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Jul. 30th, 2006 05:15 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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neutral_omensTime: Late afternoon, 25 July 2000
Place: The Manor Grounds
Status: Public
Summary: The Barbecue
Severus had prepared for this extensively, had done research as soon as he was told that he needed to provide food for a ‘barbecue’. Well, that was American, wasn’t it? A newly-published book titled The Great American Barbecue and Grilling Manual was his starting point. (The words ‘great’ and ‘American’ did not belong in the same sentence, although perhaps he might be mistaken, never having been to America.) After learning that this was not merely an American cuisine but a regional (Southern) American cuisine, he began to specialise. Having found a butcher to bring a pig and something to cook it over (yes, the whole pig, you dolt) he learned that it could have been done with a goat as it had been in the Caribbean, and with less effort.
Having put forth effort already, he pushed ahead. The intensive labour required to prepare food by the slow ‘barbecue’ method had been provided by Remus Lupin, although he surely did not understand when he volunteered exactly what it was he’d be doing. The butcher himself was also interested and so Snape had ‘invited’ him to come and help. Work for the day, eat. Bring your family with you and they can help and eat also. Only if they help. Severus’ labour shortage crisis solved.
The whole concept of barbecue sauce was confusing, so he’d made three kinds. Two for public consumption—a South Carolina style with mustard, vinegar and black pepper that seemed reasonable enough. Kansas City style that was thick, red-brown, and gloppy, made with a tomato base and molasses. The third was for Crowley, a Texas-style sauce amusingly named ‘Devil’s Spit’ made from a tomato base with cumin and hot chiles. These American chiles being unavailable, he procured an Oriental variety that were infinitely hotter. Let him call that bland.
Chicken would go on, although not for as long as the blasted pig, and sausages for the unadventurous. The Brunswick Stew might end up in the restaurant under ‘American Cuisine’. It was simple enough, with a tomato base, lima beans (or any beans), corn, other vegetables, and meat. Traditionally rabbit or squirrel but he could use leftover pork, chicken, beef or even cut-up sausages. Basically, a fine way to rid himself of leftover almost anything and he revised his opinion of American ingenuity. The true test would be Crowley’s opinion. If he disapproved, it was definitely going on the menu.
Okra and sweet potatoes proved impossible to procure. Field greens—of the turnip variety—were simple enough to cook in some of the extra pig fat. Black-eyed peas, which looked an awful lot like beans, with bacon. He made carrots in sauce of butter and brown sugar that seemed terribly French, but he simply shrugged. There would be green peas—not mushy, unfortunately, which would have made Crowley complain and Snape smile, a dish of fried apples that was a side dish, apparently popular with pork, and potato salad. It was a source of annoyance that the recipe he found for this called for red potatoes that did not need to be peeled. How brilliant would it have been to set Lupin to peeling potatoes for his own requested potato salad?
Cornbread was simple enough to make, although all the different names and types confused him. The concept of beaten biscuits was repulsive so he settled on cheddar biscuits instead. American biscuits, he found, were a bread roll that seemed a bizarre combination of bap, scone, and crumpet. But they were a Southern staple and very simple to make. Devilled eggs—also simple, seemingly French—were another extra dish along with pickles of varied types. He refused to make grits—porridge was bad enough at breakfast and he would certainly not serve it in any other time.
Cold tea, sweet, with or without lemon was also a disgusting concept. Lemonade, if people wished to drink it. Lupin had to deal with squeezing the lemons, too. He had procured some Bourbon and Belial would, he imagined, not object if any leftover made its way to the bar. Mint juleps required it. Mint grew in the garden and sugar was a staple.
Having no sweet potatoes with which to make sweet potato pie, which seemed unpleasant anyway, he went with pecan pie. It was too sweet, but someone would eat it. Pound cake with whipped cream (another job for Lupin) and blackberry cobbler, which was enough like local fare for people to be willing to eat it. If he could have found watermelon, that would have been amusing. But messy, so just as well he hadn’t found it.
All in all, it was a great effort on his part, slave labour or no, and people had better appreciate it else he would be extremely put out.
