May 6, 2011 - Potatoes.

RW Abbey: Kitchen

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This is a long, narrow room with five large fireplaces set into one wall, and two equally large wood burning iron stoves set against the opposite wall. Several small, rectangular tables rest in here, but there are no chairs available. The rest of the wallspace is taken up by an entire array of shelves, cupboards, and counters which hold the day-to-day cooking supplies and utensils. The kitchen is clean and well maintained, and more recent efforts have been made toward organization of the cooking ware.

On the wall just right of the door leading into Great Hall is a neatly penned chart, which lists the names of beasts assigned to cooking duty as well as the dates and times they are scheduled. A small note above the chart urges residents to volunteer for at least a slot or two a week.

The light from the windows is bright and cheerful. This room is rather warm due to the ovens being used, and at times can get quite uncomfortable.

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                       Exits/Entrances:

          [G]reat [H]all     [Wine] Cellar    [Sc]ullery

          [C]avern [H]ole    [Pan]try         [La]rder

          [Ki]tchen [P]ath

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Zoomy spreads his arms elaborately,"Welcome To The Kitchens of Redwall!"

Gupthie smiles. "Very... culinary."

Zoomy chuckles,"So what do you want to learn about the kitchens then aye? Plenty I could teach you ranging from the simple to the difficult."

Gupthie says, "I think I'd like to start with the simple, please."

Zoomy laughs quietly and pulls out a pot which he fills with water. "Boiling water it is then."

Gupthie smiles. "That sounds nice and simple."

Zoomy asks, "Any idea what we do with the water in the pan?"

Gupthie ventures, "Put it on a range?"

Zoomy nods and gestures to one of the constantly heated ranges.

Gupthie tentatively takes the pan and places it on the range.

Zoomy nods,"Good,good. Watch your paw though. Don't let it touch the range."

Gupthie nods, and says, "Alright. What next?"

Zoomy says, "We wait."

Gupthie nods. "When it starts to boil, it will bubble, right?"

Zoomy nods.

Gupthie looks at the pan, and says, "So... about how long does that usually take?"

Zoomy says, "Can be minutes."

Gupthie says, "Mhm. I see. And what do you usually do while you wait?"

Zoomy says boldly,"Eat."

Gupthie laughs.

Zoomy hands the young mouse a small bag of candied chestnuts.

Gupthie takes the bag and takes a nut out. "I used to eat these all the time when I was a dibbun."

Zoomy guffaws,"Only as a dibbun?! Thats absurd!

Zoomy says, ""

Gupthie says, as he eats one, "Well, after a while I got kind of sick of them. Also, I was busy fixating on pies."

Zoomy nods,"Pie can be attention taking."

Gupthie nods, and then looks cautiously at the water. Still no bubbling. He eats another candied chestnut.

Zoomy waits with the young mouse.

Suddenly, the water in the pan begins to bubble.

Gupthie lets out a small 'eep' of surprise. "Zoomy, it's boiling! What do I do now?"

Zoomy hands Gupthie some potatoes,"Put these in."

Gupthie nods, taking the potatoes, and gently drops them into the pan.

Zoomy watchs.

Gupthie asks, "What now?"

Zoomy says, "We wait again."

Gupthie says, "I'm sensing a pattern here."

Zoomy says, "Cooking has a lot of waiting involved."

Gupthie says, "So how will we know when the potatoes are done? I suspect they don't bubble."

Zoomy hands Gupthie a small stick,"Poke them to see if their soft yet."

Gupthie smiles, and gently pokes a potato. "Still hard."

Zoomy chuckles,"It'll be awhile yet before their done."

Gupthie says, "So, anything else to do while we wait besides eat?"

Zoomy guffaws once more,"Do ye not like eatin'?!"

Gupthie says, "Well, I don't like to eat when I'm not all that hungry."

Gupthie adds, "At least, not a lot."

Zoomy seems somewhat shocked. He had a theory that all beast big and small loved to eat.

Gupthie asks, "Why the look of surprise?"

Zoomy shakes his head,

In a repose:Zoomy shakes his head,"Nothing,nothing at all. Check the potatoes!"

Gupthie pokes the potatoes, and they're soft this time. "I think they're ready. Do I- what do I do now?"

Zoomy says, "Take a fork and get them out. Then put them in a bowl and empty the pot."

Gupthie nods. He grabs a bowl and a fork, and carefully moves the potatoes from the pan to the bowl. He carefully takes the pot and empties it out.

Zoomy nods approvingly,"You've got it down for now."

Gupthie asks, "So, what now?"

Zoomy shrugs,"We take a break."

Gupthie nods. "Alright."