Do you ever wonder what characters would cook if they got
into the kitchen? I sometimes do, because often I find I’ve written an entire
book, or read an entire book, and the characters have been too busy doing…um…other stuff to actually make an entire
meal. Strange, really, in the case of my own writing since I’m a devote foodie!
With that in mind, Foodie Friday was born.
Sometimes it’ll just be a recipe I particularly like, or
maybe some strange food fact I’ve come across. On occasion you’ll find a short
story involving a character from my or other author’s books getting crazy in
the kitchen. Foodie Friday is about the love of food, in all its forms, so come
back often for a little taste!
This week, please enjoy a short story featuring Prudence, Will and a couple of my favorite automatons from my Steampunk novel, Beyond Prudence. Poor Prudence really isn't well equipped to be let loose in the kitchen, and she knows it...
Prudence looked down at Alexander.
The mechanical fox looked back at her with an encouraging expression. “Go on,
then. It can’t be that hard. A bit o’ bread and cheese is all it is.”
“Easy for you to say,” interjected
Ollie from his perch above the counter, rattling his white-and-gold feathers
and giving a derisive hoot. “You’re
not the one doing the cooking.”
Tightening the apron strings around
her waist, Prudence looked from the plethora of ingredients on the counter to
the receipt she’d carefully written out. It did indeed sound easy while Cook
explained it, but now she wasn’t so sure. Give her some paper and charcoal and
she knew exactly what to do, but cooking? You may as well ask her to repair one
of Will’s automatons.
But she so wanted to do something
for Will. Fixing a late supper on Cook’s day out seemed like just the ticket.
Taking a deep breath and tilting
her chin to a determined angle she said, “I can do this. I want to do this, for
Will.”
“There you go.” Alexander nodded.
“The gov’nor will appreciate it, I’m sure.”
“Indeed, indeed,” Ollie said,
clicking his beak. “Whatever you give him, he’ll love. Besotted with you, he
is.”
Grasping the saucepan as though it
were liable to bite, Prudence approached the stove with dragging steps. Just as
she was breathing a silent prayer not to make too much of a mess and incur
Cook’s wrath, the speaking box in the corner squawked.
“Prudence? Damnation—” there was
the sound of something falling and additional curses before Will continued.
“Darling, where the dickens are you?”
“In the kitchen, Will.”
“The kitchen?” Surprise and
curiosity sharpened his voice. “Why?”
“I…” Prudence looked around, but
neither Alex nor Ollie seemed inclined to come to her aid. She lifted her chin
another notch, although he couldn’t see her. “I’m cooking supper.”
“Leave it. I need you here.”
He sounded so decisive, it took her
by surprise. Will wasn’t usually inclined to issue orders to her. Prudence
wasn’t sure she liked this new side to him.
“I will be there as soon as I’m
finished here.” She could be decisive too. He mustn’t think that just because she
adored him, he could turn into a bully!
“Let Clifford deal with it, darling.
I’ve got more…important…things to do than have supper.” His voice dropped low,
took on the caressing tone she knew and loved so well. “I’ve got the AS
arranged in that new configuration we spoke about and need you to test it.”
“Oh!”
Well that was different, she
thought, already halfway across the kitchen, the apron fluttering to the floor
behind her, anticipation lending wings to her feet. What Will could do with that
machine was far more delicious than anything she could cook up.
Left in the kitchen, Alexander and
Oliver exchanged glances.
“I don’t think they’ll want to eat
after all, do you?”
Oliver shook his head and clicked
his beak with laughter. “Not Welsh Rarebit anyhow.”
And Alexander’s look of shock only
made the owl laugh even harder.
Below is the recipe for what
Prudence would have cooked if she hadn’t been so—e-hem—rudely interrupted.
Welsh Rarebit
8oz grated, strong cheese such as Old
Cheddar
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 level teaspoon dry mustard
2 teaspoons flour
4 tablespoons stout (beer or milk may
be used if preferred)
A pinch of pepper
4 slices bread toasted on 1 side only
(I like a denser bread, like Italian, rather than sandwich bread. If using
sliced sandwich bread, lightly toast both sides)
Put the cheese, flour, mustard,
Worcestershire sauce, butter and pepper into a saucepan. Mix well and then add
the stout beer or milk to moisten. Do not make it too wet. Stir over a low heat
until melted and when it is a thickish paste, remove from heat and stir just a
few times more. Leave to cool a little, and toast the bread. Spread the rarebit
over the untoasted side and brown under a hot broiler. Serves 4.
The mysterious device in Prudence Hastings’ basement could be the
answer to her prayers, if she could just figure out what it is. Needing William
Foreman’s help, she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to gain it. Even putting
aside her dislike of machines and volunteering to test the risqué apparatus
he’s developing for the Acolytes of Concupiscence.
Will’s expecting a lightskirt for a test subject and is horrified
when he realizes the tempting woman he just debauched is very much a lady. But
despite his best intentions, something keeps drawing him back to her, and it
isn’t just the thought of discovering the inner workings of her uncle’s last
invention. Unlocking their passions is turning out to be a far more
pleasurable, if dangerous, job.
Beset by desire, automatons, secrets, an unintelligible maid and
the danger of utter ruin should their association become known, Will and
Prudence haven’t a chance in hell of remaining unscathed.
Fire up the boiler, open the sluices and take cover. Something’s
about to explode…
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all you crazy ale-drinking devotees out there, and even to those who just don't get the allure! In my family there's a special joke about St. Patrick's Day because although my husband is obviously of mixed races, his grandmother on his father's side was 100% Irish. So when St. Paddy's Day rolls around, we're inclined to ask people if they've never heard the term, "Black Irish" and try to get them to believe he's an example of that. The best part? On occasion we've actually got some people going for a while LOL!
Since this hop is in honor of Fondled and Gobbled, Someone Had To Do It and Going Back for Seconds, I'm gonna pretend my hero, Jace, is throwing himself into the spirit of the day and heading off to the neighborhood pub for a pint of green beer with his friends. What's that Diva wearing, you ask? Well, knowing Jace, he has on kelly-green skinny jeans, a silk shirt with gold harps all over it (you didn't think he'd go for the obvious and have shamrocks, did you?), a puffy, green, goose-down jacket that matches his pants, and black riding boots (with four-inch heels, of course). He wavered between his green-rimmed glasses and the ones he's actually wearing, which are gold, wire-rims, but he didn't want to be TOO obvious. Besides, the round lens make his eyes pop...
So if you're at the bar, and you see a pretty little twink all dressed up for the night like that, don't let appearances fool you...there's a LOT more to Jace than meets the eye! Make sure to pick up a copy of Fondled and Gobbled, Someone Had To Do It and find out just what that "more" is! And comment here for a chance to win a copy of my erotic Steampunk romp, Beyond Prudence in e-format or, if you're in North America, in print.
