We, the Coronado Scribes, consist of both professional and amateur writers. We have in common a desire to learn, by sharing our efforts and listening to other writers. We hold pressure-less sessions every Wednesday, at the Coronado Library conference room, starting at 1:30. Often we have guests who wish to just listen. They are welcome, and so are you.
Each week on eCoronado, we feature a different piece of prose or poetry produced by one of our writers. Please feel free to comment or ask questions in the comment section below.
Cooking Lessons
Just over the mocha moon and across the sage sky, there is a land called Zara.
Here turmeric trees and rosemary roses fill the air with luscious scents, which inspire lavish recipes and romance. Food and passion are both highly esteemed in Zara. Here there’s little tolerance for bland marriages or frozen entrees.
The beautiful raven haired Mara owns The Hot Tomato Restaurant, which is considered by many to serve the finest food in Zara. People travel from all the other universes to taste her cayenne roosters with lime-butter sauce and her salty porcupine covered in sweet and sour chutney. Yet, even with all this fame and success, Mara is unhappy. She needs a partner, not only to cook with in the kitchen, but in the bedroom too. There is no man on Zara for Mara. None of them make her soufflé rise, if you know what I mean.
Then one day a stranger, named Emeril, comes into The Hot Tomato. He’s traveled all the way from Earth, to taste her renowned allspice ants. Zara fries her ants in fragrant turmeric oil until crunchy then sprinkles them with sugar and ginger grass. He’s very impressed and raves about them. She’s thrilled with his praise. She asks Emeril what cooking on Earth is like, and tells him of her wish to try some other world’s cuisine. Emeril says he’s traveling back to Earth tomorrow. She’s more than welcome, if she’d like to come.
“I have a good friend, who has a cooking show called Just Thaw and Eat.’ His name is Duncan. He’s a wildly popular chef on Earth. I’m sure he’d love to give you some recipes and other culinary tips,” Emeril explains.
“Oh, this is such exciting news! I’d love to meet him, even though frozen food’s not a big interest of mine. He has his own cooking show, so I’m sure he must have many fine recipes,” Mara gushes.
Emeril and Mara fly to Earth from Zara passing five cinnamon suns on the way. They land just in time to get to the studio, where “Just Eat and Thaw” is being filmed. Duncan’s teaching the audience how make and freeze lasagna in ten easy steps, when Mara and Emeril walk in. The minute Duncan and Mara’s eyes meet it’s “snap, crackle, and pop.” Things are heating up, and I don’t mean only in the kitchen. Duncan’s emerald green eyes and slender physique make Mara’s heart go pitter patter, while her exotic charms seduce Duncan on the spot.
After the show, the two of them discuss the best recipes from both their worlds over a bottle of chilled champagne. Duncan has a bit of a problem with the salty porcupine, and Mara has some issues with freezing dinners. They decide to continue discussing cooking methods in the bedroom, and of course one thing leads to another. The recipes are put on the back burner for the rest of the evening.
The next day Duncan proposes to Mara. “Darling will you be my wife? We can combine our talents and love forever.”
“Oh, Duncan of course I’ll be your wife! I know you’ll come to love my salty porcupine, as I will learn to love the wonders of the freezer. Our love will conquer all culinary differences.”
They go on to create a marriage with the perfect balance of sugar and spice, adding a dash of hot sauce for heat.
By Val Crisson
