A day of cooking (flashback)

[Sam Leaie]

Spring 1 504 - Flashback

The house was filled with different smells as Sam stood in the kitchen, his father Samuel having a seat at the table watching. Sam was just 14 years old however had spent the last four years learning about cooking. The day was just starting but Sam had work to do like everyday for the past year and that was cooking food up for the day for the family.

For now he was tasked with making a quick but filling meal that would last until afternoon. His mother, Heather, had to leave until then. His father would be leaving soon in a few Bells. Yet Sam had his task list for the day and that was filled being in here around the stove with pots and pans.

The fire upon the stove held a steady burn as it heated the metal cast iron pan. As it was heating up, Sam took out a large slender knife in his right hand, his left hand putting a semi thick beef sausage on a cutting board. His carefully placed the tip of the knife along the meat pushing it down both in pressure and downward towards him cutting the sausage in half.

Once that was done he then took the two halves placing them sideways, on top of each other, before cutting into the meat once more. This time turning the two halves into six pieces, in total making the one sausage into 12 smaller cuts which would give each person four bits.

Sam let out a small breath which he was holding as he placed the knife down. His left hand grabbing a clay cup bringing the cool water to his lips. Placing the cup back down, he placed his left index finger in the cool water before driping just a few droplets in the pan. The sounds of the water hitting it touched his ears as he knew it was time, his right hand grabbing the meat and throwing it in before grabbing a wooden spoon, flicking the meat about the pan letting the heated pan color the meat.

He would have 15 chimes before the meat was done. In that time he had to cut up a few other items to mix with the meat. He moved behind him grabbing three good sized potatoes, he placed them on the board like the meat and took the knife to it just like the meat. First in half then he moved the knife dicing it once more before throwing the first potato in the pan, Sam moved the wooden spoon mixing the meat and potatoes before he cut up the second potato the same way. First cut in half, then diced before tossing it in the pan. The third soon joined as he kept the pan moving around making sure to lift the pan above the flame so it would not burn.

Just a few more chimes before it would be done. Just in time as he knew he had to get this dish on the table so the day could go on. Heather would leave after the food was done, then he had to get dinner started before cooking up lunch. Dinner would be a soup of some sort, Lunch he would make a simple meal of salted beef and a few day old bread. The soup would take the longest time he thought as his hands kept the pan above the heat and the spoon dancing around the pan before his body moved towards the table.

Plates were already set so he just scropped a helping onto each plate. Breakfast was done as both parents started eating. He would check the fire on the stove before sitting down himself to eat then clean up before starting his next tasks for the day.

[Sam Leaie]

The dishes were done and the day moving on. A large iron pot of water was on the stove, the flames licking it from underneath warming the water slowly. This would be dinner which was bells later but for it to taste even semi okay he would have to work on it now or at least get it started.

This would be more than enough both for the night and for later which Samuel would take over and save. Sam found himself at the cutting board but this time a slab of bacon was in his sight. It was a higher priced meat but it would last and give the soon-to-be soup more flavor. His knife came down slicing and dicing it into small bits. It had a have heavy sat amount to keep it fresh for a longer amount of time then compared to fresh and no salt. Yet the salt would also add more taste to it and make the bacon easier to handle.

Once the meat was placed in the water Sam moved on to his next task as he wiped the knife with a white cloth. He had ten carrots to cut up, three onions and a few extra spices that would go along the dish. He had made this before so he knew what to do without any paper telling him the steps. Plus once he had did it a few times he understood just how simple this dish was.

The carrots, he could either take the edge of the knife and skin them to remove the rough biter hide or he could keep them on. He thought for a second or two before just cutting them into chunks. They were roughly half an inch thick as he kept his eyes along the food and his mind on the task. The water slowly starting to bubble as he threw the chunks inside the water.

The next were the onions, they had a husk over the plant but that could easily be taken care of. If he was not careful the juices could get in his eyes which would be a problem. Yet the husk he just placed the edge of the knife down cutting it into half. Then he took his own hands pulling off three layers off, throwing them away keeping the cores for each.

The task did not take long to perform. Mencing the food came next, he wanted them in small bits for easier eating later. Up and down, up and down, up and down the knife came at a fast pace chopping them before throwing them also into the water.

It was the last food item for the dish. Next just was a bit of spices but he would could not find them for the life of him. His mother must not have done the shopping the day before but he just sighed at the thought of that as he put a lid over the pot. It would take a few bells for the water to boil and once it did he would have to stir it and keep it from over boiling. Just lunch was to be done but that was just something rather simple and fast yet for now he just had to smile as he took a seat and a rest.

[Sam Leaie]

He was late. So very late it felt like as he had lost track of the time. No one ever said he was on top of things all the time but he did keep an eye on the soon to be soup stirring it often but due to that little fact he lost track of time to make lunch.

