AMAL: hope

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

* The outer beauty was the canvas and the inner beauty was the paint _ Addictive Rose.*

AMAL.

    I didn't even know which three course meal I should prepare for lunch. I stood contemplating on what I should cook. Our foodstuffs arrived from Nigeria about three to four days ago but I haven't had the time to try out any serious Nigerian dish. I opened the stock fridge and luckily there were varieties of meats and fishes even fresh tiger prawns and crabs. Geez, what should I even cook. I thought as I kept looking at the fridge for a while.

  " Dad once tried this recipe. I think it should be about two years ago. He called it Jilliof rice ." Zahra said from behind. I wanted to laugh at her pronunciation of jollof rice.

   " Babygirl, it's jollof rice not Jilliof rice." I corrected her and ruffle her hair. She widen her eyes then gave me that adorable smile she always does especially when corrected.

   " Let's make it. Let's make it. The one Baba made that day was so spicy but it was nice. Please let's make it. Baba said I have eaten it times without number when I was a kid but I can't remember anything anymore. It's so sad." She said. Her long eyebrows frowned into thin lines of sadness. It's so sad to see her like this.

   " Baby. It doesn't matter if you remembered everything or nothing. All that matters is reliving the moment and enjoy every single memories. That's all that matters and as for lunch guess what I already have a plan." I said as I stroke hair gently. It seems she was enjoying it cause she gave out a low sound like that of a purr.

   " So for appetizers we are making pepper soup as for main meal we are making party jollof rice and pepper chicken and for desserts, we are making e.mm samosa, spring rolls and orange smoothie." I announced happily. Whenever am cooking food at aunt's house, my favorite part is the dessert. I love baking and all those stuffs, infact I love cooking with passion.

  " Let's make fruit tropical smoothie instead." She whined. I looked at her and smile widely.

  " Let's get to business." I said and we did a high five.

  I used this opportunity to teach her how to make dishes. She shares the same hobby with me that's cooking.

   " So baby, before we are going to started cooking, I love to set all my ingredients and necessities for cooking down first. So we don't have to start running here and there while the food is on fire. That's a quality of a good cook." I said taking two aprons from the apron rack. I wore one on her before wearing the other. I went to where the veggies are kept. I take three big bulbs of onions. I really love onions. I also pick up some peppers, tomatoes and garlics.

   " Aunty pass me the knife from the utensils rack please." She said. I took the knife from the utensils rack.

  " For what?" I asked her cause I knew it is exactly what am thinking.

   " To dice the onions and garlic." She replies and not to my surprise it's exactly what am thinking.

    " Well baby we are not doing that." I said and returned the knife back. She widen her eyes.

  " Really." She said and rolls her eyes before hitting her forehead head. " Meow." She says as she clicks her tongue again. She's having a tourette attack now.