FIC: "First Foods" (Rating: G) by Febobe
Mar. 17th, 2008 01:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
febobeI was wondering where I'd put this, and I can't recall whether I ever published it on my LJ before, but if so, well, here's a duplication. ;D It's CMEM; we should celebrate, after all! ;D
I will most probably write on this bunny again, as I love it more than almost any other Shirebunny in the world, with only a very few exceptions. :) But here's the very first take I ever did on it.
(And yes, I know in Britain you would be more likely to have "stewed apple" than "applesauce," but since that conjures up an entirely different image for me, I've left the "translation" intact here. . . .)
each of these TWENTY movie-bunnies are MULTI-PART, and can be broken into smaller bits just right for for drabbles, ficlets, or whatever. Remember, these aren’t book scenes we wish had been filmed, but movie scenes we wish had been expanded.
What happened in Frodo’s ‘sick room’ after the ‘awakening’ scene in the movie? Who stayed? Who left? Did he and Sam talk about what happened? Did Aragorn speak with him? How about Faramir? What did Frodo want to eat first? Could he walk? Did the sunlight hurt his eyes after so much darkness?
You knew it was coming. . .
What did Frodo want to eat first?
Frodo smiled. . .it had been wonderful to see everyone, but it was a relief, admittedly, to have the room at peace again, with only Aragorn and Gandalf and the coolness of his soft bed, with its lovely white blankets and pillows. Yet his throat was dry; he swallowed with difficulty, grateful when Aragorn seemed to understand his glance toward the pitcher and cup. Without his even having to ask, his companion filled a cup and raised him from the pillows, supporting him gently on one arm so that he could sip. And sip he did, tasting water cool and clean and utterly delicious.
"Frodo, it is important that we go slowly, to avoid doing you an injury. . .but I believe that the stomach knows what the body needs, and so I will ask you this: what would you most like to eat first? Tell me, and if I can safely provide it for you, I shall."
Frodo's mind reeled. Food! He had not even considered the matter of food, so forgotten had it been during those final days in Mordor. . .but now he realised with a start that he was hungry, and that food sounded surprisingly appetizing for a change. For a few moments he pondered, then nodded.
"Soup - mushroom soup, please. And applesauce, if there is any to be had."
"I suspect some can be found for the Ringbearer." Aragorn's smile broadened. "Wise choices, Frodo. I believe those should settle very well on a stomach unaccustomed to aught but lembas, and not even that for some while now. There are many new foods here you will wish to try when you are feeling better, but in the meantime I think you had better begin with familiar favourites, for the sake of your constitution."
"All right." Frodo nodded drowsily: that sounded fine. He'd had quite enough adventure for now, thank you very much!
"For now, we should begin thinking of other foods you might like to eat as you start to feel better. It will give me some ideas."
Ideas? Frodo struggled for memories and came up. . .dry, at first. . .but then. . . .
"Jammy toast - you know, toast and jam, perhaps with some eggs, soft-cooked or scrambled. . . ."
Aragorn nodded somberly, glancing to Gandalf, who began jotting notes.
Another moment of considering, and Frodo found more memories trickling back, much to his delight.
"Gingerbread. Please, I would love gingerbread."
"I suspect the Gondorian cooks would love to make it for you." Aragorn smiled warmly. "What else?"
"Mashed potatoes. . .roast chicken. . .with mushrooms, of course."
"How else?" Both Aragorn and Gandalf laughed, and Frodo found himself encouraged, memories of meals at Bag End beginning to return to mind.
"Egg salad's lovely this time of year. . .so's fresh fruit; I don't know what sort they have here, but I've a taste for something fresh and juicy like that. There's nothing like an egg salad sandwich and a piece of fresh fruit to go with it, a pear or something like that, or ripe berries."
"Of course. Are there other dishes you make in the Shire, ones that might be less familiar here?"
Frodo considered for several minutes, concentrating. At last he nodded. "I remember chicken with raspberries. Red raspberries done in a glaze over the chicken."
"And others?"
"Oh! There's a lovely mushroom and chicken cobbler. . .and a roly-poly chicken mushroom pudding. . .and of course steak and mushroom pudding. And there's the most wonderful way of making a sausage puff with a seam of wild mushrooms. . . ."
