MEAL FOR PRINCE CHARMING

A MEAL FOR PRINCE CHARMING

“ ! HEAR YE! WHO IS THE CLEVEREST KITCHEN MAIDEN IN THE LAND?EACH DAY FOR THE NEXT HALF FORTNIGHT, THE KING’S MEN WILL LEAVE A DIFFERENT INGREDIENT AT THE DOOR OF EACH UNMARRIED MAIDEN, AN INGREDIENT FOR THE PLATTER, THE KETTLE, THE FRYPAN. PRINCE MERVYN HIMSELF WILL BE BY TO SUP ON THE MEAL CREATED BY EACH MAID AT THE END OF THE 5 DAYS! ONE DISH PER MAIDEN. YOU MAY ONLY ADD SALT AND BUTTER FROM YOUR OWN PANTRY TO YOUR CRFEATION. THE WINNING DISH WILL WIN THE PRINCE’S PROPOSAL IN MARRIAGE.’

“Since you can’t read, that’s what the sign says, dear step sister, Cindy. Imagine, you and I, wilI be cooking for royalty, for the prince himself! I am fairly faint with excitement!”

“Let us hurry home and see if the king’s men have left anything for us. ‘Us’ means me, first, Cindy, since I am the older sister. And don’t forget, I am also the first to marry, according to the custom”

Of course, Drizella. But..."

“But what?”

“I just meant that it is I who does do all the cooking for the

family, so…”

“So, nothing! Do you take me for a fool? At least I, unlike you, can

read a recipe book. I haven’t done so yet, but I could if I chose.”

“Of course, dear sister.”

“And I will take the best ingredient when it comes. You can do what

you like with the other. And another thing, Cindy. “

“Yes?’

“We will say nothing of this to our sister Anastasia.She will never see

the town sign. She is too shy to leave the house and no prince would

ever wish to marry her, so you and I will use her ingredient. Say

nothing.”

“Is that quite the right thing to do, Drizella?”

“Are you questioning your older, wiser sister?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then it is decided. Let’s walk a bit faster. I want to get an early

start on my recipe.”

THE FIRST DAY

“Look, Cindy, look inside the basket the king’s men have left. Can you

imagine! Ugh, a turnip and a cluster of red grapes. And a carrot. Well,

at least the grapes are ripe and sweet. You may have the turnip. And I

will take Anastasia’s carrot, whatever good it may be.”

“I am rather good at making turnip mash. But it seems a shame that

Anastasia cannot have her carrot. ”

“Anastasia does not give a fig for carrots and she would just be in the

way as the third sister in this contest!”

DAY TWO

“I cannot wait, open the napkin, Cindy, and let us look inside the

basket.

What is this? A gingerroot? Gnarly things they are. That is yours. But

I will take the pretty bright red cherries. They will go nicely with my

grapes. And lastly, a cinnamon stick? You could stick it in your turnip

mash, I suppose.”

“Oh, cinnamon is such a treat. But I think it would not be so be tasty

in my dish and It wouldn’t be fair to Anastasia. But you do with it

as you please, Drizella.”

“Of course, you know that is I just what I will do. Cinnamon stick,

fiddle sticks. We’ll set it aside for now.”

DAY THREE

“We are getting closer to the prince’s visit, Cindy, and I haven’t

decided on my recipe yet. But I know something magical will occur to

me as soon as I tie on the apron and pick up a spoon or two.Where do

you keep your apron? What do you think will the prince’s basket will

provide today? You look first.”

“Look, Drizella, a bunch of leeks, lovely fresh white and green leeks.

So fragrant, and they will be delicious with my turnip. So delicious they

are roasted. And a sturdy knob of celery root. And finally, a lovely

little pumpkin.”

“Celery and leeks? They certainly would not enjoy being in the pot

with my grapes and cherries. I suppose I will struggle to do something

with the pumpkin. “

“Then, dear Drizella, we will leave the celery root for Anastasia.”

“Of course, if I have no luck, I may need the celery root, too.”

DAY FOUR

“I am so excited, Cindy. We are almost at the end of the contest. I

know I shall have a wonderful idea for a recipe come to me soon.

What are the fourth ingredients? “

“Ah, look, a bright roly poly cabbage, Drizella!”

“That can be yours. It is such a common vegetable. What are the

other two?”

“ A cup full of lentils….

“ More peasant food! And..????

“ And Anastasia’s ingredient is…”

“Don’t call it that..”

