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Unicorn Milkshakes and Crickets

Angie stood in the kitchen, a thoughtful expression on her face, an apron featuring a goat in a chef hat tied around her waist. Her head was tilted in thought, emphasizing her resemblance to her mother.

Catherine and Elizabeth shared a look and smiled. The six year old had decided after Ms. Lane read a story about kids making dinner, that she wanted to 'cook' for the family that night. She was armed with a plastic spatula and with her co-chef, DJ, by her side, she was ready to take on the culinary world.

"Okay, here's the plan," Angie proclaimed, her voice serious and - Catherine thought with a smirk - very much like Steve's in mission mode, "we're making yummy turkey wraps 'cause everybody likes those." She paused and grinned. "And mac and cheese with Spam and cookies for dessert."

DJ nodded, securing his own apron around his waist. "Operation dinner! I'll be in charge of chopping veggies and shredding the cheese. Dinner's gonna be awesome."

Elizabeth stood by the countertop, surveying the ingredients as the little girl hopped up on the kitchen stool. "Oh, sweetheart, this is going to be quite a feast. I'll give you a hand with the sugar cookies going in the oven," she offered.

Angie beamed with excitement, her eyes shining. "Thanks, Grandma! But remember, don't help us too much, okay?"

Elizabeth held up a hand. "Promise. You two are the chefs tonight." Both kids laughed when she added, "So no sprinkles on the dinner wraps, right?"

"You're silly," Angie said as she placed the first wrap on the counter. "Turkey goes first," she said mostly to herself and placed several slices on the wrap and topped it with lettuce and tomato before passing it to DJ who added the cheese and ranch dressing.

While the kids worked away and DJ added each wrap to a platter after carefully cutting it in half, Steve entered the kitchen and grinned at the sight of his kids' culinary takeover. "Looks like we've got future Master Chef winners in the making," he remarked, kissing each child's head. "I'm gonna run upstairs and then I can help if you want."

"You don't have to help, you guys just get to eat and enjoy the food," DJ explained, "Grandma's gonna help with the oven, but that's it. By the time you lock your gun up, the mac and cheese will be done," he gave the casserole dish he was holding a stir as if on cue. "And the cookies will be in the oven."

Catherine chuckled, brushing a lock of hair away from Angie's face. "They've got operation dinner under control." She pecked Steve's lips. "When you come down we'll be almost ready to eat."

Ten minutes later, after the arrival of Joseph and Grandma Ang, the family settled down at the table, anticipation dancing in the kids' eyes.

Lifting one off the platter, Joseph said, "Turkey wraps assembled with precision, crisp lettuce, nice looking tomatoes and the mac and cheese looks perfectly creamy … as good as any officers' mess. Great job, you two,"

"Thanks Grandpa, but you didn't even taste it yet," Angie giggled.

"Then I'd better taste to confirm," he grinned and took a bite. "Perfection. My compliments to the chefs."

"Yay!" Angie bit into a forkful of mac and cheese and smiled as everyone agreed the dinner was delicious.

"You'd probably say it was good even if it tasted weird 'cause you love us," DJ said. "But it really is good."

"It's very good," Steve said, swallowing a mouthful of wrap. "You guys did great."

"Uncle Danny always says you like weird food," DJ chuckled.

After a bite of macaroni and cheese, Angie grinned and asked Steve, "Daddy, what's the weirdest thing you ever ate?"

"Ever?" He smirked.

"Ever in your whole life."

"Hmmm." Steve cocked his head, pretending to contemplate. "Let's see, I ate some interesting stuff when I was on the teams." He glanced at Catherine who was smirking. "Cow eyes, fried tarantulas, pickled blubber … but I think the one that most people find the strangest is crickets."

"You ate crickets?" DJ asked.

Angie's question had him barking a laugh. "What'd they taste like?"

"Kind of … nutty, a little smoky, maybe."

"That's gross, Daddy. Were they cooked?" DJ made a face.