"Let Wensleydale handle things in the kitchen, Lupin. The butcher will take care of serving the meat. You can clear plates and make sure the dishes are all filled." He had planned this. "The butcher's wife can help with drinks. The children have been disposed of."
Out of the way, nothing more sinister. Eating now, washing dishes later. Work for food, and a good trade on his part.
"Keep an eye on the biscuits, Wensleydale, and see that they don't burn. And make sure there is plenty of ice."
He turned.
"No, mint juleps are not sweets, get away from me, you silly child." Weren't they supposed to be on the far side of the lawn, eating their supper?
Attention Edit: As of this point the Devil's Spit sauce is no longer on the serving table but in Snape's hands, doled out by him. Please do not have your character get into it.
Place: The Manor Grounds
Status: Public
Summary: The Barbecue
Severus had prepared for this extensively, had done research as soon as he was told that he needed to provide food for a ‘barbecue’. Well, that was American, wasn’t it? A newly-published book titled The Great American Barbecue and Grilling Manual was his starting point. (The words ‘great’ and ‘American’ did not belong in the same sentence, although perhaps he might be mistaken, never having been to America.) After learning that this was not merely an American cuisine but a regional (Southern) American cuisine, he began to specialise. Having found a butcher to bring a pig and something to cook it over (yes, the whole pig, you dolt) he learned that it could have been done with a goat as it had been in the Caribbean, and with less effort.
Having put forth effort already, he pushed ahead. The intensive labour required to prepare food by the slow ‘barbecue’ method had been provided by Remus Lupin, although he surely did not understand when he volunteered exactly what it was he’d be doing. The butcher himself was also interested and so Snape had ‘invited’ him to come and help. Work for the day, eat. Bring your family with you and they can help and eat also. Only if they help. Severus’ labour shortage crisis solved.
The whole concept of barbecue sauce was confusing, so he’d made three kinds. Two for public consumption—a South Carolina style with mustard, vinegar and black pepper that seemed reasonable enough. Kansas City style that was thick, red-brown, and gloppy, made with a tomato base and molasses. The third was for Crowley, a Texas-style sauce amusingly named ‘Devil’s Spit’ made from a tomato base with cumin and hot chiles. These American chiles being unavailable, he procured an Oriental variety that were infinitely hotter. Let him call that bland.
Chicken would go on, although not for as long as the blasted pig, and sausages for the unadventurous. The Brunswick Stew might end up in the restaurant under ‘American Cuisine’. It was simple enough, with a tomato base, lima beans (or any beans), corn, other vegetables, and meat. Traditionally rabbit or squirrel but he could use leftover pork, chicken, beef or even cut-up sausages. Basically, a fine way to rid himself of leftover almost anything and he revised his opinion of American ingenuity. The true test would be Crowley’s opinion. If he disapproved, it was definitely going on the menu.
Okra and sweet potatoes proved impossible to procure. Field greens—of the turnip variety—were simple enough to cook in some of the extra pig fat. Black-eyed peas, which looked an awful lot like beans, with bacon. He made carrots in sauce of butter and brown sugar that seemed terribly French, but he simply shrugged. There would be green peas—not mushy, unfortunately, which would have made Crowley complain and Snape smile, a dish of fried apples that was a side dish, apparently popular with pork, and potato salad. It was a source of annoyance that the recipe he found for this called for red potatoes that did not need to be peeled. How brilliant would it have been to set Lupin to peeling potatoes for his own requested potato salad?
Cornbread was simple enough to make, although all the different names and types confused him. The concept of beaten biscuits was repulsive so he settled on cheddar biscuits instead. American biscuits, he found, were a bread roll that seemed a bizarre combination of bap, scone, and crumpet. But they were a Southern staple and very simple to make. Devilled eggs—also simple, seemingly French—were another extra dish along with pickles of varied types. He refused to make grits—porridge was bad enough at breakfast and he would certainly not serve it in any other time.
