Chapter 18

(Mandy)

It was time to start on dinner, the pie would take me about an hour to cook. I got all the ingredients I would need ready to go and began preparing them. First I set the oven so it would be hot when I needed it. Next I had to wash and peel some potatoes, Joyce had shown me how to do this the other day so I was soon off and running. I decided to get all the chopping done there and then, to save time later, so I did the onions and the carrots too. Pretty soon I had a pot of quartered potatoes bubbling away in some salted water. I moved on to the next bit and began sautéing the chopped onions and carrots.

I realised that without even thinking about it I had lit the gas hob by directing flames from my burning finger tip. I guess all the practice I had got was paying off, I could use my powers without really even thinking about it, they were becoming an extension of my normal abilities.

I did the onions and carrots for the time listed in the recipe, there was already a wonderful smell of cooking circulating around the flat. When that was done I put in some sweet corn and then mixed in the lamb and cooked it till the meat was browned. I tipped in some seasoning, a bit of salt, a pinch or two of pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce to give it a little kick. I was careful not to add too much, I didn't want to overdo the seasoning. I added the gravy and let it simmer for the rest of the time, adding more to keep the meat moist. There was a lovely rich meaty aroma rising out of the pan it was making my mouth water and stomach growl already. As was appropriate I had a few tastings to make sure it was good, I probably had several more than were strictly necessary but it tasted so good I could barely help myself.

Soon the time for the meat and the potatoes was up I turned off the gas and lifted the potatoes and the pan with the meat. I needed to get the strainer to drain the potatoes, but I found I had run out of hands, plus the small kitchen lacked the surfaces to put hot stuff down on. I could have put the pans back on the hob, but I was a little concerned that the residual heat would burn the meat. I was a bit in a hurry so I used a trick that most chefs would probably frown on. After taking careful aim I shot my tongue out and retrieved the strainer with it. I propped the thing up in the sink with a bit of prodding, then tipped out the potatoes in. With the potatoes now drained I could dispense with the pot, so put it back on the hob to wash later. I got a spoon and began putting the meat into the baking dish.

With that out the way I got the potatoes and mashed them up with the a little butter. Once they were nice and smooth I applied them as the top layer to the baking dish with the meat in. I made the trade mark peaks in the mash like the recipe said. As a last minute finishing touch I wrote my name into the mash with a fork giggling at my handy work then put the whole thing in the oven to cook. I put some peas on to have as an accompaniment.

After that I began cleaning up. Just as I was running the water to do the washing up the front door opened and my sister walked in.

"Something smells good," she said with a smile after taking her coat off.

"I made us dinner," I said, "I was a little tired of spaghetti every night so I used the book Joyce gave me to do Shepherd's pie for dinner."

"Wow, you have been busy," she said surveying the distributed cooking utensils. "Let me help you clean up."

I gestured to the dishes, "I'll wash you dry."

We soon had the kitchen squared away and it was almost time for us to eat. I opened the oven and reached in to take the dish out with my bare hands.