ext_28822: Alan Lee's Frodo sketch from ROTK (Chef)
[identity profile] sila-lumenn.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] shire_kitchen
Rosie has a bit of news for Sam…

AUTHOR: Dreamflower
RATING: G
CATEGORY: General
SUMMARY: Rosie has a bit of news for Sam…
DISCLAIMER: Middle-earth and all its peoples belong to the Tolkien Estate. I own none of them. Some of them, however, seem to own me.

THE TASTE OF STRAWBERRIES

Frodo heard voices in the kitchen: Rose and someone else, not Sam. He entered to find her setting a second breakfast before one of her younger brothers, Nick.

“Good morning, Mr. Frodo,” said Rose. “I had wondered were you coming to breakfast at all today.”

“Good morning, Rose; hullo, Nick,” he answered. “I think just a piece of toast and a cup of tea this morning, thank you.”

Rose gave him a disapproving look. “I think not, Mr. Frodo. You should at least have a sausage and one of these soft-boiled eggs.”

Frodo sighed. “No sausage, please. But I will take an egg if it will please you.”

She dished up a plate to set before him. “There’s a good lad,” she said, for all the world as though he were a child in need of coaxing. Frodo sighed once more and rolled his eyes. He saw Nick trying to suppress a smirk, and caught his eye.

“Was she this bossy before she wed, Nick?”

He grinned. “A sight worse, I’d say. From sun-up to sun-down she was forever telling us what to do. Lasses come by it natural, I suppose.” He ducked as she aimed a swat at the back of his head, but not quite fast enough. “Ow!” He gave it a rub, and winked at Frodo.

“Ah,” said Frodo. “I see that not having sisters has left a gap in my education.”

Rose giggled. In spite of his poor appetite, it was nice to see Mr. Frodo in good spirits. She pushed forward a basket that stood on the table and lifted the cloth covering it. “Look what my Ma has sent to us, Mr. Frodo!” It was filled to the brim with strawberries.

“Those are lovely, Rose!”

She took out two of the reddest and plumpest and placed them on his plate.

“Where is Sam this morning?” Frodo asked.

“He’s out in the tool-shed. His favorite pruning knife come loose at the haft.”

“Not the one Merry gave him?”

“Yes, sir, that very one! He was right upset when he saw it was like that, but he’s sure he can fix it.”

Frodo nodded. He hoped so. Sam and Merry had not even been tweens when Merry gave his friend that knife.

Nick stood up and took his plate to the dishpan. “Well, Rosie, I’m going out to have a chin-wag with Sam before I head to home.” He gave his sister a peck on the cheek and went out the kitchen door. “Good-bye, Mr. Frodo.”

“Good-bye, Nick.” Frodo picked up one of the strawberries, and slowly took a bite. He closed his eyes and ate it almost solemnly. Rose watched fascinated. He opened his eyes and said softly, “Rose, dear, do not ever take for granted the taste of strawberries.”

“No, Mr. Frodo, I won’t.”

“I thought,” he said, “that I might take my supper at The Ivy Bush tonight.”

Now her eyes widened in surprise. Mr. Frodo had not been to the inns since they re-opened. He noticed her startlement, and smiled slyly. “It seemed to me that you might want to have a private supper with Sam tonight. I think you may have something you want to tell him.”

She gasped. “Mr. Frodo! How did you know? I was only sure of it myself yesterday!”

“I think I have been too much among the Elves, Rose. It’s the kind of thing they always seem to know, and somehow I seem to have picked up the knack.” The truth was, Frodo was not sure where his recent foresight seemed to have come from, but it was always for pleasant things, and so this he did not mind.

“What do you think about it, then?” she asked, a bit apprehensive. After all, it was his smial, really, and he’d not had to share it for so many years, and now he not only had Sam and Rose there, but now--

“I think that it is delightful, Rose, and I could not be more pleased. Would you mind awfully if I were ‘Uncle Frodo’?”