"We were on a mission and we got cut off from base," Steve said with a chuckle. "Your uncles Al and Hoss scavenged them up and we cooked them. They're actually more nutritious than most meat."

"Still kinda gross," the ten year old said as Catherine piped in, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "Let's not forget the time you ate the mealworms."

"Oh my," Grandma Ang said. "Now those are definitely acquired tastes."

Angie's eyes widened with curiosity. "Did you eat worms, Mommy?"

Catherine laughed, shaking her head. "I've had some strange food when I was in country, but not that time, baby girl. Daddy's the one who eats anything that doesn't crawl off a plate."

The kids were filled with questions as the explanations of the strangest foods continued. Angie, being Angie, was unfazed by the tales. She took another bite of her turkey wrap before saying, "I'd try crickets with you, Daddy."

The adults burst into laughter and DJ grinned at his sister. "You totally would."

"If Daddy ate it first, I'd try all the foods."

"You are your father's daughter," Catherine bent to kiss her head as Steve beamed and said, "That's my girl."

"Your girl also likes cookies and I think we're ready for dessert," Elizabeth said with a wink as she stood. "Come on, my sweethearts, let's get them on the table."

As the kids followed her to grab the tray of cookies, Catherine leaned over to Steve. "Look at them, like two little chefs, and if next time Angie wants to serve crickets, that's on you to kabosh, Commander."

"Hey, I kabosh getting you a goat for every occasion," he smirked. "I got this."

"And if she wants to try them out somewhere, that's one hundred percent a daddy daughter event, because DJ and I will be going for shrimp plates."

Joseph chuckled. "Nothing quite like the magic of a family meal together, and I'm casting my vote for the shrimp plate if and when crickets are on the menu."

Ang laughed. "Ditto. I'm definitely not as brave as my namesake."

"Here's dessert!" Angie announced as they placed the cookie platter on the table.

"Look, Grandma Ang, we iced red and blue Cs for the Cubs on some of the cookies," DJ pointed out.

"Which will make them taste even better," she said with twinkling eyes. "And I know you used the secret ingredient, love."

Angie grinned, "Yes! just like Nonna taught us. And we even had a magic ingredient!"

Steve smiled, grabbing a cookie to take a bite. "What's the magic ingredient in these delicious cookies?"

Without skipping a beat, Angie leaned closer, her voice lowered. "Unicorn glitter. Grandma bought it."

Catherine chuckled, shaking her head. "Unicorn glitter, hmm? Well, if anybody found edible unicorn glitter, I have zero doubts it was your grandma." She picked up a cookie. "Looks like we're in for a magical treat." She took a bite, her eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, okay these are pretty magical!"

DJ nodded enthusiastically, a crumbly mustache forming on his upper lip. "Definitely the most magical cookies in the world."

Elizabeth savored her cookie. "I think these are a new family recipe."

"We can make some with Nonna when we visit her!" Angie said.

"The glitter is perfect for Christmas time, too," Joseph nodded as he devoured a second cookie.

Angie and DJ beamed, basking in the praise. "I have an idea," DJ offered. "We have more glitter sprinkles, can we make unicorn glitter milkshakes?"

Catheirne playfully rolled her eyes when her mother clapped delightedly, saying, "Of course, that's a great idea, sweetheart. Unicorn milkshakes it is!"

With laughter and excitement, the kitchen was soon filled with the sound of the blender as sparkly shakes filled tall glasses.

As the family clinked their milkshake glasses together, Catherine raised a toast. "To our favorite chefs for a wonderful dinner and dessert."

After clinking glasses with everyone at the table and swallowing a sip of milkshake, Angie turned to Steve with a grin. "Daddy?"

Recognizing her expression, he shared a look with Catherine, knowing his wife recognized the twinkle in their daughter's eyes as well as he did. "What, baby girl?"

"Do you think unicorn milkshakes go with crickets?"

# End thanks for reading

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