Noodles in the Soup

Writers: Chelle, Mirren
Date Posted: 10th February 2012

Characters: Nikhan, Dreapr
Description: Nikhan and Dreapr have a foodie to foodie chat.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 6, day 13 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentor Approved

The small baker apprentice was trying as hard as he might, but he couldn't
get the consistency right. Growling, he threw the dough and everything into
the bowl and hit the wooden board, sending flour everywhere. Frustrated, he
bit his lower lip, not willing to try again just then.

Nikhan looked up from his dough and saw the apprentice through a shower of
flour. Precious flour, not meant to be airborne. He waited until it settled,
to give Dreapr a chance to compose himself. "Too wet or too dry?"

It took a few moments for him to speak. "The first time it was too wet. The
second time it was too dry. I just don't know." He put his hands on the
table but he really wanted to just walk away.

The journeyman wiped his hands on a washrag and reached over to take the
dough in his hands. He pressed his palms together, squashing the dough just
slightly. It started to crack at the edges. He lay it down on the workbench.

"It is a bit dry but not overworked." Yet. "So it can be fixed. Now make a
bowl in the center of the dough with the heel of your hand and put half a
spoon of water in it. Then knead it a bit more. It should be elastic and not
sticky or cracking."

Dreapr moved beside Nikhan to see what he was doing. He put his hands on
the dough, following instructions. Slowly, he formed the bowl and then
reached for the water. Once he had it there, he began kneading, watching the
older man's face carefully for reassurance that he was doing it right.

Nikhan watched closely and nodded his approval. The dough was coming
together nicely. "How does it feel now?"

"It feels right. I'd say just a bit and then it'll be time to make it into a
loaf for rising." He liked the yeasty smell of bread. It was comforting. He
continued with his hands until it was where he wanted it, then he formed a loaf and
put it into the pan to rise.

Dozens of loaves were set aside to rise by then and the older man sighed.
"Break time. Care to join me for a klah?"

"I don't really like klah but I'll have some milk." Dreapr's mother had
always harped that klah would stunt his growth and all other manner of
things. Milk made strong bones.

Milk? Well it wasn't _such_ a bad choice, really. Just cold. Of course the
kitchen was warm, but a good, hot klah helped to warm and soothe.
"Milk it is then." Nikhan grabbed two mugs and set about filling them with
the beverage of choice. He handed the apprentice his and motioned toward a
table off to one side.

Dreapr took it and then headed to the table, sipping his reward. The milk
was good and fresh. It could be made into cream to fill pastries with.
Thinking that over, he sipped again and watched Nikhan. "Thank you."

"So how are you enjoying your apprenticeship?" Some boys seemed destined to
be bakers, some did it because they were forced into it. Others did it
because it seemed like a good idea. Which was Dreapr?

"It's allright. Learnin a lot. Beats the other things I could do. And I eat well."
He smiled as he thought about that. Sometimes it was hard but the rewards
were better than most crafts.

Nikhan grinned. "That's true! I get frustrated when my desserts don't turn out
right, but even the failures are tasty! Unless they burn." He grimaced.

"Or you mix the wrong flavors. I did that once." He grimaced, remembering.
"Savory cupcakes are very hard with that. I like experimenting though." Dreapr
perked up at that. Experimenting could sometimes take awhile.

Nikhan nodded. "Then you call them muffins, instead of cupcakes. Unless they're
inedible, then I offer them to the canines. Even they won't eat some of it. What's your
favorite thing to make?"

"Tarts. They're easy and they almost always taste good." He had to wait till
certain fruit came into season but it was hard to mess up a tart. "And they're
pretty."

"Except upsidedown tarts. They taste great but they look like something the
feline dragged in sometimes. There's nothing better than a redfruit tart with
fresh cream. Especially when they're so hot they melt the cream as you're eating it!"

"Have you ever made a soup noodle? Those are cool, but I've only seen them
in Dragonsfall." It was something that came with the cold weather, he was sure.

"Noodles in soup? What a peculiar idea. How is it flavoured?" it was an intriguing
idea and may even taste nice.

"Not in the soup, no. They put the soup in the noodle. It's a vegetable soup and the
noodle's made out of brown flour." Dreapr didn't know exactly how, since he had only
seen them finished.

Soup in the noodle? How could such a thing be possible? Nikhan's mind was suddenly
in a whirl. "Hmmm, if I use... No that won't work... maybe..." Muttering to himself, he
got up and went back to the kitchen, the apprentice all but forgotten in light of a new
challenge.

Last updated on the February 20th 2012

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Noodles in the Soup