An hour passed by after all the ingredients were prepared. I had placed all the ingredients into a (heat-resistant) bowl to pour the oil in when it was ready, and Rex and I took turns making sure the aromatics in the oil didn't burn or cook too fast as the oil steadily bubbled. The kitchen was filled with the wonderful aroma of the cider cooking as well as the savory oil.

I set down my book, checking on the oil again. All the ingredients were golden brown and fried, but thankfully not burnt.

"I think the oil should be about ready to pour," I told Rex, who was sitting on the ground next to me, writing an essay on a scroll of paper.

He stood up as I scooped out the aromatics, leaving just the hot oil in the pot.

"Be very careful," I warned Rex, who insisted on pouring the oil himself. "Don't dump it all at once. Separate each pour into about a third of the pot, and I'll stir it all together as it's mixing.

Rex lifted the pot slightly, testing its weight, before holding it over the bowl of ingredients and counting down from three.

"Three, two, one..." he poured the oil in a steady stream, and the chili and other aromatics sizzled in the bowl.

I took a long wooden spoon, mixing around the oil in the bowl, making sure everything was incorporated as Rex added in another third of the oil.

"Ugh! My eyes are watering!" Rex said, blinking and squinting as he carefully poured the last bit of oil out and set the pot back onto the stove.

I continued to mix the rest of the oil, but I answered him as well. "You'll be very surprised when you taste it for the first time. I'm excited to add it to my food!"

"But how do you add it?" he asked. "Is it like the jam, where you just spread it on top?"

I shrugged, "Kind of? You could do that, but I don't know if it would taste good. I would just mix it in with vegetables or meat while it's cooking, or drizzle it on top after cooking."

He looked at the still-sizzling bowl of chili oil.

"Could I try some when it's cooled down?"

I almost laughed out loud, but managed to keep a perfectly straight face.

"Sure! I can't wait to see what you think of it."