmer. Whisk in cream cheese, remaining Parmesan, nutmeg, and cayenne, bringing to a simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened—2-3 minutes. Stir in lemon zest, then toss with green beans.
Fold in spinach and then put in pan, sprinkle with sausage mixture. Bake till golden brown 15-20 min.
David's Broccoli Cheese Bake
Serves 6
Ingredients:
4 cups fresh broccoli, chopped
1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups egg substitute
1 cup skim milk
1 cup shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Cooking spray
Preparation:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
2. In a nonstick skillet, combine the broccoli, onion and water. Sauté over medium-high heat until the vegetables are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Keep adding water to prevent the vegetables from drying out, but use as little water as possible. Drain and set aside when the broccoli is done.
3. In a bowl, combine the egg substitute, milk and 3/4 cup cheese. Add in the broccoli mixture and pepper. Stir to mix well.
4. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Set the baking dish into a large pan filled with about 1" of water. Bake uncovered until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and top with the remaining 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.