His mother was back and Samuel was gone. She had a few small packets of different seasonings and herbs on the table and wrote down a small to-do list for Sam to take care of once he was done with his daytime list. His work would not be done for awhile he felt as he placed the iron pan on the hot stove.

Sweat dripped from his face as he kept a rag nearby patting his forehead. He felt like he was getting overworked with the cooking and now he had to get lunch on. He had thought ahead and would use the day old bread with small cuts of meat. Which he would then heat up and get the food on the table.

The meat in question was salted meat. Overall a basic food, the salt was just to keep it fresh for longer but would be able to burned away or even boiled away. However another thing he could do for the meat was to cut a fine layer off the top and sides of it.

The knife was held in his right hand, his left holding the meat down. First would be the sides, he would try his best just to cut off as little as he could. What he thought was a small cut shaving off the sides turned out to be more than small. He had cut far too much towards the middle yet he could not fix that mistake as he just had to shake his head at his mistake. Mistakes were to be made he knew, for without them he would not be able to learn. However mistakes came at a cost. That cost was now the meat was less for his family and meant either they would not be full or would have less down the road.

He still had to cut off the top and bottom layers of the meat. Was he just being careless? Was his mind just wandering away from cooking for what felt like all day? He knew he was still learning but was at a stage in his cooking life that he did not need someone over his side telling him what to do. He knew how to handle this job...right?

The knife came closer and closer to the middle of the meat. Another mistake. His mind rushing back to the task at hand. He was letting himself run around in circles and not paying any mind to what he really should have been doing. Yet as he looked at the meat in question, it was beef he took note of for once but he did not bring the knife up yet. Somehow, somewhere in his thoughts he had cut the meat already in terms of slicing the salted sides and top and bottom off.

It did not look pretty to say the least. In fact it looked like a dog had found it and had fun with it. He had to push his thoughts away for the time being but that was far harder than it sounded to him. He just had to push his thoughts away and focus at the task on hand. He had done find until this point so why was he having so many problems now with this?

Was it the start of the day and he had the energy to spend? Was it his father being around him? Was it something else? He did not know. He enjoyed cooking he knew that but why was he having so hard of a time to focus on it and get it done. Was it just his teenage self wanting to do other things? What was it that he wanted to do really then?

Thoughts came to mind like a wildfire. Philtering and herbs came to mind at once. He knew down the road he could turn the two simple yet complex fields into his cooking and make things only someone could dream of. Yet even that died down and was replaced by other thoughts. Running his own shop and having a staff under him. But for some reason that died down as well as he thought upon it.

He wanted people to know him. To respect him in the end. He could always go with the route of a healer or leader for the city and learn how to fight. So why did he not do that? Besides lacking the passion for combat and healing other people he felt like he could do more as a cook.

Granted cooks did not make much of a income compared to other people but he could do better and make more in the end if gold was a reason. Yet he saw himself in his head being able to do so much more. However for now he had to focus on this day and this event in his life before he could move on. This stone had to be crossed without him slipping and drowning in the river under him.

With that he just had to nod to himself and tighten his grip along the knife before finding his own resolve. He would make mistakes. But he would not fail with his dreams and goals. He might be young but he had to start for someday would come but if he was not careful that someday would pass him by.

His hand moving up and down, the knife cutting into the meat forming smaller and smaller slices. Once it was done he just tossed it in the pan, keeping it moving both by his hand on the panhandle and a wooden spoon in his other. The smells of cooked meat soon filled the air as he placed the browned beef on two plates.

The bread was already done from the day before and he would or someone else would make more bread for later. Lunch was just a simple meal. With his mistakes however the meat was less but he knew it was just another day of learning by trial and error.

For now he would enjoy the lunch with his mother then afterwards he would read her letter and start the new duties afterwards. It was just another day it felt like. A day of learning both about himself and learning how to handle food.

[Verilian]

Sam Leaie +2 Cooking You Question My Logic? : We storytellers have been asked to crack down on awarding xp. I gave you two points because you did show yourself having some difficulties due to the fact that you were multitasking, but really, as a competent cook none of those meals would have challenged you by themselves. Read over the Competent section of the cooking skill to get an idea of what you should be doing to challenge yourself. To earn xp you must try new things, not do things you already know how to do. Unless you portray yourself trying to perfect what used to be difficult techniques. Now, I'm not saying you did bad. You did get two points, I just wanted to explain that for future reference. If you have any questions or concerns, or feel that I missed something, please PM me. Lores: Cooking a Simple Meal, How to cut meats and vegetables, Fighting distractions, Visions of the Future Notes: Ah, a day in the life of a chef to be. Good job, and keep writing! Notice As per the request of the Founders, threads cannot be graded unless your CS is up to date. This means you need to add threads to your thread list when you make new threads, keep your skills up to date, ledger, living expenses, ect. If you aren't up to date, you'll get a PM from me before i grade your thread. If you are up to date, disregard this notice.