Chapter 3:

Chapter 3: mushroom skewers

My LVL 999 mage sister still can’t cook!

Tomorrow Sumi felt a bit sicker, probably it was from fighting outside yesterday, ugh she shouldn’t have done that. I let her rest in bed today and decided to bring some mushrooms from the garden and went outside to mom’s garden. A lot of the herbs and flowers were significantly growing in numbers but the mushrooms were tucked in the corner of the garden. Hmm, which kind should I pick for dinner? I decided on picking some Shiimeji mushrooms and teaching Sumi my favorite recipe for mushroom skewers, if she woke up… I also decided to go to the library to get some books for Sumi. I sent a letter to my work colleagues telling them I couldn’t come for a few days since Sumi was ill and I needed to help her get better. I then arrived at the library, which was a tall building with a patio outside where people could read and it looked old, this library has been here since the start of the city though so it makes sense… I then went inside and saw the librarian. She wore a pretty white shirt and blue skirt, she had black hair and green eyes and wore rounded glasses on top of them. “Excuse me, where is your fantasy section?” I asked, knowing Sumi liked those books most. “They are in the back, come with me,” the librarian said, taking me to the back of the library, I then saw some dusty shelves with old tomes. “I hope you like these!” The librarian said, before shuffling back to the counter. I then glanced at the shelve, I decided on looking at the summarys to decide which one Sumi would like best: I saw one about ghosts, one about talking animals and one about recipes that are apprently out of this world! I don’t know if that counts as fantasy but decided to open it. I opened the book and started reading the pages, there were so many alluring recipes I wanted to try, before I knew it I was fast asleep from reading too much. After an hour or two I woke up feeling dazed, “Heh, people usually fall asleep here, but they are normally little kids, I never expected a grown up to do the same,” the librarian said, busting into laughter. “HEY!!” I said, feeling annoyed she compared me to little kids. “Well, the library will close soon so please pick some books and go home!” The librarian said firmly. “Okay,” I said, I picked the cookbook and talking animals book to borrow and after I checked them out I went back home and Sumi was awake on the couch. “Hello Sumi!” I said. “Oh, hey Kubato!” Sumi said, she then stood up from the couch. “Why are you so late?” Sumi asked curiously. “Oh, I fell asleep in the library,” I said, my face flushed pink from embarrassment. Sumi giggled a bit and then pointed to the bags of mushrooms. “Are we cooking something tonight?” Sumi asked. “Yes, we are making mushroom skewers,” I said. “Nice, I love shiitake mushrooms,” Sumi said. “I also got you some books,” I said, throwing a book to her, she catched it easily. “Now, come to the kitchen, we will use the grill for this,” I said, Sumi looked terrified. I remember an incident where she tried grilling some meat for breakfast, she burned her hand and gave herself a nasty wound, she now is better thank god. “Don’t worry, I will be here to help,” I said. “Okay,” she said doubtfully and then I brought some bamboo skewers from the kitchen drawer. “Now let’s wash the mushrooms,” I said, I brought the paper bag of mushrooms to the sink and washed the mushrooms. I dried them with a towel and put them on the counter. “Now, do you want to help stick the mushrooms through the skewers?” I asked her. “Yes,” Sumi said. She then helped me stick the mushrooms through the skewers, but stabbed herself a few times, seriously how can one stab themselves with bamboo skewers? “Now, let’s grill them,” I said, I turned on the grill and placed the skewers on it carefully. “You are great at this Onii-chan,” Sumi said. “We will let these grill for a bit, until they turn darker and then we will season them,” I said. We let them grill for 15 minutes and then I asked Sumi to take them off. “Be careful and don’t burn yourself,” I said. “Okay..” sumi said reluctantly, she then took the skewers off, and accidentally touched the grill. “Ouch!” Sumi said. “What did I just say?” I asked her. I then dragged her by the wrists to the sink and let her wash her hands in cold water. “Phew! That feels nice!” Sumi said. “Good, but you need to be careful in the kitchen, you can’t keep stabbing and burning yourself with the kitchen materials,” I lectured. “Wait, I have an idea,” I said. I sprang over to the drawers and opened one, there were some fabric oven mitts I got from a market, Sumi could borrow them. “Here, use these when dealing with grills,” I said. “Oh okay thanks,” Sumi said gratefully. “Now that these are done,” I said pointing to the skewers in a plate on the counter, “We can season them,” I said. “With grilled dishes a squeeze of lemon tastes good,” I said, I then brought a lemon from our fridge and some thyme to garnish it with. “And done! Wait for them to cool down a bit first before eating,” I said. “Oooh, yummy!” Sumi said.

—- ——————————————

Recipe for mushroom skewers:

INGREDIENTS:

- 8 shiitake mushrooms

- Some thyme to garnish it with

- bamboo skewers (don’t eat these though heheh)

- Lemon to squeeze on top

Instructions:

1. Wash mushrooms if you just got them

2. Cut mushrooms in half and poke bamboo skewers through them

3. Put skewers on the grill and turn it on

4. After 15 minutes, take mushrooms off grill (but make sure you have oven mitts so you don’t burn yourself like Sumi)