Borrowed Strength » Places

         Kaleb just smiled. "Sorry, that's a lot at once. How about this? Just help me out with what I need your help with and we'll be feasting like kings! As for remembering all of it, it just comes with practice." Kaleb said. Then Valentine spoke again, "And... After the meal I'll be going home. I think that would be best.", and with that, Kaleb's smile faded ever so slightly. "Oh... ok... I'm sorry, you must have a home to go back to. A place where people are missing you. I'm so sorry. Hopefully I won't keep you for too long. I guess I'll just do most of the cooking work so you can be on your way!" Kaleb walked over to the sink to wash his hands, taking off his gloves, scrubbing his hands thoroughly, and slinging a washcloth over his right shoulder before setting to work. While he was still at the sink, he grabbed the big pot and filled it with water. Once it was full, he carried it over to the oven and set it down on the back burner, covering it with its lid so the water would boil faster. Kaleb turned the back burner to the highest temperature and preset the oven temperature to 275 degrees. He then walked back over to the sink, past the island counter top, bringing all the vegetables with him. "Alrighty," Kaleb said, "I need you to hand me the vegetables one at a time so I can wash them. Then we'll slice them. After that we'll spice the meat. Ok?" Kaleb asked. He smiled at Val once again.

They took their vegetables over to the sink and Kaleb washed them each in turn as Val handed them to him. "Ok, now that that's done, can I get you to peel potatoes with this peeler? It's really easy, all you do is grab this peeler, hold it like this, and scrape it along the surface of the potato until all the skin is gone." Kaleb explained. He demonstrated on a potato before uncovering the pot and plopping the potato into the now boiling water. "Once you're done with all of them, I need you to cover the pot with the lid and then leave them be, they need to cook for 5 minutes. Once that's done it'll be time to bake them with everything else in the oven. Sound good?" Kaleb asked with a smile. Having company over was so infectious. He couldn't stop smiling. It had been so long since Kaleb had had company.

Whilst Valentine set to peeling potatoes, Kaleb sliced vegetables and spiced and browned the meat. He did so with almost lightning speed, preparing for their dinner as quickly and efficiently as he could. Finally, when Val had finished with the potatoes Kaleb was done with his portion as well, he'd set all the vegetables in the casserole with their spices and was waiting for the meat to finish browning and the potatoes to finish boiling. "There," Kaleb exclaimed, "now we're all done. Unfortunately for now, we have to play the waiting game. That's the only downside to baking. You get all the flavor, but it takes forever." Kaleb explained, mock pouting just a little when he got the the part about waiting. However, he was secretly overjoyed that Val would have to stay with him. Val was such a sweetheart, he was such good company.