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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: 2006-08-08 12:28 am (UTC)"Alright, nobody move her for now. Can someone grab me something to make a sling out of." She knew that the arm should be moved as little as possible and with the added probability of a concussion, things didn't look good.
"Pepper, can you hear me? Pepper if you can hear me open your eyes." She hoped the girl wasn't truly unconscious and followed her words.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 12:41 am (UTC)She found a face above her, and slowly put the features together in her mind so that they recalled a name to her. "Anathema?" she said softly, trying to move a little and finding that it made the nausea worse. "Why am I on the ground? Why am I all wet?" Recent memory a little shredded at the moment, Pepper had no idea that she'd sprayed herself with a hose to dull the spice of food, and was having trouble figuring out what she had done to be in her current state.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 12:47 am (UTC)Each of the long tables was covered in a sturdy red tablecloth. He got up and went over to the nearest, taking one hemmed edge in both hands.
He pulled.
The fabric snagged, stretched, and started to let go. Then, with a satisfying if slightly painful sound, it ripped cleanly in a long strip.
He brought it back to the woman in time to see that Pepper (Pippin?) had opened her eyes and was talking, albeit muzzily.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 12:55 am (UTC)"Alright, Pepper, this is going to hurt. Try not to move and keep awake alright."
She looked around. "Will someone keep talking to her while I put on the sling, please."
With that said she went about folding the tablecoth in her hands into a triangle. She would wait for someone to begin speaking to Pepper before beginning.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 01:12 am (UTC)Had she already said that? She couldn't remember... "My shoulder really hurts." What had she done to it?
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 01:19 am (UTC)He crouched down next to John and held out his hand.
"You can squeeze my hand if you want," he offered gently. He hoped he wasn't making her more confused by adding other faces and voices into the mix. She just looked so... hurt and in pain.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 01:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 01:32 am (UTC)She wasn't going to accept a hand from someone who she couldn't be sure of, but then Anathema was moving her arm as she did up the sling, and Pepper grabbed the man's hand with her good one, squeezing as hard as she could manage, biting her bottom lip harder than was good for her. She was not going to scream. And she sure as hell wasn't letting her eyes water up either, so she blinked a lot to prevent it. She wished she were unconscious. It was probably more comfortable.
Blinking from him to John once or twice, she finally felt a piece snap into place. Looking at the man whose hand she held, she managed to press out, "Holden Caulfield?"
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 02:02 am (UTC)The library, that's where he'd seen her before. He remembered her now, quiet and bookish, coming into the little library on a back London street to take out copies of The Three Musketeers and, by Shadow's recommendation, The Catcher in the Rye.
"Hi, Pippin," he said. "Small world, huh? You've got a strong hand."
"It's alright," he assured John, as an afterthought. "It's just a reference to a book I recommended to her once."
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 03:00 am (UTC)"How'd you get h..." she lost the question the moment she'd had it due to another nasty jolt of pain. She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her tongue. She may have whimpered a little. She hoped no one noticed.
Once the pain had let go a bit, she opened her eyes again and looked at them both. "What am I doing on the ground?"
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 03:25 am (UTC)There was a pause as he inhaled, exhaled. "All right, my dear, is that any better at all?" He watched her with a curious look of sympathy, eyes compassionate, and tucked a wayward strand of red hair under her cheek. Poor child.
"And no picking any more fights with a Horseperson!" he admonished, and stood, turning to Anathema, and Adam.
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Date: 2006-08-08 03:47 am (UTC)The nausea got a little more bearable and things weren't quite so difficult to focus on. When she heard the man's voice she felt another flag go up, similar to the one with the library man. But this was from his voice. She knew that voice, she was certainly she...
"Angel..." she said softly as he brushed some hair out of her face.
When his final words hit, though, Pepper had another flash, this one back to what Adam said, and her eyebrows knitted together furiously. "Didn't pick a fight," she growled through grit teeth, though she knew he couldn't hear her, he was already walking away. Someone had to believe her on this, for Christ's sake. "Didn't start anything, why is everybody...."
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Date: 2006-08-08 04:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 06:49 am (UTC)She looked to the two men and decided the bigger of the two would better manage carrying the girl for her.
She looked at him and smiled. "Will you carry her to the Hospital for me? I will lead the way."
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 04:40 pm (UTC)“Alright, Pi… Pepper,” he told her, giving a reassuring smile. “I’m going to pick you up and carry you to someplace a lot more comfortable, okay?”
He hadn’t missed the way she had squeezed his hand a moment ago, so he was very cautious and kept his smiling gaze on her face as he slid one arm under her knees and the other under her shoulders (keeping his big hand as best he could against her shoulder to help hold it steady) and supporting her head with his elbow until he could get it settled against his chest.
“There, alright?” he asked, waiting for the woman to start toward the manor.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-08 11:35 pm (UTC)She turned around and led the way to the hospital wing, knowing that this stranger would follow her until they reached their destination. She really had quite a few people to introduce herself to still running around.