Resigning himself to the role of supervisor, Ewan remained seated on the bench, issuing commands like a general directing a very domestic battle. He instructed the man to strip the kernels from the cobs: "Process half the corn by removing the kernels whole to maintain texture. For the other half, use a sharp blade to shave the corn thinly, this will create the necessary starch to thicken the porridge."
Asher moved to comply, his movements efficient and precise.
"Take those stripped corn cobs." Ewan continued, pointing to the pile of refuse: "And boil them in a pot of water first. Do not discard them. The sweetness trapped within the cob implies a rich essence that will seep into the boiling water. Using that stock to cook the porridge will result in a natural, subtle sweetness that plain water cannot achieve."
