Balancing Act 13.03
Title: Balancing Act
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Reconnecting 13.03
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: coclaim100 100 Writers' Choice (Prep)
Word Count: 1079
Rating: PG
Summary: After a day of shopping, Robert takes on the kitchen.
Authors’ Notes: Feel free to friend us if you want to read a day ahead of the communities.
Where it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
Previous story:
Cold Oatmeal
Robert balanced two shopping bags on his hip and thigh, a bulky plastic sack looped around his right arm, and a backpack on his back. He snaked his hand into his pocket. His fingers brushed the familiar brass and he smiled at the innate warmth he felt as his fingers folded around the key. He dug the key out of his pocket and fumbled with the lock, almost dumping the bag of fresh veggies and other groceries onto the door step.
He pushed his way into the apartment and tried to keep a handle on the bags, shifting one to each hip, and to not knock over a potted plant by the door with the plastic sack that seemed to have a mind of its own. He shut the door behind him, balancing on one foot, the key biting into his hand and the plastic sack nibbling on his wrist as he struggled to keep everything, including himself upright. Once the danger was over, he walked into the cool apartment. A flash of brown caught his eye and he doubled back, walking towards the coat rack. A sweater hung there, untouched. He remembered clutching that same sweater in his arms when Alan was sick and wearing it out to the local markets. Part of him wished it were cool enough outside to justify putting it on again so he could remind Alan, and himself, that things had once been that good.
Awkward and shyly they had entered this relationship almost two years ago. Now all Robert wanted was the comfort they had slowly developed over the long months spent communicating on the phone and catching a moment or two to occupy the same space. But it was different now. Robert knew that his inaction had really hurt Alan as much as Alan’s distrust and temper had hurt himself. He wanted a way to rewind, to go back from where they were before, before Kat and even before the cabin. Back to the more innocent times.
Robert shook his head and finally went into the kitchen, his arms growing numb. He set the two bags down on the counter, then dropped the sack of clothes on the floor at his feet, flexing his fingers after to get the circulation going again. Next he took off his backpack that he had retrieved from the hotel before he checked out and set it off to the side, making sure he wouldn’t end up tripping over it, and pushing the sack of clothes over to join it with his foot. He would put them away in a few minutes. He started removing the items from the bags, putting away what he didn’t need and spreading out the ones that he did, then fumbled with a cookbook, looking for the recipe he had picked out before he had left.
He put water in a pan to bring to a boil, setting the noodles close by before he could misplace them. While he waited for the water to heat up, he set about putting the clothes he brought with him and the new purchases away. He carried the backpack and the second bag down the hallway and into Alan’s bedroom. Robert made the bed and picked up the few stay pieces of clothing, setting them into the hamper near the bathroom door. He then opened up “his” drawer and noticed it was still empty, but there was a note in the bottom:
“So you will always have a place for clean pants. -Alan”
The note brought a smile to Robert’s face. They had spent most of their time recently walking on eggshells around each other and it was getting exhausting. Robert had no idea how to make it go back, how to unsay words or undo deeds. He carefully unpacked his backpack and then the bag of clothes. The few clothes he had brought with him from New York went on one side of the dresser, next to the note, and all the new stuff went straight into the laundry with Alan’s things from the hamper. Once the washer was started, he went back to work on dinner.
A glance at the clock told him he had only a little over 30 minutes to get all the food prepared. If Alan was on time. The water was boiling so he dropped in the noodles. He had made sure to get fresh ones so that they only needed to boil for a few minutes.
The basil, sesame seeds, oils, and the rest of the ingredients for the pesto went into Alan’s old food processor and Robert watched all the colors combine into a bright green paste. He kept his eye on the clock as he started to prep the beans, then gave them his full attention when he almost nicked his finger.
Beans sliced, he took the noodles off the heat and drained them well. He then took out the shortbread cookies and blueberries. He had cheated, buying a can of whipping cream rather then making it himself. Digging around he found a set of parfait glasses and carefully layered the cookies, some lemon pie filling, whipped cream, and blueberries, sneaking a couple of the blueberries as he artfully filled the glasses. He put a little bit of plastic wrap over the tops and he put the glasses away in the fridge. One task done and two left.
