Cooking in the Monster Sanctuary - Chapter 6 - Part 1

Late-night snack, a supplementary meal after dinner.

After a busy day’s hustle and bustle, the feeling of fullness from dinner gradually fades as the stomach digests, and hunger, like the faint morning mist becomes subtle but pervasive.

At times like this, the brain urgently craves something to fill the empty stomach, giving birth to late-night snacks.

Compared to the three daily meals, late-night snacks emphasize the pleasure of the palate.

Rice is both easy to fill up on and difficult to provide taste satisfaction, while snacks and flour-based foods with soup are the perfect companions. Hot and spicy snacks turn into a warm stream. And it flows from mouth to stomach, becoming the warmest solace in the quiet night.

Located on the outskirts of the city, with few restaurants and takeout options nearby. And most residents are homebodies who don’t want to go out. They can only rely on the nutritional meals provided by the shelter to get by, making late-night snacks a luxury.

As Dracula entered the kitchen, Lin Yu was sautéing chopped green onions and minced garlic in cooking oil.

The refreshing scent of green onions and garlic, combined with the savory aroma of heated oil, stimulated the olfactory senses intensely. The sizzling hot air filled the entire room, making him unable to resist taking a deep breath.

Lin Yu glanced at him as she continued her work, pouring a spoonful of vibrant red and thick sauce into the pan.

It had a hint of sweetness but was more dominated by a tantalizing spicy aroma that erupted into an incredible fragrance after being heated at high temperatures.

Dracula swallowed his saliva, “What’s this?”

“Korean sweet and spicy sauce.” Lin Yu stirred the sauce and green onions together in the pot, adding some water, “Tonight’s midnight snack consists of fried chicken and stir-fried rice cakes. The sweet and spicy sauce is the essence of these two dishes.”

Being a dedicated otaku, Dracula’s love for Fatman Joy Chicken rivaled his fondness for his favorite blood popsicle. Upon hearing the words “fried chicken,” he didn’t say anything further. His eyes sparkled as he watched the entire cooking process with keen interest.

Stir-fried spicy rice cakes are a simple and quick dish. Once the water in the pot bubbles, you can add the rice cakes to cook slowly. During this process, a starch and water mixture is added to thicken the sauce and dilute the soup.

Before long, the soup becomes a thick sauce, and the originally chubby cylindrical rice cakes are covered in a uniform deep red color which steams with heat alongside the sauce.

After cooking, a suitable amount of white sesame seeds and pickled vegetables are added, and the cooking process is completed.

“Could you please take it out first?” Lin Yu handed the plate to Dracula. “Stir-fried rice cakes are better when they’re hot. I’ll continue making the fried chicken.”

Dracula nodded and took the plate, picking up a piece of rice cake with chopsticks.

He had waited so long just to taste this first bite.

As he took the first bite, the steamy heat exploded on his tongue like a bomb. It causes him to suck in a breath due to the heat. After his mouth adjusted a bit, he eagerly took another bite.

The rice cakes had been soaked in cold water before being cooked, making them even more chewy. They rolled and squished between his tongue and palate. When he lifted his teeth, he could almost feel the stickiness of the rice cakes on his teeth.

The aroma of sautéed scallions filled the air, and the unique scent of white sesame enveloped the rice cakes. However, the most impactful element was the rich red chili sauce that penetrated every fiber. The spiciness of the sauce was invigorating, the crunch of the pickled vegetables was refreshing. And a subtle sweetness softened the heat, creating a burst of flavors that lingered.

It had been a while since Dracula experienced such powerful spiciness. He stood still for a moment, reluctant to swallow it down.

“Ah, please just swallow it quickly, the mixture of saliva and chili sauce running down from the corners of your mouth is really nauseating.”

“So… so delicious! This unprecedented texture…” Dracula took another bite of rice cake. “Although stir-fried rice cakes are just a combination of sweet and spicy sauce with rice cakes, the rice cakes need to be seamlessly integrated with the sauce to achieve this dazzling golden color!”

“This is just a regular kitchen here, not the set of ‘Junior MasterChef’! Your line seems to be a direct copy of the show’s commentary! And who said that spicy stir-fried rice cakes would give off a golden glow! Glowing dishes aren’t real, you know!”

“In reality, this is just a simple quick dish.” Lin Yu waved her hand, “Just remember not to eat too much, or you won’t have space for the fried chicken later.”

Dracula, who was preparing to devour nine-tenths of the rice cakes. He stopped his mischievous hands, and with a struggle, he took the plate outside.

Dracula… you’re really easy to coax.

She shook her head helplessly and looked back at the stove.

Compared to making rice cakes, the process of frying chicken is a bit more complicated. Lin Yu was recalling the general process when suddenly she heard a stranger’s voice behind her, “I was wondering why it’s so lively tonight, turns out we have a newcomer.”

The voice was cheerful and lively, with a hint of coquettishness, carrying a captivating charm. Curious, she turned around and saw a black-haired girl leaning against the door.

With the appearance of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old, her slightly upturned watery eyes gleamed. The corners of her mouth lifted in a flirtatious and playful arc like a cunning fox. Her waist-length hair cascaded like a waterfall, draping over a light pink silk strap dress, touching her smooth, flawless skin, and outlining her delicate waist.

Due to growing up in an all-girls school, Lin Yu had a faint concept of males and had developed a taste for appreciating beautiful girls.

This girl had a petite figure and a lively and bright appearance, yet she exuded an irresistible sense of sensuality. Her smile was sweet and cloying like a tempting candy.

She politely smiled and greeted, “Hello, I’m Lin Yu.”

The girl didn’t reply immediately; instead, she lightly stepped closer.

Wearing simple flip-flops, her round toes were cute side by side, and the red nail polish shone under the light.

“I’m Mino.”

She was slightly shorter than Lin Yu, and when she looked up, her gaze met Lin Yu’s directly. After sizing up the person in front of her, the girl gently placed her hand on Lin Yu’s cheek and continued speaking with a seductive tone, “You’re really beautiful, I like beautiful people.”