Cold tea, sweet, with or without lemon was also a disgusting concept. Lemonade, if people wished to drink it. Lupin had to deal with squeezing the lemons, too. He had procured some Bourbon and Belial would, he imagined, not object if any leftover made its way to the bar. Mint juleps required it. Mint grew in the garden and sugar was a staple.
Having no sweet potatoes with which to make sweet potato pie, which seemed unpleasant anyway, he went with pecan pie. It was too sweet, but someone would eat it. Pound cake with whipped cream (another job for Lupin) and blackberry cobbler, which was enough like local fare for people to be willing to eat it. If he could have found watermelon, that would have been amusing. But messy, so just as well he hadn’t found it.
All in all, it was a great effort on his part, slave labour or no, and people had better appreciate it else he would be extremely put out.
"Let Wensleydale handle things in the kitchen, Lupin. The butcher will take care of serving the meat. You can clear plates and make sure the dishes are all filled." He had planned this. "The butcher's wife can help with drinks. The children have been disposed of."
Out of the way, nothing more sinister. Eating now, washing dishes later. Work for food, and a good trade on his part.
"Keep an eye on the biscuits, Wensleydale, and see that they don't burn. And make sure there is plenty of ice."
He turned.
"No, mint juleps are not sweets, get away from me, you silly child." Weren't they supposed to be on the far side of the lawn, eating their supper?
Attention Edit: As of this point the Devil's Spit sauce is no longer on the serving table but in Snape's hands, doled out by him. Please do not have your character get into it.
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 12:11 pm (UTC)She turned to the other man and smiled. "Hello to you too."
no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 05:11 pm (UTC)He did need to eat more and had to save money, though.
"Do you have any vegetables or fruit, perhaps?" he asked Remus. "Or maybe some salad?" Salad would be nice and healthy or at least he'd seen Uriel eat one once. Uriel tended to eat healthy things, because that was good for her baby.
"Anathema? That's quite an unusual name, isn't it?" Well, maybe he wasn't up to a relationship at the moment, but he could play a little. "I'm Loki. Unusual as well." He winked at her.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-01 10:53 pm (UTC)She wondered if there was some sort of club around here for people with strange names. She let go of that odd idea. Nearly everyone here would probably be included.
She decided then that she thought too much and picked up some of the meat available. Everything looked so good!
"Oh, Remus...if there is salad, can you tell me too please." While she did like meat, she would only eat little bits, and not too much. Salad would be lovely to go with what little she had put on her plate.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-02 02:39 pm (UTC)She was, however, too shy to approach anybody. Thus, she stayed a bit further away. Seeing Loki there, she smiled. At least he would hopefully eat.
Suddenly, she felt something in her stomach. It wasn't much, a little flutter at most, but she definitely felt it. She'd only felt it a few times before, and never this clear.
An expression of wonder and surprise mixed on her face as she raised a hand on her stomach. It couldn't be felt on the outside yet, but her baby was definitely kicking.
Trying to gather her courage, she made her way towards Loki. Even if he wasn't interested, he was kind of obliged to listen to her proud-mother-talk, being her brother. Even if he said he wasn't her brother.
It wasn't until she got nearer to Loki that she realized that he was talking with some people, only one of which she knew. However, this couldn't stop her from telling her news.
"Guess what, Loki?" she asked as she got near enough, an excited expression on her face. "The baby is kicking!"
no subject
Date: 2006-08-02 04:24 pm (UTC)Of course he knew that the mother could feel the kicks long before it was possible to do so from outside, but then Uriel's belly had grown so fast and he really wanted to feel it. He cast a quick glance around to check for any possible dangers, particularly Adam and Crowley. Uriel had said that demons might want to harm her and the baby after all.
"Have you told Odin, yet?"
no subject
Date: 2006-08-02 11:13 pm (UTC)"Hello. I'm Anathema. I just moved back here and work with Gabriel in the hospital. Nice to meet you. And congratulations!" Yes, this barbecue was the right place to be to meet people. She hoped that she wasn't intentionally being rude by butting into their conversation.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-03 04:14 pm (UTC)Spearing a potato chunk, Luna studied it intently so much so that the potato chunk felt that it would burst into flame soon. Then she popped it into her mouth, and chewing, said, "Hi, Professor Lupin, Loki, wizard-whose-Animagus-form-is-a-raven and strange woman. How's the food?"