He cut up the onions and a clove of garlic. Heating up a sauté pan, he tossed in the garlic and onions with butter and a little olive oil. Once they softened up, he tossed in the green beans and the rest of the seasoning, letting it cook down. He tossed the noodles into a serving bowl and tossed in the pesto, stirring it well before covering it with some foil. The beans had about fifteen minutes to go, so he set about tidying up the kitchen.
The washer beeped softly before turning off. Alan would be home any minute and Robert was happy that he had been able to get something pulled together today. He tossed the damp clothes into the dryer, starting it up. He could smell the dinner as it wafted through the apartment and it felt more like home. He was finally feeling like he was starting to belong here again.
Robert was standing in the kitchen, thinking about what he had left to do, when the front door opened. Right on time...
Here is what Robert cooked for Alan …
Green beans with garlic, onion, and a little basil.
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound green beans, washed and trimmed (about 3 cups trimmed)
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, cut in half
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried leaf basil, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup boiling water
PREPARATION:
Cut green beans in halves. Heat oil and butter in a skillet; sauté onion and garlic until softened. Remove garlic from the skillet. Add green beans, salt, basil, sugar, pepper, and boiling water.
Cover and cook over medium heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Add a little more water, if necessary. Green bean recipe serves 4
http://southernfood.about.com/od/greenbeans/r/bl30626v.htm
http://thaifood.about.com/od/oodlesofnoodles/r/basilnoodles.htm
Thai Basil Noodles
INGREDIENTS:
SERVES 2 (or more)
1 package fresh udon/Shanghai-type noodles (wheat noodles work well, but you can also try this recipe with rice noodles)
1 cup Thai holy basil leaves, or sweet basil leaves
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
4-5 cloves garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. vegetarian fish sauce (or regular fish sauce, if non-vegetarian)
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Optional: 1 small red chilli (seeds removed), OR 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red chilli flakes
extra basil leaves for garnish
Optional: 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds for garnish
PREPARATION:
1) If using dried noodles, set them to boil while you prepare the Thai-style pesto. If using fresh noodles, boil them afterward, as they only take a couple of minutes to cook.
2) To make the pesto (sauce), place all ingredients (except garnishes) in a food processor.
Process well.
3) Taste the pesto for salt and spice. Add more [vegetarian] fish sauce if not salty enough, and more chilli (if using) if not spicy enough. If too salty, add another squeeze of lime juice. Do not warm up this mixture, or it will lose its wonderful flavor and nutrients.
4) When noodles are cooked, drain and immediately toss with the basil-sesame pesto sauce.
To serve, garnish with a few leaves of basil and some toasted sesame seeds.
5) Note: to toast your own sesame seeds: Place seeds on a small cookie sheet or pie plate and broil/grill in the oven. Watch the seeds carefully, as they will burn very quickly (seeds are toasted when they turn golden-brown).
Blueberry Parfait
INGREDIENTS:
1-1/4 cups shortbread or sugar cookie crumbs
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup lemon curd or lemon pie filling
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2-1/2 cups blueberries
PREPARATION:
In small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter and mix. In small bowl, combine cream and powdered sugar and beat until stiff. Using 4 parfait glasses, layer 3 tablespoons buttered cookie crumbs, 2 tablespoons lemon curd, 1/4 cup blueberries, and 2 tablespoons whipped cream in each glass.
Repeat layers until glasses are full. Reserve 1/2 cup blueberries. Cover parfaits and chill in refrigerator until serving time. Top with reserved blueberries and serve with iced tea spoons. 4 servings
http://busycooks.about.com/od/dessertrecipe1/r/blueshortparfai.htm
13.04 Brought to you by the letter 'F'
Fandom: RPS
Story: Highway: Reconnecting 13.03
Characters: Alan Davies and Robert Sean Leonard
Authors: michelleann68 + evila_elf = evila_ann
Prompt: coclaim100 100 Writers' Choice (Prep)
Word Count: 1079
Rating: PG
Summary: After a day of shopping, Robert takes on the kitchen.
