Like Parent, Like Child
Yesterday, I didn’t end up using the dried ingredients I got, so I came to the kitchen today thinking I’d make something for lunch.
“Excuse meee~”
“Oh, here she comes. Our wild, over-the-top missy.”
“”Ahahaha.””
“That’s not true~ I’m a refined noble lady!”
“““That’s not possible!!”””
Why!? I don’t get it.
“Huh? Where’s Anny?”
“Ah, Nancy dragged her off to the training grounds this morning to retrain her.”
That came from Terry, one of Mac’s subordinates.
“Oh yeah, she also took Zack, Nathan, and Sarah who’s assigned to you.”
Dolly, another subordinate, added.
“Ah~~~ I see.”
My condolences. Maybe I’ll bring them a little treat later.
“So, what are you making today?”
“Ah, I got some dried goods yesterday, so I was thinking I’d use those.”
“Dried goods? What’s that?”
Asked Terry. Huh? He doesn’t know?
“Um, stuff like dried seaweed or mushrooms. Like this.”
“Oh? Is that from that weird old lady on the edge of town? I’m surprised you managed to buy from her.”
“Eh? I got it no problem. She’s a merchant that supplies the Lampail family.”
““Hehh~””
“What should I make today~? Oh, there are chicken wings. Mac, can I use some of these?”
“Ah, use ‘em all. The butcher threw them in as a bonus.”
“Then I’ll make simmered chicken wings and shiitake, and… fish head soup maybe.”
“Um, my lady, what’s fish head soup?”
“Umm, it’s miso soup made with fish scraps. There were some just over there.”
“Wait, fish heads and bones? That’s garbage, right?”
“No, those are leftovers! They make a delicious soup!”
“Huh. You know, Young lady, you really like garbage—like chicken bones and fish scraps.”
“Don’t say it like that!!”
Dolly, that’s rude!!
I’m definitely going to make them something delicious and prove them wrong!
First, soak the dried shiitake in water. Thinly slice ginger for the wings, and prep the fish scraps for the soup…
Blanch the fish scraps in boiling water—if I skip this, it’ll smell too fishy. Man, that’s a lot… Well, I am making this for all the servants and the private guard.
Put it all in the pot with kombu… oh, it’s a stockpot. Add water and start simmering.
Next, sear the chicken wings until browned on both sides…
“Young lady, I’ll handle that. Just need to get them nicely browned, right?”
“Yeah, thanks Terry.”
Ah, need to remove the kombu before it boils.
Scum is forming too, gotta skim that off…
“I’ll take care of the scum.”
“Thanks, Dolly.”
“Wings are done. What’s next?”
“Next, add the ginger to the wings and let it become fragrant, then add the shiitake soaking water. When it comes to a boil, skim the scum again.”
“Got it.”
After that, add the soaked shiitake, sugar, sake, soy sauce, and vinegar, cover it, and simmer over medium heat until almost all the liquid is gone—and it’s done.
“Scum’s all skimmed from this one~”
“Okay. Then take out the fish scraps.”
“Roger.”
Now, add grated ginger and miso… and taste.
“Mm, tasty. Here, Dolly.”
“Thanks…. Whoa. Yummy! Even though it’s garbage!”
“It’s not garbage, it’s leftovers! Mac, Terry, you guys try it too.”
“Yeah, this is good. The scraps really add flavor.”
“Delicious! I thought fish soup was only supposed to be salty.”
Ahhh~ Clear soup is good too, but miso-based fish scrap soup is so tasty.
“Oh, the wings are ready too. Tasting time… right?”
“““Of course!”””
“Ahaha, go ahead.”
Munch...
“““Daaaamn!!! What is this!?”””
“Oh, by the way, I made this too.”
“What’s this?”
“Fried chicken wings.”
“Wait, isn’t fried chicken supposed to be salty? What’s this?”
Ahh, the recipe I gave through Grandfather before was just the salt-based one.
“Umm, it’s Nagoya… I mean, soy sauce flavor. I made a sauce with grated garlic, sake, soy sauce, and sugar, heated it up, and coated the fried wings in it.”
I like the Nagoya-style fried chicken wings the best, so that’s why I made them.
““This is insane—””
Terry and Dolly high-fived each other after eating the wings. It must’ve been a good kind of insane…
“I’m glad you like it. Oh, Mac, don’t you go grabbing ale! I’ll tell Grandmother!”
“Sorry. But this…”
““Totally goes with ale!!””
Hey! Don’t the three of you dare go get ale without me!!
I want to drink too! Not fair!!
In the end, the three of them brought back cold ale and turned into kitchen drinkers with fried wings in hand. I sat at the workbench, resting my cheek in my hand, half sulking as I watched them.
And then…
“What do you all think you’re doing?”
Standing at the kitchen doorway was Rottenmeier. She had a *very* pleasant smile on her face…
“““Ah…”””
The three of them froze.
Rottenmeier walked up to Mac and placed a hand on his shoulder.
ZAP!
“Ugh...”
Mac crumpled to one knee.
“Wait, what!?”
What just happened!?
Next, Terry and Dolly… ZAP!
““Gyaa!!””
They both dropped to their hands and knees.
“Don’t slack off in front of the young lady!!”
“““We’re so sorry!!”””
I heard from Nancy later that Rottenmeier has a lightning attribute.
That zap when she touched them was apparently a powered-up static shock… Scary!!
As expected of Nancy’s mother~
Like Rottenmeier, like Nancy.
Yep, makes perfect sense… She definitely takes after her mom.
Alright, I better give Rottenmeier a bribe too!!
What do you think about this chapter?
