Chapter 159: Family Dinner (1)

He examined one of the apples, rubbing its surface against his shirt before taking a bite. The fruit was crisp and mildly sweet.

Ethan nodded in satisfaction. ’Not bad.’

He continued picking a few more before carrying the basket upstairs. Evelyn was in the living room when he entered, arranging some things on a shelf.

"Where did you get those?" She asked when she noticed the basket.

"From the garden." Ethan placed it on the table. "The apples were ripe, so I picked some."

Evelyn walked over and examined them. "These look good."

"Try one."

She picked up an apple and took a small bite. After chewing, she nodded.

"Mn, It’s sweet."

Ethan smiled. "I thought so."

He washed his hands before settling down for a while. The rest of the afternoon passed peacefully, with each member of the family occupying themselves with whatever they pleased.

Nora remained in her room, occasionally coming out to get something to eat or show her parents something on her iPad. Evelyn continued with a few household chores, while Ethan alternated between resting in the living room and checking on the garden.

There was no particular rush to do anything.

After the morning’s events, a quiet afternoon at home was exactly what they needed.

As evening approached, Ethan glanced at the time and realized they hadn’t done much about dinner.

He found Evelyn in the kitchen and leaned against the doorway.

"What are we having for dinner?"

She turned toward him. "I haven’t decided yet. There are still some things in the refrigerator."

Ethan considered it for a moment before smiling. "How about we let Nora cook with us tonight?"

Evelyn blinked. "Nora?"

"Yes. She’s been spending the entire afternoon playing with her iPad. It might be nice to have her help us with dinner."

Evelyn smiled faintly. "Are you sure? She might make a mess."

"That’s part of the experience."

He walked into the kitchen and glanced toward the hallway. "Besides, she should learn a few things. We don’t have to let her handle anything dangerous."

Evelyn nodded in agreement.

"Alright. I’ll call her."

She wiped her hands and walked toward Nora’s bedroom.

A moment later, Nora appeared at the kitchen entrance, holding her iPad.

"What’s wrong, Mom?"

Evelyn smiled at her. "Would you like to help us prepare dinner?"

Nora’s eyes brightened immediately. "Really?"

"Of course." Ethan pulled out a chair and gestured toward the kitchen counter. "Come on, little chef. Let’s see what you can do."

Nora quickly placed her iPad aside and hurried over.

"Can I help with everything?"

"Not everything," Ethan replied, laughing. "Let’s start with something simple."

"Like what?" She tilted her head.

"We’ll decide together."

Evelyn watched the two of them with a warm smile before turning back toward the refrigerator.

The kitchen soon became livelier as the three of them began preparing dinner.

Evelyn took charge of the sauce, gathering the necessary ingredients while Nora stood beside her, watching with keen interest. Ethan, meanwhile, brought out the small pizza bases and arranged them on a tray before checking the oven.

"Alright, Nora. Come closer. I’ll show you how to prepare the sauce first." Evelyn beckoned her daughter over, placing a few ingredients on the kitchen counter.

Nora moved closer, resting her hands on the edge of the counter. "What are we putting inside?"

"Tomatoes, a little garlic, some seasoning, and a few other things." Evelyn began explaining as she prepared the ingredients. "The important thing is getting the taste right. We don’t want it too sour or too salty."

Nora nodded seriously, following her mother’s movements.

Ethan glanced over his shoulder and smiled. "Don’t worry too much about the taste. Your mother is a professional. Just pay attention and learn from her."

Evelyn gave him a brief look. "And what exactly are you?"

"The person responsible for making sure nobody burns the kitchen down."

Nora giggled.

Evelyn shook her head, returning her attention to the sauce. She patiently explained each step, showing Nora how the ingredients were combined and how the sauce gradually thickened. The girl watched closely, occasionally asking questions whenever something caught her attention.

"Why do we have to cook it first?" Nora asked.

"Because it helps bring out the flavour and gives the sauce a better consistency. If we put everything together without preparing it properly, the result might not be as good."

"Oh."

Evelyn smiled at her daughter’s thoughtful expression. "You’ll understand better when you start cooking by yourself."

Nora nodded enthusiastically. "Mn, then I’ll make something for you and Dad one day."

"Really?" Ethan turned around from the oven. "I’m looking forward to it."

"You have to eat everything I make!"

"Of course. I’ll even ask for a second serving."

Nora giggled again, seemingly pleased with the promise.

Once the sauce was ready, Evelyn allowed it to cool while Ethan finished preparing the other ingredients. He checked the oven temperature and arranged the grated cheese, sliced vegetables, and other toppings on separate plates.

"Everything is ready," He announced.

Nora immediately looked toward the counter. "Can I start now?"

"Not yet. We need to let the sauce cool a little first." Evelyn wiped her hands and moved the prepared ingredients closer. "You can help us with the next part, though."

She placed one of the small pizza bases in front of Nora and handed her a spoon.

"Take a little sauce and spread it evenly over the surface. Don’t put too much, or it might become soggy."

Nora carefully scooped up some sauce and began spreading it. Her movements were slow and deliberate, and she occasionally paused to inspect her work.

Ethan watched from the other side of the counter.

"Not bad. You’ve got the hands of a professional chef."

Nora raised her head proudly. "Really?"

He nodded with a flattering smile. "Absolutely."

Evelyn chuckled. "Don’t praise her too much. She hasn’t finished yet."

After spreading the sauce, Nora reached for the grated cheese. She sprinkled some over the base, making sure to cover most of the surface before moving on to the toppings.

"Can I put more cheese?" She asked.

Ethan glanced at the pizza. "You can, but remember that we’re making dinner, not a mountain of cheese."

Nora pouted slightly before putting the remaining cheese back.

Evelyn helped her arrange the toppings, explaining which combinations would taste better. Nora listened, occasionally suggesting her own ideas. She was particularly interested in making sure her pizza looked attractive, and she spent more time arranging the toppings than either of her parents had expected.

When she finally finished, she stepped back to admire her work.

"Done!"

Ethan leaned forward to inspect it. "Hmm. This looks quite impressive."

"Mine is prettier than yours!" Nora declared confidently.