Authors’ Notes: Feel free to friend us if you want to read a day ahead of the communities.
Where it all began:
Big table of prompts is here:
Order of the story is here:
Previous story:
Cold Oatmeal
Robert balanced two shopping bags on his hip and thigh, a bulky plastic sack looped around his right arm, and a backpack on his back. He snaked his hand into his pocket. His fingers brushed the familiar brass and he smiled at the innate warmth he felt as his fingers folded around the key. He dug the key out of his pocket and fumbled with the lock, almost dumping the bag of fresh veggies and other groceries onto the door step.
He pushed his way into the apartment and tried to keep a handle on the bags, shifting one to each hip, and to not knock over a potted plant by the door with the plastic sack that seemed to have a mind of its own. He shut the door behind him, balancing on one foot, the key biting into his hand and the plastic sack nibbling on his wrist as he struggled to keep everything, including himself upright. Once the danger was over, he walked into the cool apartment. A flash of brown caught his eye and he doubled back, walking towards the coat rack. A sweater hung there, untouched. He remembered clutching that same sweater in his arms when Alan was sick and wearing it out to the local markets. Part of him wished it were cool enough outside to justify putting it on again so he could remind Alan, and himself, that things had once been that good.
Awkward and shyly they had entered this relationship almost two years ago. Now all Robert wanted was the comfort they had slowly developed over the long months spent communicating on the phone and catching a moment or two to occupy the same space. But it was different now. Robert knew that his inaction had really hurt Alan as much as Alan’s distrust and temper had hurt himself. He wanted a way to rewind, to go back from where they were before, before Kat and even before the cabin. Back to the more innocent times.
Robert shook his head and finally went into the kitchen, his arms growing numb. He set the two bags down on the counter, then dropped the sack of clothes on the floor at his feet, flexing his fingers after to get the circulation going again. Next he took off his backpack that he had retrieved from the hotel before he checked out and set it off to the side, making sure he wouldn’t end up tripping over it, and pushing the sack of clothes over to join it with his foot. He would put them away in a few minutes. He started removing the items from the bags, putting away what he didn’t need and spreading out the ones that he did, then fumbled with a cookbook, looking for the recipe he had picked out before he had left.
He put water in a pan to bring to a boil, setting the noodles close by before he could misplace them. While he waited for the water to heat up, he set about putting the clothes he brought with him and the new purchases away. He carried the backpack and the second bag down the hallway and into Alan’s bedroom. Robert made the bed and picked up the few stay pieces of clothing, setting them into the hamper near the bathroom door. He then opened up “his” drawer and noticed it was still empty, but there was a note in the bottom:
“So you will always have a place for clean pants. -Alan”
The note brought a smile to Robert’s face. They had spent most of their time recently walking on eggshells around each other and it was getting exhausting. Robert had no idea how to make it go back, how to unsay words or undo deeds. He carefully unpacked his backpack and then the bag of clothes. The few clothes he had brought with him from New York went on one side of the dresser, next to the note, and all the new stuff went straight into the laundry with Alan’s things from the hamper. Once the washer was started, he went back to work on dinner.
A glance at the clock told him he had only a little over 30 minutes to get all the food prepared. If Alan was on time. The water was boiling so he dropped in the noodles. He had made sure to get fresh ones so that they only needed to boil for a few minutes.
The basil, sesame seeds, oils, and the rest of the ingredients for the pesto went into Alan’s old food processor and Robert watched all the colors combine into a bright green paste. He kept his eye on the clock as he started to prep the beans, then gave them his full attention when he almost nicked his finger.
