“Emma, dear, today we're making the family's famous lasagna," Grandma Rose said to me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "But there's a catch—you have to guess the secret ingredient. It is one ingredient I use whenever I invite all my kids and grandkids for a family dinner, just like today.”
My eyes widened with excitement. "A secret ingredient? That sounds like a challenge!" I smiled sheepishly. ”And I love challenges.”
Grandma Rose's kitchen was a treasure trove of secrets and kitchen antiques. Anyone who entered the kitchen at that moment could perceive the aroma of freshly baked lasagna wafting from the oven. That was just one of the kitchen adventures one experiences while cooking with Grandma. I, a budding, talented young cook, had been invited to the kitchen by Grandma to learn the family's treasured recipes, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
“Where are the others? They haven't come to greet me ever since you all got here,“ Grandma asked instead, deviating from what we were discussing.
“Oh, they're with Grandpa in the sitting room.”.
As we began cooking, I noticed a peculiar dish on the counter. "What's that old dish doing here, Grandma?"
"Ah, that's the family's heirloom dish," Grandma Rose replied, her voice filled with nostalgia. "It's been passed down through generations, and it's said to bring good fortune and unity to the family. It's usually used in family dinners like this: "
As we layered the lasagna, I couldn't help but wonder what the secret ingredient could be. I asked Grandma Rose questions about it, but she just smiled and said, "You'll figure it out, dear."
Just as we were about to put the lasagna in the oven, my elder sister, Sophia, peeped through the kitchen door. "Grandma, you're cooking with Emma, and you might probably tell her about the secret ingredient for your lasagna, but you didn't call me. I thought I was supposed to know first before her.”
My face quickly turned red with anger. "Sophia, this is none of your business!"
“Emma, don't be rude!” Grandma quickly cautioned me with anger in her voice: “She's your elder sister; apologise to her.”
“I'm sorry,” I mumbled under my breath to Sophia, who by now had joined us in the kitchen.
Grandma said, "My dear, I'm not teaching Emma the secret because she has to guess what it is." She's just helping me with the cooking."
The tension between me and Sophia in the kitchen was palpable. I knew Grandma felt it too and felt like she was caught in the middle of a sibling feud.
"You know your Aunt Jean and I had a falling out years ago because I was trying to get my hands on the secret family's ingredient from our mother before her. Just like you two today." She gave me the lasagna and said, "Here, help me put that in the oven.”
I walked over to the oven and did as Grandma instructed. Then we all sat on the kitchen chairs, and Grandma told us more about the squabble she had with her sister as the lasagna baked, the aroma filling the kitchen.
I listened with intent as I fingered the family dish with my index finger. On it, I noticed tiny writings I couldn't make out. Out of curiosity, I decided to take a closer look at the dish and noticed a small inscription on the bottom: "Unity in Diversity."
Suddenly, it clicked. "Grandma!” I shouted, cutting Grandma short. “I think I know the secret ingredient!"
Grandma Rose's eyes sparkled. "What is it, dear?"
"It's love," I said, my voice filled with conviction. "The secret ingredient is love—the love that goes into cooking, the love that brings the family together, and the love that forgives and unites us."
Grandma Rose's face lit up with pride. "You're absolutely right, Emma! The secret ingredient is love, and it's the most important ingredient of all."
And as we sat down to enjoy the lasagna, I saw the secret ingredient in all our faces as we smiled and laughed like one family bonded by love.
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