"I can see that we had better begin at once gathering mushrooms for you!" Yet Aragorn's tone was light, and his smile broad, as he rose from his chair by the bed. "Continue to think on that question while I am away. Someone should return soon with your meal; I will come if at all possible."
Frodo simply nodded, nestling back contentedly into the pillows. He was at peace on the issue. No one would let him go hungry or thirsty, and that was all that mattered for now.
-the end?-
I will most probably write on this bunny again, as I love it more than almost any other Shirebunny in the world, with only a very few exceptions. :) But here's the very first take I ever did on it.
(And yes, I know in Britain you would be more likely to have "stewed apple" than "applesauce," but since that conjures up an entirely different image for me, I've left the "translation" intact here. . . .)
each of these TWENTY movie-bunnies are MULTI-PART, and can be broken into smaller bits just right for for drabbles, ficlets, or whatever. Remember, these aren’t book scenes we wish had been filmed, but movie scenes we wish had been expanded.
What happened in Frodo’s ‘sick room’ after the ‘awakening’ scene in the movie? Who stayed? Who left? Did he and Sam talk about what happened? Did Aragorn speak with him? How about Faramir? What did Frodo want to eat first? Could he walk? Did the sunlight hurt his eyes after so much darkness?
You knew it was coming. . .
What did Frodo want to eat first?
Frodo smiled. . .it had been wonderful to see everyone, but it was a relief, admittedly, to have the room at peace again, with only Aragorn and Gandalf and the coolness of his soft bed, with its lovely white blankets and pillows. Yet his throat was dry; he swallowed with difficulty, grateful when Aragorn seemed to understand his glance toward the pitcher and cup. Without his even having to ask, his companion filled a cup and raised him from the pillows, supporting him gently on one arm so that he could sip. And sip he did, tasting water cool and clean and utterly delicious.
"Frodo, it is important that we go slowly, to avoid doing you an injury. . .but I believe that the stomach knows what the body needs, and so I will ask you this: what would you most like to eat first? Tell me, and if I can safely provide it for you, I shall."
Frodo's mind reeled. Food! He had not even considered the matter of food, so forgotten had it been during those final days in Mordor. . .but now he realised with a start that he was hungry, and that food sounded surprisingly appetizing for a change. For a few moments he pondered, then nodded.
"Soup - mushroom soup, please. And applesauce, if there is any to be had."
"I suspect some can be found for the Ringbearer." Aragorn's smile broadened. "Wise choices, Frodo. I believe those should settle very well on a stomach unaccustomed to aught but lembas, and not even that for some while now. There are many new foods here you will wish to try when you are feeling better, but in the meantime I think you had better begin with familiar favourites, for the sake of your constitution."
"All right." Frodo nodded drowsily: that sounded fine. He'd had quite enough adventure for now, thank you very much!
"For now, we should begin thinking of other foods you might like to eat as you start to feel better. It will give me some ideas."
Ideas? Frodo struggled for memories and came up. . .dry, at first. . .but then. . . .
"Jammy toast - you know, toast and jam, perhaps with some eggs, soft-cooked or scrambled. . . ."
Aragorn nodded somberly, glancing to Gandalf, who began jotting notes.
Another moment of considering, and Frodo found more memories trickling back, much to his delight.
"Gingerbread. Please, I would love gingerbread."
"I suspect the Gondorian cooks would love to make it for you." Aragorn smiled warmly. "What else?"
"Mashed potatoes. . .roast chicken. . .with mushrooms, of course."
"How else?" Both Aragorn and Gandalf laughed, and Frodo found himself encouraged, memories of meals at Bag End beginning to return to mind.
"Egg salad's lovely this time of year. . .so's fresh fruit; I don't know what sort they have here, but I've a taste for something fresh and juicy like that. There's nothing like an egg salad sandwich and a piece of fresh fruit to go with it, a pear or something like that, or ripe berries."
"Of course. Are there other dishes you make in the Shire, ones that might be less familiar here?"
Frodo considered for several minutes, concentrating. At last he nodded. "I remember chicken with raspberries. Red raspberries done in a glaze over the chicken."
"And others?"
"Oh! There's a lovely mushroom and chicken cobbler. . .and a roly-poly chicken mushroom pudding. . .and of course steak and mushroom pudding. And there's the most wonderful way of making a sausage puff with a seam of wild mushrooms. . . ."