Beans sliced, he took the noodles off the heat and drained them well. He then took out the shortbread cookies and blueberries. He had cheated, buying a can of whipping cream rather then making it himself. Digging around he found a set of parfait glasses and carefully layered the cookies, some lemon pie filling, whipped cream, and blueberries, sneaking a couple of the blueberries as he artfully filled the glasses. He put a little bit of plastic wrap over the tops and he put the glasses away in the fridge. One task done and two left.
He cut up the onions and a clove of garlic. Heating up a sauté pan, he tossed in the garlic and onions with butter and a little olive oil. Once they softened up, he tossed in the green beans and the rest of the seasoning, letting it cook down. He tossed the noodles into a serving bowl and tossed in the pesto, stirring it well before covering it with some foil. The beans had about fifteen minutes to go, so he set about tidying up the kitchen.
The washer beeped softly before turning off. Alan would be home any minute and Robert was happy that he had been able to get something pulled together today. He tossed the damp clothes into the dryer, starting it up. He could smell the dinner as it wafted through the apartment and it felt more like home. He was finally feeling like he was starting to belong here again.
Robert was standing in the kitchen, thinking about what he had left to do, when the front door opened. Right on time...
Here is what Robert cooked for Alan …
Green beans with garlic, onion, and a little basil.
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound green beans, washed and trimmed (about 3 cups trimmed)
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, cut in half
1 tablespoon chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried leaf basil, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup boiling water
PREPARATION:
Cut green beans in halves. Heat oil and butter in a skillet; sauté onion and garlic until softened. Remove garlic from the skillet. Add green beans, salt, basil, sugar, pepper, and boiling water.
Cover and cook over medium heat until tender, about 20 minutes. Add a little more water, if necessary. Green bean recipe serves 4
http://southernfood.about.com/od/greenbeans/r/bl30626v.htm
http://thaifood.about.com/od/oodlesofnoodles/r/basilnoodles.htm
Thai Basil Noodles
INGREDIENTS:
SERVES 2 (or more)
1 package fresh udon/Shanghai-type noodles (wheat noodles work well, but you can also try this recipe with rice noodles)
1 cup Thai holy basil leaves, or sweet basil leaves
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
4-5 cloves garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 Tbsp. vegetarian fish sauce (or regular fish sauce, if non-vegetarian)
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
Optional: 1 small red chilli (seeds removed), OR 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red chilli flakes
extra basil leaves for garnish
Optional: 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds for garnish
PREPARATION:
1) If using dried noodles, set them to boil while you prepare the Thai-style pesto. If using fresh noodles, boil them afterward, as they only take a couple of minutes to cook.
2) To make the pesto (sauce), place all ingredients (except garnishes) in a food processor.
Process well.
3) Taste the pesto for salt and spice. Add more [vegetarian] fish sauce if not salty enough, and more chilli (if using) if not spicy enough. If too salty, add another squeeze of lime juice. Do not warm up this mixture, or it will lose its wonderful flavor and nutrients.
4) When noodles are cooked, drain and immediately toss with the basil-sesame pesto sauce.
To serve, garnish with a few leaves of basil and some toasted sesame seeds.
5) Note: to toast your own sesame seeds: Place seeds on a small cookie sheet or pie plate and broil/grill in the oven. Watch the seeds carefully, as they will burn very quickly (seeds are toasted when they turn golden-brown).
Blueberry Parfait
INGREDIENTS:
1-1/4 cups shortbread or sugar cookie crumbs
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup lemon curd or lemon pie filling
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
2-1/2 cups blueberries
PREPARATION:
In small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter and mix. In small bowl, combine cream and powdered sugar and beat until stiff. Using 4 parfait glasses, layer 3 tablespoons buttered cookie crumbs, 2 tablespoons lemon curd, 1/4 cup blueberries, and 2 tablespoons whipped cream in each glass.
Repeat layers until glasses are full. Reserve 1/2 cup blueberries. Cover parfaits and chill in refrigerator until serving time. Top with reserved blueberries and serve with iced tea spoons. 4 servings
http://busycooks.about.com/od/dessertrecipe1/r/blueshortparfai.htm
13.04 Brought to you by the letter 'F'