*She prodded all the meats to make sure that they were indeed dead. And of course, cooked. It was a pre-requisite for them to be dead and cooked before she would eat them.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-04 04:40 am (UTC)He liked children, of course. He'd liked Harry, as a baby. He also liked Uriel. It wasn't that he meant to ignore the fuss over Uriel - and her good news - but he really preferred to stay in the background, where he couldn't be remarked upon.
"Have you tried the potato salad yet?"
no subject
Date: 2006-08-05 10:35 am (UTC)Pointing at the bulge in her cheek, she replied, "I have. It's a lovely shade of red. And tastes just like potato." and smiled.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-11 09:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-05 06:43 am (UTC)"Hello. The food? I haven't tried it yet, I've been introducing myself. I'm Anathema by the way."
She held out her hand for this new stranger to shake.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-05 10:41 am (UTC)"Might you, perchance, be also a witch?" asked Luna, after studying Anathema for a bit.
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Date: 2006-08-06 08:22 am (UTC)So, this Luna was a fellow witch then. Well, that should make things interesting. "And you are a witch?"
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Date: 2006-08-06 02:53 pm (UTC)There was a pause as Luna thought of the implications of a name like 'Anathema'. "Did you go to Hogwarts as well?"
no subject
Date: 2006-08-07 02:28 am (UTC)"Hogwarts? No, never heard of it. Was it a school?"
no subject
Date: 2006-08-07 09:30 am (UTC)She was talking to a young girl, the name of whom was on the tip of Aziraphale's tongue.
"I'm sorry, but this is an emergency," he interrupted, glancing at the young girl's startingly, half-vacant gaze. "Miss Device, they're going to, er, need you just over there, you're the only healer around. Follow me, and excuse us," he told her and the girl respectively, as if there were no question about it, and set off towards the fallen Pepper, his gate at a half-run, half-walk.
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Date: 2006-08-07 10:50 pm (UTC)"So!" she said when she had caught up, "what exactly has happened?"
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Date: 2006-08-07 11:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-04 08:42 pm (UTC)At the mention of Odin, she shrugged. "I really haven't had the chance," she said. "I haven't seen him at all lately."
no subject
Date: 2006-08-05 07:33 am (UTC)"Nothing," he reported disappointed. "Is it still kicking now?"
Yes, he too had seen very little of Odin lately, but he was sure his brother would tell him, before he moved on. Odin would at least ask whether he wanted to come. Right?
No, surely Odin was just busy. Surely!
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Date: 2006-08-05 02:42 pm (UTC)Her smile faltered a bit, though. As much as she liked the fact that Loki was comfortable enough with her to actually feel her stomach, she couldn't help but wish that Pestilence had been there, too. He should have been the first one to feel it, to try to find the kicks of their baby, and --
No. Pestilence had given up all rights to her and her baby when he'd left her. Loki, however, was there now. She might not have a lover to share her news with, but she had a brother, and she was happy about that.
...Even if the brother himself still refused to admit the fact that they were indeed siblings.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-05 02:52 pm (UTC)"I just wish the baby wasn't so 'angelic'." he said softly. "You should have picked a proper god to be its father."
no subject
Date: 2006-08-05 03:01 pm (UTC)There were others around who might hear her, but that didn't matter. This should only lead them further from ever thinking that the real father might be Pestilence.
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Date: 2006-08-05 03:57 pm (UTC)He lying might still be terrible in his opinion, but at least she had learned to respond to verbal clues. She wasn't nearly as good at it as Odin, but then she hadn't been playing grifts with him for centuries either.
"Now we should find you and the baby something healthy to eat." He nodded towards the table. "I'm afraid the choice doesn't look promising, though. It's mostly meat and all of it too fat."
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Date: 2006-08-05 04:02 pm (UTC)At his suggestion, though, she smiled. "That sounds like a very good idea. I'm starving, and so is the baby."