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 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 6:46 pm
It was late in the weyr, well after the time that the various riders and dragons had gone to bed; the watchweyr quietly rumbling in the distance as it kept an eye on the skies and world of Pern in general.
The kitchen was quiet, the fire still burning well-enough, because for a weyr, klah could be needed at any moments notice. Normally the late-night kitchen apprentices slept where they could. Taisuld had found the kitchen so busy during the day, and all his other instructions as a candidate so distracting that this was the only time he could really concentrate. He was sore and tired after a long day of chores and lessons that he barely paid attention to, but for Tais, the day wasn't done yet.
He crushed another of the nuts with his mortar and pestle and ground it into a fine powder before adding it to the new klah recipe he'd developed. It was spicier and had a sharper kick to it than usual, although it wasn't as smooth and more bitter as a result.
The young man sat back and put the new recipe into a small boiling pot, swinging it over the fire to begin heating. Then he turned back to the empty pie awaiting his fillings. He'd found that most seemed to like the the fruity, tangy sweetness for bubbly pies and so he'd added some fruit to the base, now he added another layer of sweetened, stiff cream butter to the top of the dish. He sealed the lid in place with a fork and slid it into the oven over the coals, watching it cautiously. The problem with the fire was how uneven it cooked. He'd kill for something that made the fire cook consistently on all sides.
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Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:46 pm
R'yn often found himself making the trek from his weyr to the kitchens. His weyr was further from the kitchens now that he was out of the Weyrleader's weyr; something Gereth heard complaints about regularly. He wandered in, moving towards the fire. Hm. They usually had pies left out for him; but that didn't seem to be the case, this particular night. He would have to speak with the headwoman.
It was with these thoughts that he noticed the candidate at the fire. He stared. "Out past curfew, aren't you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Don't worry. I won't tell." He pressed a finger to his lips, to indicate his silence. He'd done the same sort of thing as a weyrbrat; staying out late, exploring caverns--not cooking. Huh. The kid was cooking something, and it smelled good. Like klah.
"What are you making?" he asked, curious. He was hungry! And whatever the kid had, it smelled tasty.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:05 am
 Tais jumped as the dragonrider came into the kitchen. He wasn't strictly not allowed to be in here, but it was definitely past bedtime and curfew for candidates.
He rubbed his nose sheepishly when the adult told him it wasn't going to be reported, quickly flashing a grateful smile, "A new klah recipe. Would you like to try some?"
The smaller pot was bubbling away merrily and without waiting for a proper response Taisuld was already grabbing a scoop and a cup. He filled it with the nut-spiced recipe and thrust it enthusiastically at the rider. He wasn't sure he knew this one; clearly not one of the candidate instructors... but there was a vague sense that he might know the man's face from somewhere. Perhaps he'd seen the rider during events? He wasn't good with faces.
Taisuld fidgetted slightly with a shy smile, he didn't know how to take some of these riders; they were easy to tease, but too many of them were simply laid back. He preferred stiff, controlled hold-boys who got flustered by Taisuld's approach. Still, he'd find a dragon-rider soon to turn his tormenting upon. Until then he wanted to find a good balance of recipes and impress the head-chefs.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:28 am
R'yn took the cup, downing it in a few swallows. His eyes widened at the taste, and he stared, from candidate to the now empty cup. "I've never tasted klah quite like that," he remarked, giving the boy a grateful smile. "That was really good, you should tell the kitchen staff your secret." He paused, the boy didn't seem to have recognized him. He remembered when T'rel pretended to be a candidate during one of the hatchings, and how many candidates had fallen for it until he'd given himself away.
R'yn didn't want to do that. "I'm R'yn," he said. "Taisuld, right? I think I've seen you around." One of the newer candidates, wasn't he? Probably had just arrived around the time of the flight, lucky kid.
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Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 12:41 am
Taisuld's smile turned far more geninue at the praise, "I'm working on several designs; I find klah too plain. Food is not just for filling your stomach- it is designed to please and delight. What is the point if there's no pleasure when you eat?"
He preened slightly, clearly happy with the suggestion, "Cooks are a fussy lot; I suspect the headwoman would dismiss it out of hand. We stick to old and traditional recipes because everyone feels familiar and safe with them. I feel that the art is dying. We have plenty of fresh ingredients but few innovations." He brushed his hair lightly with a floured finger, smearing the locks absently. "But far be it for me to challenge such a thing. Instead I will hope to impress one of those shiny dragons, like a gold, I suppose. Then everyone will have to listen to me." He hadn't really been paying attention when they'd discussed what gender impressed what type of dragon. Taisuld also liked the idea of the dragon's mating flight; letting him chase and take a ruffled gruff older rider-- but he did remember it seemed to be the other way around; so perhaps not a gold then, if some grizzled scarred veteran thought he was getting on top, he had another thing coming.
"I've been busy with this candidacy stuff... not much time for cooking; hence the late night sneaking. Although the others didn't mind so much as long as I kept the fire hot. The pies will be done soon- do you want a pie? I've been trying to sort out a recipe for these."
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