"I didn't burn myself!" I protest around my fingers, licking the last bit of lingering flavor and then licking my lips after. "That was good, for vegetables. You need to use that yellowish spice more often."

My eyes light up again when he offers me another bite, this time a spicy looking pepper. I hover for maybe half a second before reaching for the pepper, ready and eager to pop it in my mouth and enjoy the fiery bite.