𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐲|| 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐎'𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬|| 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟔

At home Gabriella, in the evening, was finishing her homrworks, while Y/n was cleaning. She went over Gabriella, stroking her hair <<Hey sweetheart, what you wanna eat tonight?>> she asked, lovingly at the little girl. She smiled and looked up at her and asked <<Can I choose?>> she was so happy. Y/n nodded <<Yeah, I don't have any ideas. What would you like then?>> she asked again. The child hesitated, humming and thinking about it, rubbing her chin. Y/n smiled at her movement, it was common for Miguel to do it too when he was nervous or he was thinking about something.
Then the girl gasped, just as if a lamp turned on her head <<Empanadas!>>.
A smile formed on her face as she saw Gabriella's excitement <<Empanadas? That sounds like a delicious plan, my dear.>> then she admitted <<But I must admit, I've never cooked them before. Are you sure you want to give it a try?>>.
Gabriella nodded eagerly <<Absolutely! I know we can do it together. Also it's dad's favorite dish. I want to surprise him.>> she spoke. Deep inside her, Gabriella wanted to make her father proud.
Y/n chuckled <<Alright then, let's embark on this culinary adventure together. What do we need to make these empanadas?>>
Gabriella quickly retrieved a well-worn recipe card from the drawer <<Here's the recipe I found. We'll need ground beef, onions, garlic, bell peppers, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, olives, and, of course, the empanada dough.>>
Y/n looked over the list, nodding in approval <<Great. Let's gather all the ingredients and prepare our workstation.>>.
As they gathered the ingredients, their kitchen transformed into a bustling culinary workshop. Gabriella washed and chopped the vegetables while Y/n seasoned the ground beef with cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Gabriella glanced at her mother, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. <<Mama, would you mind teaching me how to sauté the vegetables?>> the little girl gently asked. She wanted to learn it so bad. She always saw Y/n do it and she admired her so much.
Y/n's eyes lit up at the thought of passing down her cooking skills <<Of course, my dear. I'll guide you through it.>> then she started pointing at the ingredients <<Heat some olive oil in the skillet and add the onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Stir them gently until they become soft and fragrant.>>.
Gabriella carefully followed her mother's instructions, stirring the vegetables with determination. The kitchen filled with the enticing aroma of sautéed onions and peppers, making their mouths water in anticipation.
Once the vegetables were cooked, Y/n added the seasoned ground beef to the skillet. Gabriella eagerly joined in, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it sizzled and browned.
As they cooked, the mother and daughter duo chatted and laughed, enjoying their time together in the kitchen. Y/n shared stories from her own childhood, weaving them into the tapestry of their cooking adventure.
<<Now now sweety, it's time to assemble the empanadas.>> Y/n said, her voice filled with happiness <<Roll out the empanada dough and cut it into circles. Spoon a generous amount of the beef filling onto each circle, and don't forget to add some sliced olives for that extra burst of flavor. Can you do that? Or you need help?>>
Gabriella was full of determination and nodded no <<I can do it.>> she carefully followed her mother's instructions again, placing spoonfuls of the savory filling onto each round of dough and sealing the edges with a gentle crimp.
With the empanadas neatly arranged on a baking sheet, Y/n preheated the oven and placed them inside. The anticipation grew as they watched the empanadas turn golden brown and crispy, filling the kitchen with an irresistible aroma.
Finally, the timer chimed, and they carefully removed the empanadas from the oven. The sight before them was a triumph: a tray of perfectly baked empanadas.
Gabriella's eyes sparkled with pride and excitement <<We did it, Mama! Our empanadas look amazing! They just look like in the pictures on the cards!>>.
Y/n beamed with joy, her heart swelling with love for her daughter <<Yes, we did, my dear. And I have a feeling they'll taste even better than they look.>> she looked at the clock <<We should wait for dad, what do you say?>>.
As if Miguel heard what she said, he walked inside and closed the door. He sniffed the air and then spoke, walking to the kitchen <<What's that delicious smell?>> he asked, lookining at the two girls in the kitchen.
Gabriella smiled <<¡Papa! We made empanadas!>> she exlaimed. Miguel got closer and looked over the empanadas that were in the place, ready to be served at dinner.
<<Que maravilla...>> he said, and smiled gently at them.

They sat at the kitchen table, savoring each bite of their homemade empanadas. The flavors danced on their tongues, a testament to their teamwork and determination.
<<They taste really good.>> Miguel said, eating the last piece of empanadas in his hand. The girl smiled <<Me and mama put all ourself to make it!>>. Y/n giggled and noddef <<It's true.>>.
As they enjoyed their meal, Gabriella looked at her mother, her eyes filled with gratitude <<Thank you mama, for making this with me.>>
Y/n reached over and squeezed Gabriella's hand <<Sweetheart, thank you more. I had a lot of fun.>>.
Gabriella's eyes shined <<We should do it together another time again.>> she exclaimed.
And with that, they savored the rest of their empanadas, cherishing the memories they had created.
Meanwhile, Miguel's expression softened at that bonding moment between his lover and his daughter, who was going to be in their memories forever.