"I can see that we had better begin at once gathering mushrooms for you!" Yet Aragorn's tone was light, and his smile broad, as he rose from his chair by the bed. "Continue to think on that question while I am away. Someone should return soon with your meal; I will come if at all possible."
Frodo simply nodded, nestling back contentedly into the pillows. He was at peace on the issue. No one would let him go hungry or thirsty, and that was all that mattered for now.
-the end?-
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no subject
Date: 2008-03-18 12:52 am (UTC)Mmm. Everything sounds so good. I haven't eaten since 12 . . . I suppose I should eat supper before I ask for any more food conversation from you! :)
no subject
Date: 2008-03-18 02:03 am (UTC)Those are like the Pillsbury country biscuits. :) That's what they're like down here. :) And are they not amazing? Now, here's where I can claim a little kitchen prowess for once, b/c not everyone can make good biscuits, but I've been able to make good biscuits since I was less than ten years old. (Thank you, great-grandmother. :) ) I do it very rarely, and haven't even tried it for company b/c usually we're so busy doing everything else and it IS a real chore, but I can do it when my hand's called on it. Just give me my flour (I use a certain kind) and away I'll go!)
Ooops. . .guess I should have asked whether you'd gotten your supper first before I went there, hrm? Forgive me? :D Poor hungry love. . . .
no subject
Date: 2008-03-18 02:30 am (UTC)Oh, I LOVE those kinds of biscuits :D I'd love to know how to make them! I'm so jealous that you get to have them all the time - they're a treat for me. Mm. What else do you make that's your favourite?
*huggles*
no subject
Date: 2008-03-18 03:46 am (UTC)I love those kind of biscuits too!!!! Could just about LIVE on 'em. My great-grandmother used to keep a pot of them on the back of the stove all day sitting on an off burner just in case somebody came in hungry. I loved to get one out. :) (Prob'ly helped make me the woman I am today. ;) ) Let me dig up the receipt - unlike the mushroom and chicken cobbler receipt, I actually KNOW how to FIND this one! - and I'll send it off to you some time when I'm not trying to make hay on the fanfic!!!! :D
Ooooh, let's see. . .
*Fried taters. I don't often make these, but I slice 'em in circles rather than cubing 'em, then fry 'em in a little Crisco (vegetable oil) or with a bit of salt pork. Sooooooo good. I used to do this more when I first started MUSHing and was wistful while offline, still thinking hobbits. It makes me think of Sam. Feels like a very Sam thing to do, if you take my meaning.
*Fried green beans. I use canned French-style green beans, drain the water off, and - well, sometimes I'll fry 'em plain for healthiness, but they TASTE much better fried with a bit of salt pork or after you've fried pork chops. ;)
*Lest you think I fry EVERYTHING. . .pork chops 'n apples. I take a package of boneless pork chops, the little "breakfast chops" they call 'em down here, and lay them in a glass/pyrex/whatever the heck it is baking dish. Then I take a can of No Sugar Added Apple Pie Filling and pour it over top of the chops. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Yummers! This is good with a baked sweet potato on the side.
*Then there's my infamous "Fanged Chicken," dubbed thusly by Cali. Pour some Kraft Honey BBQ Sauce in a CrockPot - enough to coat the bottom. Lay in the number of chicken breasts desired (usually two to four around here). Pour the rest of the bottle, and I do mean the rest, over the chicken, spreading it all around so all the chicken gets covered for the most part. Cover and cook on HIGH for - oh, I'd say it's usually done in about five hours. Depends how much you have in there; just check it and see if it's tender to your fork. Usually by five hours it's coming apart on us, which is how we like it. This is excellent with a tossed salad and dressing plus sweet corn (preferably on the cob and buttered, but whatever you can get works too). :D
*When I'm really cooking, I like to make my chicken casserole, though that's usually just for company or special occasions these days. I should make it more; it's so good. Mine's easy; if you like I can send you the receipt along with the biscuit receipt. Basically, it's chicken breasts, cream of mushroom soup, cream of celery soup, chicken flavoured Stove Top stuffing, sour cream, annnd. . .I think that's about it except for the butter/margarine you use for the Stove Top making. I tend to use low sodium/low or fat free versions whenever available, and they tend to be available, plus boneless skinless breasts b/c I - erm - am not happy handling meat anyhow, much less trying to deskin and debone stuff. ;P Might be a good reference for better days ahead? :) When I was single, Dad when visiting or I myself would make this, and I'd eat for several meals! It'll definitely get some mileage for a single gal. Less so for a family even of two, but for a solo cook there's plenty left over.
