Midnight Manor, Thursday Afternoon & Early Evening [10/17]

[gospel_of_oblivion]

Things seemed to have...settled. A bit. So, Illyana was going to do the time-honored Westchester way of dispelling any remaining tension, from what she had witnessed in her short time at the mansion.

Food.

It was around noon when she got started; first up was popping-off to get her supplies, and then it was time to take over the kitchen, just around when the third period class would have been finishing up.

Next up was the vegan dough and filling, so that she didn't have to worry about getting the cookware and appliances contaminant-free. After that was the prep for the meat-eaters of the house. Everything into the fridge, prep the dining room with the condiments and plates and such, a short break to watch a Korean game-show, and back into the kitchen to start the pots boiling.

As the first batch came out of the pots and onto the table, Illyana grabbed a wooden spoon and banged it against another (unfilled) pot.

"PELMENI!" she bellowed, smacking the pot with the spoon again a few more times for good measure. "Get 'em while they're hot!"

Talking about Feelings was for other people and Professionals. Eating your feelings? That was for everyone.

[OOC: Minor OCD incoming. OPEN! If you think Yana would have texted you to come over and eat, she did.]

Comments

Thursday Afternoon: The Cooking

[gospel_of_oblivion]

For those who want to help Yana in the kitchen with her chaos...

Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

"PELMENI!" Illyana bellowed, smacking the pot with the spoon again a few more times for good measure. "Get 'em while they're hot!"

Talking about Feelings was for other people and Professionals. Eating your feelings? That was for everyone.

The dining room was set with piles of paper plates (no more dishes, thanks), disposible cutlery, and three huge labeled bowls of pelmeni -- vegan mushroom, pork, and beef -- which Illyana was occasionally refilling.

Condiments for the pelmeni were on the table: butter, sour cream, vinegar, dill, salt, pepper... people could help themselves.

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[hasaknightjob]

Llewellyn who will ping himself in had ended up staying at the museum with Steven after lunch, so he and Steven arrived home together.

Steven smelled the food and heard the yelling and smiled. "What's all this then?"

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

"Food. Because it is fall, and while it is still a little warmer than usual for pelmeni, it's what I know how to make that's not tacos." She considered that for a moment. "Maybe I should have done tacos? Oh well, too late now."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[hasaknightjob]

"I've never had pelmeni," Steven said, trying carefully to pronounce it the way Illyana did. It was a good effort but by no means perfect. "Never heard of it before. What is it?"

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

"They're a dumpling, like pierogi, or Tibetan momo," Illyana explained. "I stuck to mushroom, pork, and beef... I didn't think anyone would appreciate the venison option. Too stringy and salty."

"Also, I did not feel like going all the way to Siberia for deer meet."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[hasaknightjob]

"That's so thoughtful of you," Steven said. "Here, let me put my coat and bag away and I'll join. Do you need any help?"

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[pocketpretzels]

"Ah!" Watts exclaimed, as he saw what was on the table. "Your specialty!"

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

"If 'specialty' means 'the thing Illyana is least-likely to accidentally poison anyone with,' yes, my specialty," she joked. "And this time I did not even have either of my fathers help me."

"Unless you count using Stephen's credit card to go buy the supplies. I think that falls under 'child support' since it is food."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[pocketpretzels]

"A sound argument," Watts said, heaping several of the vegan dumplings on to his plate. "And they certainly smell wonderful."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

"If he complains, I will tell him you said that," she said cheerfully. "Eat as much as you like, there's more in the freezer."

"I had no classes today and I was restless, and so, food. I have asked my brother for our mother's borscht recipe, but I need a little more practice before I attempt that on a house-sized scale." Illyana reached over to pat one of Midnight's walls. "I thought that Midnight deserved some cozy fall fun."

"Which reminds me... are we going to decorate for Halloween?"

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden wasn't sure if Midnight had made sure that she heard Illyana from the roof or if the sorceress just had lungs (or possibly both!) but she was making her way downstairs with a fair bit of alacrity.

Definitely looking a lot perkier and more energetic than she had over the past couple of weeks. "...Dumplings?" she asked, looking at the bowls. The labels got an appreciative smile.

