What's Cooking Read Online Free Page B

going to like his answer.
    â€œI buy the kind that comes in a tube. You just slice off pieces and put them in the oven.”
    â€œYou don’t own a mixing bowl. . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she let out a loud, exasperated sigh. “Okay, we’ll use the pot. Where’s your electric mixer?”
    He raised one finger in the air in triumph. “I have one of those!”
    Instead of opening a cupboard door, Mitchell left the room, the door to the garage opened and banged shut, boxes shuffled, and the door opened and closed again.
    He returned with a large box, which he placed on the table, then used a knife from the cutlery drawer to slice through the manufacturer’s clear tape. He pulled out the protective foam packing, a warranty card and other literature, and finally, a brand-new electric mixer wrapped in a plastic bag.
    Carolyn sighed again.
    â€œYou sure do sigh a lot.”
    She ignored his comment. “Why was your mixer in the garage?”
    â€œI bought it after class last week and put it with my tools so I would know where it was when I needed it.”
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding.”
    This time, it was Mitchell who sighed loudly. “Carolyn, I’m starting from scratch here. I told you that.”
    She opened her mouth to suck in a deep breath, but after his comment about her sighing, she quickly closed it again and let her breath out slowly through her nose. “Do I dare ask if you own a wooden spoon?”
    â€œGo ahead and ask, but I don’t think you’re going to like the answer.”
    Carolyn buried her face in her hands. “Mitchell!” she mumbled through her fingers. “How do you expect to prepare anything if you don’t have the proper utensils?”
    â€œI told you, I need—”
    â€œI know, I know. You need—”
    â€œRemedial help,” they said in unison.
    They stared at each other in silence until Carolyn gave up and reached for the pot. “Okay, we’ll do our best with what you’ve got. But in the meantime, let’s make a list of what you should have.”
    He nodded, and they set to work using whatever she could find to do the best job under the circumstances.
    Carolyn guided him through the preparation process, and despite the extra time he took to write notes, things progressed well. His canapés didn’t look quite as nice as hers did, and his cheese balls were a little crooked, but Carolyn assured him they would taste just fine.
    Carolyn washed the dishes and Mitchell dried, pausing every once in a while to snitch a sample of their creations.
    â€œYou know,” he mumbled as he licked his fingers, “I should probably have some of those fancy thingies for dessert.”
    â€œFancy thingies?”
    â€œYou know. Those chocolate thingies. They have different fillings and that white swirly stuff on top. You know, when you go to the coffee shop and you have coffee and one of those little chocolate thingies with the stuff in the middle.”
    Thinking he probably meant dessert squares, she nodded.
    â€œGreat! Can you show me how to do those, too? I’m going to make Jake eat his words. And I’ll have you to thank for it.” His charming grin made Carolyn’s foolish heart flutter.
    â€œI suppose I can. I have many recipes for chocolate dessert squares.”
    â€œNo, I want a special one. I can’t describe it, but I can show you.”
    â€œAll right.”
    She barely had time to dry her hands when Mitchell gently grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door. “Let’s go.”
    â€œWait! Where are we going?”
    â€œWe have to go to the coffee shop and buy some. They’re only open for another hour. I hope they still have some left.”
    Carolyn let her mouth gape open. She hadn’t expected to go out. She thought he would show her a picture in a cookbook. Then she remembered he said he’d borrowed a cookbook from