(continued next comment due to length)
no subject
Date: 2008-03-18 03:47 am (UTC)*Another thing I don't cook enough but love. . .my parents' beef "stew," though it's more like soup. A package of lean beef cubes, two or three taters cut up into chunks, plenty of carrots (we usually just use baby these days - I love carrots, so we put in plenty). . .put it in your Crock-Pot and fill up with water. . .it's been so long since I made this that I'd have to call Dad to confirm how far up you want to fill it and how long you want to cook it (again, we use HIGH, I know). (So even if you get a sudden check, don't attempt this one - I'm not even sure of my instructions offhand! ;D ) Everything comes out tender and good, and the broth is so clear and tasty. . .oh, I fill my mug up with just lots and lots of the broth, less so the rest, because I love it so much. This too refrigerates and reheats really well, like the casserole.
*Cobbler. I love blackberry or peach cobbler, though blackberry's probably my preference of the two. My recipe's real simple: melt a stick of butter/margarine in a baking dish like you use for the pork chops. In a large bowl, mix with a spoon one cup of flour (self-rising), one cup of sugar, one cup of milk (I usually use skim and it does fine, but anything works). Once the butter or margarine melts, take it out and pour the batter over it, distributing as evenly as you can, then take a bag of frozen blackberries or an UNDRAINED can of peaches and dump that in too, again trying to distribute evenly as much as you can. It'll look like more butter than anything else, and that's okay. There'll be pockets of batter, and pockets of butter, and that's fine. It'll all come out in the wash. Bake at 400 degrees for - my directions say 25 minutes, but it usually needs longer in my oven, so check it and see whether it "looks done" to you. You want a nice light golden top, not too white, but not getting too brown either. Trust me, you'll know done when you see it.
*Another thing I like making (see, you got me started. . .) but can't as much b/c using the mixer is hard on my hands: sweet potato casserole. Yum. :) Again, got a good recipe if you'd ilke. I use nuts in mine. . . .
So, that's basically me in the kitchen on my happy points. :D What do you like?
*snugglies*
no subject
Date: 2008-03-18 04:39 am (UTC)Hmm. I like to make . . .
Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. You get a nice beef, cut up some onion, and toss it in the oven - depending on how much it weighs, it normally takes about 3 or 4 hours to totally cook. I'd have to double-check my stove. Then you mix up flour, eggs, and milk together and I think a little cornstarch (now I don't have my recipe in front of me) and then pour it into a muffin tin. It makes about 12 Yorkshires, then you smother them in butter and gravy, and mmmm. I also like to put in some Bovril or beef bouillion to make the gravy. I have it with corn and mashed garlic potatoes :)
I like lemon chicken stirfry. You cut up a bunch of chicken, toss it in the frying pan, and then use frozen vegetables or cut them up yourself. Like snowpeas, broccoli, carrots, etc. I then mix lemon juice, a bit of sugar, water and a little flour and simmer it until it gets thickish, then you put it in the stirfry and stir it around until it thickens some more. It's sooo good over rice :)
I also like kasha - it's Russian oatmeal. The kind I like is called manna kasha - like Cream of Wheat, sort of, but a bit sweeter. You cook it on the stove with about two cups of milk (for two people) and then put jam and butter on it. Mmm, my favourite breakfast!
White wine and cream sauce pasta - cut up veggies, put chicken in if you want, and then combine the wine and the cream and some Parmesan together and cook it all up with the cooked pasta. This one is a nice meal with fresh garlic bread!
I also make what I call Arab salad, but what's actually called tabouleh (tab-oo-lee). You cut up vegetables of your choice (mostly cucumbers and tomatoes), cook cous cous and then combine them with mayonnaise, lemon juice, a bit of Dijon mustard and chickpeas. Then refrigerate and salt and pepper - it's a lovely meal for a hot day.
Chicken salad is also a nice meal. I put green grapes, green apples and almonds in with cut-up cold cooked chicken and celery and the sauce has Dijon mustard, curry, and something else (I'll ask Mom, I made this last summer and I can't remember the recipe offhand). It's my favourite with a nice warm Kaiser bun and a green salad :)
This is fun! I'm so glad we decided to say what our favourites are! *hugs*