And then, a little more shyly. "Umm. Hi. Thanks for cooking."

Sorry about her 'guests'?

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

It was probably both, knowing Midnight (and Illyana's ability to make herself HEARD when she wanted).

"Do not thank me until you have eaten something," she said, waving her wooden spoon at the food. "I was bored, and now we have so. many. dumplings. If you do not eat some dumplings, we will drown in them."

"I think I accounted for everyone's dietary needs, but if you need something different I can probably throw together a new batch in about twenty minutes."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"I don't eat chicken," Arden said. "Or, well, any kind of bird. But it doesn't look like you made anything with those in it, so I should be fine."

Kamala wouldn't eat the pork, but there were plenty of beef and mushrooms it looked like, Dean thought vegetables were the work of the devil or something, but he had the pork and beef to choose from, and Cal would eat anything that wasn't nailed down, so no problem there. She wasn't sure about anyone else in Midnight, but she knew that Illyana had covered all of them.

"There are worse ways to go than drowning in dumplings, I'm just saying," Arden said, helping herself to all three flavors.

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

And Illyana had waited to make the pork until last, to make sure everything that came before was halal and/or kosher.

"No birds for Arden, that will go on the list," she said, tapping the side of her head with the spoon's handle. "Does that go for their eggs, too, or just the birds? Because there is egg in all of the dough except the mushroom pelmeni."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[pocketpretzels]

"Miss Finch," Watts said, giving her a critical once-over. "You're looking- improved."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Arden chuckled a little bit, since 'improved' was pretty much at the top end of the truthful compliments she could be given. She was greatly improved! Most of the sallowness had gone, she was no longer moving like an old woman, and all the food over the last few days was helping to fill her out again. She still had a number of bruises on her inner forearm and she remained too skinny, but she had juuuuust about left 'gaunt' behind.

It was the little things, really.

"I'm feeling improved," she said with a nod. "Getting back to classes and my...friend? Castor?" She really wasn't sure the best way to refer to him. "Bought me a scooter so I could get around easier. It's pretty awesome." She tucked some curls behind her ear. "I think before we head out for the trip, I'll tuck all the bedding and everything back inside. I think I'll be good sleeping indoors now. Thank you for letting me monopolize the roof."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[pocketpretzels]

"You're very welcome," Watts said. "It's not a use we had in mind when making the space available for our residents, but I am certainly glad it was helpful for you."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[slothbabyproductions]

Kamala had been napping in her room when the strange word was bellowed out and after parents weekend, Kamala’s first instinct was that something was wrong. Of course by the time she got to the bottom of the stairs she realized it was food not trouble.

“Oooo! This looks good!” Kamala said peering over the dumplings and helping herself to the vegan ones. “Thank you, Illyana! This is so nice!”

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

"I needed something to do with my time today, and decided that food was the best option for everyone," Illyana replied. "When I was shopping I did a quick 'port home and got halal beef from a local bodega, and everything was prepared before the pork, if you were wondering which ones should be okay to eat."

"Unless you have additional food restrictions I should know about, in which case, please tell me so I can add it to the list."

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[slothbabyproductions]

Kamala stopped loading her plate to look back at Illyana in mild surprise. “Thank you!” She said, gratefully. “That was so kind of you. You didn’t have to do that but I sooooo appreciate it.”

As evident by the beef ones now getting lined up on the plate. “What do you recommend for the condiments with these? What’s your favorite?”

Re: Thursday Evening: PELMENI

[gospel_of_oblivion]

"I live in New York. Honestly, making sure something is kosher or halal is easier than making it non-halal," Illyana replied. "We have all the best delis and butchers, and not using them would be a sin."

"If you like spicy, I made a vinegar and siracha sauce," she continued, pointing it out. "Otherwise sour cream is very traditional, or butter with some dill."

ooc

[gospel_of_oblivion]

Does Illyana yell "Pelmeni" in the same way my Tías yell "TOSTONES" ?

Yes. Yes she does.

Re: ooc

[hasaknightjob]

...now I want tostones.

Re: ooc

[gospel_of_oblivion]

Tostones are my #1 comfort food, but they are such a pain in the ass to make.