“The last ingredient is a lovely bulb of garlic”

“Whatever would I do with a garlic bulb?’ Or lentils? Theywould ruin

my sweet fruits. Just set them aside. You can have the stupid

cabbage. Is that a vegetable fit for His Grace? I think I need a lie

down before I get to work on my winning recipe. You must finish my

part of the housework, sister.”

DAY FIVE

“Ah, see the final basket has just appeared on our doorstep. It is the

very last one. It must be the best one of all! Perhaps there is

something sweet and mouth-watering within . Something that will

marry deliciously with my cherries, grapes and little pumpkin. Let

me see. “

“Ah, finally , a bit of mutton! Imagine, Drizella. ! Just what is

needed for my cabbage and turnip dish. What a blessing! ”

“Is it? I cannot see how a bit of mutton would enhance my bright

plate of fruits! What else is inside?”

“Beets , lovely purple beets and a parsnip. See how plump they are,

Drizella. They are as bright as your grapes and cherries!”

“Absurd. Who would eat cherries and grapes with a beet or a parsnip?

I am ruined. Sister Cindy. The prince will be at our

door any hour now and I have nothing irresistable to offer His Grace.

“I can’t believe the mischief the heavens have visited upon my

efforts! The cherries have gone soft, the grapes are filled with pits

and the pumpkin is still as hard as a rock . And whatever would I do

with these detestable lentils and beets? . You tricked me, sister.

You let me pick the worst ingredients that no one could make a meal

from.”

“I am sorry for you, Drizella, but you made those choices yourself.”

“Let me see your meal, sister. It appears handsome and smells

flavorful …it must be a trick.. Maybe it is that colorful earthenware

bowl used for serving.”

“No, there is no trick. I just made a pottage with the boiled

cabbage, leeks, mashedturnip and mutton and added a bit of salt

and churned butter from the pantry. And the bowl I made with my own

hands that winter when you sat by the fire drinking tea.”

“I am the older sister, Cindy. You must give me your meal and tell the

prince that I was the cook! I should be the first in the house to be

wed.”

“Drizella, that is an untruth…about the meal. “

“And I am your older sister, sister . You must do as I say. … Hurry. We

haven’t much time.”

“As you say, sister. Here you are, take the bowl. I will keep it warm

until we hear the prince’s coach approaching. “

“Ah, the prince will fall in love with me when he simply smells this

dish. And here, you may have my ingredients. They are still

ingredients, aren’t they? No one would consider grapes, cherries,

pumpkin and some lentils, chestnut and a cinnamon stick a meal.!

Good riddance, bad ingredients.

“ Don’t worry, Cindy. I will put in a good word for you with the prince

when I win. Perhaps the prince has a royal brother who has yet to

wed.”

DAY SIX

“Cindy, listen! The prince’s coach approaches. I have been ready for

hours. My dish is steaming, and I have mother’s silver ladle at the

ready to do the dishing out.”

“Make way for the Prince of Blackmoor. Ladies, time is short. Please

present yourselves and your dishes.”

“ Welcome, Your Grace. My name is Drizella. I am the oldest daughter

in this household. This is my very special pottage. Created just for you

with these hands. Of course you already know the ingredients. Please

take a taste.”

“ Ah, it is splendid of appearance and aroma and like silk on the

tongue. What magic you have performed with so few ingredients, my

dear! Tell me how you created this meal fit for a prince! ”

“Ah….well, your grace, I took a cleaver to the cabbage and boiled the

turnip whole, or rather I simmered the leeks in fat, and then peeled

the raw turnip and simmered the….err…”

“And where is the other maiden in the household?”

“ Oh, Cindy? She is not much more than a scullery maid, your grace, I

am the eldest daughter. I am much more skilled in the kitchen arts. I

don’t believe she was able to finish her dish.”

“But your hands are soft and white and unblemished, Drizella, and

seem not to have done any of the chopping and boiling you speak

of…. And who is this young woman?”

“Greetings, Your grace. At your service. I am Cindy, the second

daughter. May I present my dish. It is not much, I fear. Not anywhere

as fancy as Drizella’s.”

“Ah, my dear, you are mistaken. This is a beautiful centerpiece you

have created with your fruits and vegetables for the table, but do I

suspect that the pottage your sister presented to me is also yours? “

SILENCE

“I shall take the silence in this room for a “yes”. And having sampled

all of the dishes in the town in all of the households with eligible

daughters, and finding this the winning one, I would like ask for your

hand, Cindy, in marriage.”

“Oh Your Grace, I am so honored, but what will happen to Drizella?

“Oh, I trust from now on she will be busy trying to become the

admirable person and skilled cook she presented herself to be today.

You, Cindy, can pass your apron on to her now, and step into my

carriage.”

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