Everyone training outside realized that Rei-chan hadn't come out for a while, understanding that she was probably doing something else, so they didn't pay it any more mind.
After all, she was an Uma Musume who could win even when left completely to her own devices by her Trainer. They knew what was important and what wasn't, so there was no need for them to worry.
Ding-dong
"Hm?" Trainer Okino checked his phone.
[After this training session, have them take a shower. Special Week fell asleep from exhaustion. I'm making dinner so I won't come over.]
"[Ok~]" After sending a simple reply, Trainer Okino shouted to everyone running on the track.
"Hey! Train harder! Use up all your energy! Rei-chan is preparing a feast for us!"
Hearing the words [feast], everyone present trained even harder, especially Gold Ship.
She directly pulled out a 10x10 Rubik's Cube and diligently twisted it.
On the other side, Rei-chan was preparing the main course for tonight.
If it's about replenishing stamina, then it must be meat, right?
Thick steaks, where with one bite, the juices burst in your mouth, filling it with flavor, plus the complementary side dishes and sauce that cut through the richness of the meat, that taste truly... In short, because she had to make one portion for herself and seven Uma Musume, with about eighty percent of them being Gluttony, the amount she needed to prepare this time was quite substantial.
First, she took out a super-large steak (freshly exchanged), patted it dry, then sprinkled freshly ground black pepper, rosemary, and sea salt. She then poured some olive oil for a "massage," making sure to coat both sides evenly. The pressure couldn't be too strong, so as not to ruin the texture of the meat.
Next, the steak, covered in the chef's art, was covered with plastic wrap and left to rest for a while, giving her time to start preparing the vegetables and sauce.
For vegetables, she chose fresh sugar carrots. Unlike regular carrots, they don't need to be blanched because they don't have that raw vegetable taste; they taste just like fruit (so for regular carrots, remember to cut them into pieces and blanch them). She simply washed, peeled, and sliced them thickly, then set them aside. Then, some smooth-skinned small potatoes. After washing, she poked a few small holes, left the skin on, and soaked them directly in salt water. These were the real main course.
Then came the sauce. She took out rare phantom honey, an even rarer item than sugar carrots, and its price was many times higher than carrots. Even she only kept it in small jars; over the years, the yield from her mountain could only fill five small earthenware pots, each less than two liters in capacity.
Carefully, she scooped out five spoons of honey, and mixed it with a little water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, mirin, and chopped parsley. Then, she turned on low heat on a frying pan and poured them in to slowly heat up.
As it slowly heated, the water gradually evaporated, and the sauce became thicker, emitting an aroma that made Special Week, who was sleeping on the living room sofa nearby, unconsciously drool a little.
Once the sauce was done, she added a small amount of mint to enhance the freshness, then let it cool.
The meat was almost ready, and everyone's training was almost finished.
She cut the meat into almost identical sizes, then melted butter in a huge baking pan. Once the butter melted, she placed the meat on it.
The sizzling sound of fresh meat touching the hot pan was like the most beautiful music in the world. After being marinated with spices, it gave off an even more unique aroma.
"Wow! It smells so good! What is Senior making?"
Just as she continued cooking, the training group also finished their training. Smelling the aroma, they immediately felt their hunger intensify.
"Go take a shower first. It will take a while to finish all this meat. Remember to wake Special Week up later."
"No need! I'm already up! Rei-chan, when can we eat!" Special Week's eyes were practically glowing.
"Just a little longer. You sweated a bit during the massage, so you can go take another quick shower, okay?"
"Then I'm going!" Special Week followed everyone else into the bathroom to shower. Such a delicious smell that she couldn't eat was truly torture.
"Yo, need any help?" Trainer Okino washed his hands at the sink and then came over.
"Ah, help me keep an eye on that half of the meat. It's too far, and I might not have time to flip it. In another..." Rei-chan didn't stand on ceremony; Trainer Okino's cooking skills were quite good.
"Ok~ Oh, this carrot tastes good!"
"No stealing! (Knock)"
After the first flip, she placed a small piece of butter on the side that had just been turned up. The meat's own high temperature slowly melted the butter.
When frying steak like this, always remember: do not press down! If you press, you'll squeeze out all the juices, and it will be ruined.
After frying the second side for the same amount of time, she flipped the side coated with melted butter down and continued frying, while simultaneously placing another small piece of butter on the side that was now facing up. Finally, she fried this side as well, and it was done.
Then, in the remaining fat in the pan, she lightly fried the carrots, allowing their exterior to absorb the meat's aroma and making them a bit softer.
Finally, she took out the potatoes, wiped their skins clean, peeled them, and cut them into chunks. She steamed them in a steamer until cooked, then coated their exterior with a little starch and fried them in the remaining meat oil. Lastly, she sprinkled a little cumin and chili powder.
The last step was plating: carrots > meat > meat > meat > potatoes, arranged in that order. She then encircled the plate with more potatoes and carrots, and finally drizzled the pre-made sauce over it, accompanied by a fresh vegetable salad and a quick-simmered vegetable soup. A perfect steak meal was complete.
The result was predictable: all the dishes were eaten clean. Daiwa and Vodka, especially, drank all the extra vegetable soup in a competitive spirit, their stomachs round like pufferfish. Even Suzuka, who was usually gentle and elegant in her actions, ate a considerable amount. And as the main recipient of this feast, Special Week, it goes without saying, half of that large steak went into her stomach. Rei-chan even specially made some rice for her to eat with it to finally fill the girl up. Her terrifying appetite reminded her of the Ash-Gray Duo.
What kind of expression would the owner make if these three were taken to a buffet restaurant?
While contemplating such cruel thoughts, she filed it away in her mind, planning to implement it sometime soon, and also to see if she could lure those two senior Uma Musume to her team as assistant Trainers.
But none of that was important. Now it was time to let them experience despair.
"So, you all ate very happily, right?"
"Yes! Rei-chan's cooking is super delicious!" This was Daiwa. She didn't know why everyone started calling her Rei-chan, following Special Week. Is this contagious!?
"Then, go wash the dishes."
"Eh?" said Vodka.
"Ah! So that's how hard you have to work!" Gold Ship pulled out a 32x32 Rubik's Cube from somewhere and started solving it.
"Those who didn't participate in cooking have to wash the dishes. That's the rule!"
"Oh—↓" Everyone's motivation dropped.
"But after you're done, there will be cold pudding waiting for you!"
"Yay—!!"
"But you probably won't get any."
"Oh—↓"
"Because Suzuka was so proactive, I've decided to give all the pudding to her!"
"Eh!?!?" Everyone turned their heads and saw that Suzuka-san had already gathered all the eaten dishes and bowls, ready to take them away at some point.
"Wait! Suzuka-san! Let me help you!" said Special Week.
"That's too sneaky! You can't have all the pudding!"
Watching everyone scramble to help, Suzuka-san looked at the "mission accomplished" Rei-chan with a wry smile.
After a simple thank you, she led everyone into the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Who would be the lucky one to marry such a virtuous child?
The scoundrel, completely lacking the self-awareness that the owner of the house shouldn't make guests work, thought to herself.