This morning I wake up early, as usual, feel refreshed after a good night sleep. After getting down from bed, wash my face and change clothes, I remember before I enter that d.a.m.n cave which sent me here, I collecting some wild berries on my way to the mountain. I keep that wild berries in my backpack along with mushroom and all ingredients I found in the mountain.After retrieving the wild berries from my backpack, I immediately go to the kitchen to give my order to Mrs. Martina for today"s banquet. I also will consult her about the eating utensil and "Viking" system to serve the dishes for our guests.
The kitchen already bustling this morning, it seems the cooks already start working since dawn. Peeled potatoes, carrot, and other vegetables already pilled in the kitchen table.
"Good morning Mrs. Martina, I come to discuss regarding banquet arrangement with you"
"Good morning young master Henry. do you bring the menu for today"s banquet as well?"
"Not just menu but also the arrangement, but before I start please take a look at this menu list"
I give her the list that I made last night. After reading the menu, Mrs. Martina frown her eyebrow
"Young master Henry…these menus…."
"I know…it"s doubled…no tripled than we served yesterday on welcoming party, our cooks surely will busier than before"
"Yes…but that"s not our only problem"
"I guess that would be eating utensils, right?"
"Yes…that"s correct. I"m afraid we don"t have enough bowl and dishes to prepare. The silverware we had only enough for our guest and Master"s family only"
"Hmm…I already thought about that. So how many eating utensils we currently have right now, Mrs. Martina?"
"With around a hundred guests, it only enough for two kinds of dishes for each course, young master"
"Hmm… Can"t we use the eating utensils on the soldiers barrack too?"
"We can borrow from soldier barrack, but I"m afraid not all of those utensils still in good shape, young master"
"I see….then how about this method, instead?"
I start telling Mrs. Martina about "Viking" method that used in my world. Mrs. Martina listens to my explanation about the Viking method with an interesting spark in her eyes. And when I finished my explanation,
"Young master, that is a great method, but I can I add something?"
"Sure, what is that, Mrs. Martina?"
"Soup can"t be put on the plate, so rather than giving the guest a plate and let them pick whatever they like, it would be better if we give the guest a tray. Our guest can pick and put the small plate and soup bowl on the tray and bring it to their respective table"
"Oh, that"s right…it"s a good suggestion, Mrs. Martina. Let do that way"
"But what if we still lack plate and bowl, young master? We can"t estimate exactly how many guests will come today. They can come alone, or bring their spouse or even bring their kids along"
"I see, that"s reasonable…well, how about sending the food in waves? The first wave would be the appetizer and soup, after guest finishes eating, retrieve the utensils, wash it and use it for the second wave…while waiting for the second wave coming, we do some entertainment for guest to buying time, but that if we still don"t have enough eating utensil "
"That will do, young master"
"Alright, we do according to the situation and no need to be rigid on the procedure. We must flexible enough to handle this eating utensil problem, okay?"
"Yes, young master"
After my business with Mrs. Martina finished, I turn to the cooks in the kitchen.
"Okay, I have 2 new recipes for the banquet as well. One for dessert and one for soup, but I will teach one for dessert first because it is suitable to use at today"s breakfast. To all dessert cooks please gather here"
The cooks that will make dessert come and gather around me
"Listen, guys, this new recipe for a dessert called compote. This recipe can be used for dessert or topping for the pancake that you make yesterday. Please get me the ingredients and watch me make it, there"ll some variation of compote which can be made using different fruits"
I ask the cooks to pick other fruits from the storage room like oranges, lemon, apple, and strawberries.
The first compote I make is using raspberries which when it get thicken, it looks like jam and can be eaten with pancake or bread. I also do with other fruits taken from the storage room to make a variety of compote.
Ingredients
• 200 g (2 cups) raspberries fresh
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp water
Cooking instructions
Add the raspberries, sugar, lemon juice and water to a saucepan, stir and bring to the boil. Allow it to boil for about 5 minutes, stirring often to stop it from scorching.
Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer and bubble for 10 minutes. It will thicken further as it cools.
Serve warm or allow to cooled and stored in a sterilized jar.
"The second compote is using this kind of ingredients"
After finish make the first compote, I continue to make the second one
Ingredients
• 1 pound strawberries
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons orange juice or water
Steps to Make It
1. Rinse the strawberries, pat them dry, and then hull the fruit: insert a knife in at an angle under the leaf cap, twist to cut out the leaves and white core underneath. Discard and repeat with all the berries. Cut larger berries in half or quarters; leave smaller berries whole.
2. Put the berries in a saucepan. Add the sugar and juice or water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the strawberries are all soft and just starting to fall apart and the liquid thickens, between 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Taste, and add more sugar if you like.
4. Let the compote cool. Transfer to a clean pint jar and store, covered and chilled.
"Now, I"ll show how to make the third compote, you can experimenting to make compote using various fruits that available here, but remember to try the taste first before you serve it to other people guys"
INGREDIENTS:
• 3 whole Apples (about 454 g/1 lb), peeled and cored
• 3 tbsp Orange Juice
• 1 cup Blueberries
• 2 tbsp maple syrup pure
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Cut apples into 3.5 cm (1 1/2 inch) chunks and place in a saucepan.
2. Add orange juice and bring to simmer over medium heat.
3. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes or until apples are very soft.
4. Stir in blueberries and maple syrup; cook for about 3 minutes or until blueberries are softened.
"That"s all, for now, guys, the first and second compote suitable to eat with bread while the third suitable to serve as dessert. Make this compote for today"s breakfast and banquet as well. I"ll be back for another recipe after I finish my business"
The cooks reply with full spirit
"Yes young master!! Thank you for the recipes"
After that, I leave the kitchen to find Mr. Nicholas to give him draft about banquet arrangement and my uncle to discuss about the security things.