North Woods And Chestnuts (4)

A bet has been made. It was time to teach this dragon how to cook. I might as well take this opportunity.

To do that, I needed to finish making the candied chestnuts quickly.

One of the most labor-intensive tasks in making candied chestnuts is peeling the chestnuts. We focused intensely, thinking about the bet.

“It’s hard!”

Driven by the determination to win the bet, our dragon didn’t slack off and peeled chestnuts with me until the end. Honestly, it was surprising.

“Is it done? Then should we try it? If it’s like the roasted chestnuts we had before, I’ve won!”

“No, it’s not done yet. Wait until it’s completely done to say that.”

I refilled the peeled chestnuts with water.

This step is crucial. Soak the chestnuts with baking soda for half a day. Skipping this step will leave the unique astringent taste in the candied chestnuts.

So, the candied chestnuts were on hold.

Leaving Rurin, who was exhausted and lying on the restaurant table with a beer, I started the dinner service. And at night, I meditated. After a day, I began boiling the soaked chestnuts.

This is another labor-intensive task.

Boil for about 30 to 40 minutes until the water becomes a dark color, resembling muddy water, as the hairs from the chestnuts come off. The color is darker than muddy water.

After boiling, drain the water. Of course, that’s not the end. Discard the brown water and refill with clean water, then boil again.

Repeat this process about four to five times until the water becomes a clean color. It’s not completely clear but a mix of brown and purple. The important thing is that the water must become transparent. That’s the right time.

Take out the boiled chestnuts and remove the stem-like parts. The hairs on the yulpi will mostly come off after boiling a few times, so you don’t need to touch them.

By this point, the yulpi will be very smooth.

The important thing is not to peel the yulpi completely. The yellow inside should not be visible.

This means it’s almost complete. Pour in sugar. The amount of sugar varies according to taste, but the key to candied chestnuts is their sweet taste.

Pour in plenty of sugar for a delicious snack. I think the right amount is about half of the pot filled with chestnuts.

The smell of chestnuts fills the kitchen. The sweet smell of chestnuts.

As you skim off the foam, this is where you need to apply your own know-how.

In my case, I use brandy. Specifically, the finest cognac. The aroma of cognac adds a deep flavor to the candied chestnuts.

Of course, you can use soy sauce or cheap wine, or cheap brandy, or even honey, but I always use cognac.

Add the cognac and let it simmer while boiling.

When the alcohol evaporates and steam rises, it’s done.

The sugar and cognac have simmered into the yulpi, creating a sweet chestnut snack with the aroma of fine liquor.

Storing this in a glass jar makes it even sweeter over time, but you can eat it right away too.

In this world, where there aren’t many snacks.

This is the best gift.

Pour the thick liquid of candied chestnuts and brandy into a glass jar, and it’s done.

I immediately called Rurin.

For the final decision of the bet.

Rurin approached, holding a beer can. She had been indulging in beer alone and was now returning.

“What’s up?”

Her eyes were clear as she set the beer can down. Of course, those eyes would soon fall into the abyss of despair – despair from losing the bet.

I handed Rurin the jar of candied chestnuts and gave her a fork. Naturally, she had a puzzled look on her face.

“The chestnuts we peeled together are finally done. Shall we decide the bet now?”

“Oh? Is this it? Hmm, it doesn’t look good! Hehe. I won!”

“Are these lips really saying that without even tasting it?”

I grabbed Rurin’s moist lips with both hands, and she shook her head vigorously.

“Uuuhuuu!”

This was unintelligible. There was no way to know what she was saying because I was holding her lips.

I moved Rurin’s wrist, holding the fork, to stab a piece of candied chestnut. When I let go of her lips, she immediately shouted.

“Anyway, I won!”

Then she kept sniffing the candied chestnut on the fork. It was the first time I saw Rurin examine food so closely.

After observing for a while, Rurin finally put the candied chestnut in her mouth.

She chewed thoroughly. Chewing and chewing.

It’s coming.

It’s coming.

The reaction is coming. In a few seconds.

I know Rurin’s taste buds best. I trained her palate myself.

“Oh!”

Yes, just like this.

Rurin unknowingly let out a sound. It was definitely an exclamation of deliciousness. I could always read the meaning behind her expressions in any situation.

“Oh?”

“No, it’s not good!”

Rurin’s face, which had brightened with delight, suddenly frowned, and she used her serious face skill.

“Oh really?”

But her hand was already stabbing another chestnut with the fork. Her instincts and mouth were at odds.

“Yum yum, it’s not good. So, all day hug.”

“Is it really not good?”

“Yes.”

“Sweet, fragrant, and the texture is soft yet spreads in your mouth?”

“Yes! Sweet!”

“And it’s not good?”

“Yes.”

Triumphantly.