“Of course I wouldn’t mind!” she stood up and put a little kiss on top of Frodo’s head, as if he were one of her brothers. Then she grinned at him. “I will leave a piece of strawberry pie out for you, when you get home tonight!”

“Thank you, Rose. I shall be looking forward to it.”

_____________________________________________________

Frodo looked at Bag End as he came up the Hill under the balmy summer night. The lantern by the door was lit, but it was clear that Sam and Rose had already retired.

He let himself in, and took the lantern in hand to light his way to the kitchen. There, as promised, in the middle of the table, was a plate with a generous slice of strawberry pie, and a little dish of clotted cream next to it.

He sat down to it with a smile. Today had been a good day, and he would enjoy the taste of strawberries.

_______________________________________________________

ROSIE’S STRAWBERRY PIE

Pastry for 2 crust pie
4 cups fresh strawberries, cleaned, hulled and sliced
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. plain dry breadcrumbs
1 Tbsp. butter or margarine

Line a 9” deep pie plate with one crust. Toss together the strawberries, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the bottom crust, and then pour the strawberry filling in. Cut the butter into small pieces and dot over the top of the filling. Cover with the top crust, and seal and flute the edge. Cut some vents near the center. Bake in a pre-heated 425 degree oven for about 40 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before cutting. (Longer is better.)

AUTHOR’S NOTES: This may also be made with frozen strawberries if you increase the cornstarch by another tablespoon. This pie is a favorite of my family every year, as soon as strawberries come in season.

Date: 2005-03-18 01:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marigoldg.livejournal.com
Oh, lovely! I loved all of the references to things that we already know about, like the knife that Merry gave Sam so long ago, and never to take the taste of strawberries for granted. And I liked Rosie's way of bantering with Frodo almost as though he is a brother and Frodo's comment about not having sisters. (I have always thought that this was an area where Pippin was in possession of greater knowledge than Frodo and Merry, and can just see him nodding wisely when Merry needed advise about a lass, lol.)

I also liked that Frodo had these insights, and that they were all about pleasant things! He deserves it.

I am going to try this recipe in the summer! LoneWolf is drooling over it already!

Date: 2005-03-18 07:41 pm (UTC)
dreamflower: gandalf at bag end (Default)
From: [personal profile] dreamflower
I'm so glad you liked it! I've used the knife bit from our story in a couple of other places. I think Sam would have treasured it.

Yes, I can imagine Pippin would be a bit more knowledgeable about lasses than either of his two older cousins!

I just took JRRT's bit where Frodo predicted the children to Sam, and ran with it, LOL!

Oh, do try it! It really is luscious! I made one the other night, and now I'm drooling for another myself!

Date: 2005-03-19 03:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marigoldg.livejournal.com
Yes, I can imagine Pippin would be a bit more knowledgeable about lasses than either of his two older cousins!

Fic bunny!! Pleeeeaassse write it for meeeee!!! Merry has to come to Pippin for advice!

Date: 2005-03-18 09:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] budgielover.livejournal.com
I am so impressed by this story! You combine Bookhobbits and Moviehobbits so perfectly, and add in the little 'taste of strawberries' for emotional impact. I was first delighted by Nick's comments on sisters, then by Frodo's wistfulness about not having any. And then the conversation between the Master and Rose! What a lovely way of exercising Frodo's foresight. This story incorporates so many elements (Frodo's poor appetite after the quest, Rose's concern, the inclusion of Nick) that I am just amazed.

Date: 2005-03-19 07:59 pm (UTC)
dreamflower: gandalf at bag end (Default)
From: [personal profile] dreamflower
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I have a tendency to write book-verse with movie-verse images, if you know what I mean. And some of the other movie elements sometimes move me.
I had fun with this little vignette.

Date: 2005-03-27 12:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rubynye.livejournal.com
This is a gorgeous story, full of great details, and what a lovely way to showcase Frodo's post-Quest foresight!

And yay strawberry pie!

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