Chapter 24

Making Dinner (2)
"Tonight's dinner will be tonkatsu, jagato salad, and shrimp soup. So, Young lady, could you teach us how to prepare them?"

"Yes, first, for tonkatsu, we'll need breadcrumbs, so you'll grate them like cheese with a grater. As for the shrimp soup, don't throw away the shrimp shells and heads; we'll use them. And for the salad, we'll make mayonnaise."

"”””Mayonnaise?”””"

"Yes, it's made with egg, vinegar, and oil. Let me demonstrate.

First, separate the egg yolk, add a pinch of salt and pepper along with vinegar, and mix. Then, slowly add oil while continuously mixing. Keep adding and mixing until it thickens, and you're done."

With a task too hard for a 5-year-old, I had Ben help mix it.

"Why only the yolk? Can't you use the whole egg?"

"You can, but it takes more effort. It’s easier this way unless you have a hand mixer."

"What's a hand mixer?"

"Umm, it’s a machine that automatically stirs—kind of like an automatic whisk?"

"That sounds so convenient! Where can we get one?"

"I have no idea..."

"Aah, well, we'll just have to manage without one."

And with that, the mayonnaise was done.

"Alright, you can taste it using these cucumber sticks."

*Crunch.* "This is amazing!"

"It's addicting."

"So good! I can’t stop eating this!"

"Young lady, this is way too delicious!"

Thank goodness. It’s been a while since I made homemade mayo, and I was nervous it might not turn out well. Personally, I think cucumber sticks with miso mayo are the best, but since we don’t have miso... maybe I can find some somewhere?

"Now that the mayonnaise is ready, let’s start making the tonkatsu. In the meantime, please boil the jagato."

"I’ll handle the jagato salad then and start boiling the jagatoes."

"Oh, assigning tasks sounds good. Then, Mr. Abe and Annie will handle the tonkatsu, the salad will be Master’s responsibility, and Mr. Arthur will make the shrimp soup. Once the shrimp is peeled, the meat will also be fried like the tonkatsu, so pass it over to Mr. Abe."

"Understood."

"Let’s begin with the tonkatsu. First, slice the pork into 5mm cuts and tenderize it. Season lightly with salt and pepper, then coat it lightly in flour, dip it in beaten egg, and cover it in breadcrumbs."

"Young lady, I’ve already prepared the breadcrumbs."

"Thank you, Annie..."

"Hm? What’s wrong, Young lady?"

"Well, um, the way you call me 'Young lady' feels a bit distant... Since we're cooking together, could you just call me by my name?"

"Ah, I don’t know if I could..."

"Would it be okay if I got Father’s permission??"

"Well, if your father is fine with it, then maybe..."

"Alright, I’ll ask him later. Anyway, back to cooking.

For the shrimp, we'll bread it the same way, but first, we’ll clean it by rubbing it with salt and starch. This removes any dirt. Then, make small incisions along the belly side and lightly season with salt and pepper."

"Young lady, why make cuts in the shrimp?"

"If you don’t, it’ll curl up when fried."

"You sure know a lot, Young lady."

"Ah, um, I read it in a book."

"Huh, a book, huh?"

Uh-oh, they might be catching on that my knowledge isn’t just from books. Still, if I’m going to reveal my past life memories, it should be to Father first. I’ll deal with it when the time comes.

"Also, no shrimp fry is complete without tartar sauce, so let’s make that too."

"”””Tartar sauce?”””"

"Yes, it’s an 'devil sauce' made from boiled eggs, pickles, and mayonnaise."

"Devil? And that’s essential?"

"Yes, it’s absolutely indispensable. Annie, could you boil the eggs, please?"

I request with a salute.

"Understood!" Annie salutes back.

"Hehe."

We laugh together again.

"You two seem to be having fun."

Arthur comes over with the peeled shrimp.

"Thank you, Mr. Arthur. Mr. Abe and Annie, I’ll leave the tonkatsu and shrimp fry to you."

"Got it."

Leaving the frying to them, I move on to preparing the shrimp soup—a creamy bisque.