Despite the contradiction, she was triumphant. You have to acknowledge her confidence. Rurin confidently reached for the jar again. I shook my head. Rurin continued to eagerly eat the candied chestnuts.

“The sweetness is sophisticated. Hehe.”

“Right. It’s sophisticated and sweet, but not good?”

“Ugh!”

She nodded vigorously with her mouth full of chestnuts. I smiled broadly at Rurin and gave the final ultimatum.

“Alright then, you’re on dinner duty tonight.”

“Ugh… Let’s skip dinner tonight.”

Unable to argue with me, Rurin, feeling guilty, subtly lowered her tail. The suggestion to skip dinner was shocking.

It’s the first time I’ve heard such a thing since meeting Rurin. It’s as rare as the sun rising in the west.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll teach you, so try it. Got it?”

“Got it!”

Rurin shook her head again with her mouth full of chestnuts. Anyone could see it was my victory. A victorious V appeared in front of Rurin.

“Food is just for eating…”

The loser muttered nonsense and grumbled. Then she took the jar of candied chestnuts and trudged to a corner of the restaurant.

Customers came in, and the dinner service started.

After seeing the few regulars off, the time had finally come.

Avoiding reality, Rurin had eaten all the candied chestnuts in the jar and was dozing off.

“Rurin, wake up. It’s time to eat?”

“Foo…d? Food!”

Her eyes opened wide at the mention of food. But she soon realized the situation and frowned.

“Food… I’m not the one making it, right?”

“Yes, you are. Come here.”

“This bet is a scam! There’s no way your cooking isn’t delicious! It was a ridiculous bet!”

“Now you’re saying that?”

“Can’t I?”

“No.”

Rurin was dragged into the kitchen like a death row inmate being led to the execution ground. I put an apron on her since she was a beginner cook. A dragon in an apron was quite an exotic sight. Holding the apron, she stood with one leg bent and twisted her hair. What a delinquent girl.

Honestly, I didn’t expect much from her first dish. But she should at least use a frying pan and fire to call it cooking.

Among the easy dishes…

I took out Palenque eggs and tomatoes. I planned to make the simple egg and tomato stir-fry. It’s a very simple side dish but rich in nutrition and flavor.

Egg and tomato stir-fry is a common dish in China, known as a national side dish. It might be unfamiliar in Korea, but it suits Korean tastes very well.

I thought of this dish because there were leftover tomatoes and Palenque eggs in the kitchen. After placing the ingredients on the cutting board, I called Rurin and placed her in front of the frying pan.

“Before I met you, I just swallowed food whole. I don’t know anything about cooking!”

“I understand. Now, look. You should know how to cook at least one dish. Right? If you’re good at cooking, you’ll be loved.”

“Huh? Loved by whom?”

“Your husband?”

“You?”

“Alright, first, pour oil into the pan.”

Ignoring Rurin’s words, I poured olive oil into the pan. Rurin suddenly focused intently on the frying pan.

“Now, crack the Palenque eggs and put them in.”

“You mean this?”

“Yes.”

Rurin suddenly showed confidence as she held the Palenque egg. It’s slightly larger than a regular egg but still fits in one hand.

Crack!

But the Palenque egg in Rurin’s hand soon met its demise. It shattered and spilled onto the ground, the result of her grip strength.

Oh dear, this novice dragon cook.

“Watch how I do it. Then follow along.”

Sizzle!

I washed Rurin’s hands under running water, and she nodded. She always nods well. Just the nodding.

“Now, heat the frying pan with olive oil. Crack the Palenque egg with both hands like this. Cracking with one hand is for experts.”

Tap it against the edge to create a crack, then pour it into a bowl. Then add a pinch of salt and start whisking.

“This Palenque egg is like a regular egg. Once the egg mixture is ready, pour it into the heated frying pan. Like this, around.”

Pouring the egg mixture into the pan, the eggs reacted with the olive oil. Scrambled eggs are simpler than egg rolls or fried eggs. Once they start cooking, just scramble them.

Once the scrambled eggs are done, add diced tomatoes and chopped green onions, then stir-fry once more.

“Oh, it looks easy!”

Rurin said she understood and started cracking eggs into a bowl. Unlike when she didn’t see the demonstration, she was now skillful. She began whisking the eggs with a fork, so I added some salt. Seasoning is very important.

“The yellow looks tasty.”

“Right? Now pour it into the frying pan.”

“Got it!”

Rurin nodded and poured the egg mixture into the pan. She was doing well. Then she scrambled the cooking eggs with a spatula, just like I did.

“And controlling the heat with a fireball is important too.”

“Got it.”

Rurin started creating a fireball under the turned-off frying pan.

But this is where the disaster began.

Boom!

The frying pan hit the ceiling and fell to the floor. The eggs were charred to cinders by the power of the fireball and exploded.

Fireballs are too unnecessarily strong.