Aleksander considered his options then decided on stroganov as something that would be hearty and a good complement to Esther's salad. The cupboards and cold box were kind to him for a startling change and he took advantage of their bounty. This would be the finest stroganov he had ever made.

"There is something calming about cooking, I think," he said as he started to cut the beef into cubes. "I should have become a cook instead of a general."