Cooking Up Solutions- A Short Story (A fictional origin story for Tuscan ribolita)

"Della should not have kicked him." Gwen declared, sitting herself on the wooden bench, glaring at Della. "Now we have no food, no grain, no ale. I would.."

Drew stopped his scrubbing and stood up, his face scrunched in anger. Before he could speak Jan spoke up. "Let it go Gwen, she done no wrong."
Jan was the baker and in absence of the regular staff, he was in charge of the Keep. He was also Della's de-facto guardian.

Blaine the old man-at- arms also spoke up in Della's defense. "Seneschal Roody is a cruel Pig. Della would have been in real trouble, I saw her streak by me teary eyed and torn clothes."

Old Gwen was not one to give up and continued her rant. "Yeah. Yeah. She is no priestess. Now we all suffer. What are we having for Long Night festivities? Bean 'n' cabbage stew, stale bread and sour mead. Yay Della." She turned to where Della sat silent and made a rude gesture with her hands.

Jan spoke again. "Della is Warden Lyson's daughter you old hag- May he rest in heaven, an' she knows her cooking. Even if it was Freda- the scullery maid, I would'da supported her. Go on git, you'r not helping here." Her footsteps echoed down the empty hallway. Most of the people living in and around the Brighton Keep had left for the annual festivities in the capital city, leaving behind the most unwanted few to manage for themselves.

After Gwen left, Della stood up. "She is right. This year the Seneschal has "forgotten" to allot kitchen stores, to cook up for festivities. And IT IS my fault."

Jan laughed at her. "Hey. Guess what? We never have stores, only leavings. So don't fret. In fact I heard you say you like to try new things. How bout I give you a chance today?"

Della could not decide whether Jan was throwing her to the wolves or giving her a chance. Her first life at Brighton Keep had ended when her father- the warden had died in a hunting accident. Jan and his wife Ella had taken her in since she had no family and Lord Brighton had reclaimed the house and gardens in lieu of the dead man's debts. What she did now could shape her second life.

Jan seemed to understand and added. "Me and Drew and Freda are here. But you have to be chief." After a pause he added hesitantly. "You are better than even me Della, make me proud."

Della's eyes misted as she rushed to hold Jan's hand.

"I will ask them to gather whatever was left for us and what we have and get it in here." Blaine told them as he started to walk out.

Jan shouted at him "Get the kids to pick carrots and mushrooms."

Drew also spurred into action, contributed. "I've a jar of honey stowed away, I'll go get it."

Soon Della saw what they had to work with. A cask of white beans, A bushel of leek stems and Kale fronds, half a sack each of potatoes, cabbage and onions and two sacks of stale bread loaves. She was still undecided when Drew entered carrying two scrawny chickens and a basket full of mushrooms and a jar of honey.

"The kids are getting some carrots." He announced.

"We can do casseroles but it won't be enough. and all the bread..." Jan spoke his thoughts aloud.

"We need something similar." Della replied walking to the sacks.

"We could have made pies if any flour was left. No, there is hardly any butter in the barrel to make the crust anyway." Jan spoke again.

Suddenly Della stopped and turned to Jan. "I've got it. Casseroles but layered, like lasagna." She hugged Jan fiercely and then started to rattle off orders.

"Drew, I need the chicken meat in small pieces the rest goes into the pot to make stock. the meat you spread on the baking tray. Jan, potatoes in small slices and beans in that huge copper vat, season an boil em soft. Freda clean the mushrooms and the cabbage while I slice the leeks and the onions."

When kitchen the pots were on the boil and the vegetables cut up. Della started off on the next steps. "Jan, Thinly slice the breads- all of them. The crusty slices we'll sprinkle garlic oil and butter and bake 'em into garlic bread sticks the rest I can use in layering the casseroles. I have added the chicken stock to the potatoes and beans and all the vegetables will go in. When its nice and thick soup- well spice it and add roasted garlic. We layer the casseroles with bread and then soup and then bread again and soup again. In the end top it with the chicken pieces and thin sliced carrots before baking."

"Drew, you heat a half a barrel of water and add the honey to it and a few sticks of cinnamon and a sprig of bitter leaf. Use it to tone down the mead. Freda you have the toughest job. You go out and spread the news that Jan has some hidden food stocks and spiced wine which he has brought out to help with the festivities."

Three hours later as the north wind picked up and clouds turned dark with gathering dusk. A huge bonfire was lit in the field and tables were arranged around it to seat the poorest of Brighton Village. Jan and Della brought out the steaming casseroles and trays of garlic bread sticks while Drew and Freda passed the mugs of watered but spiced mead around.
Soon Jan was at the receiving end of dozens of Thank-yous and Appreciations as the delicious food was devoured with gusto. Even the ten soldiers including Blaine, who were used to getting decent food, were full of praises for the new casserole dish.

Three weeks had passed since Della had saved the day when Jan received a special request from Lord Brighton- to make the LongNight Casserole. Jan thought that after tasting the dish the Lord was likely to call him, to ask about the dish. That would be the opening he needed to bring the Seneschal to book.

PICTURE CREDIT: https://www.veryeatalian.com/ribollita-soup/