Thus, we arrived at Sidera on the day Tomoe-san’s workplace, the Skylark Pavilion, was close.
To focus on the task at hand, I didn’t bring Mint or the dragonlings today—just the usual companions, Karen and Chocola.
「I’m sorry for making you wait outside like this.」
「Bark! Kuuun…」
It’s always the case that Chocola can’t enter the kitchen.
「I know it’ll take a little time, so you can stay with grandma if you’d like…」
「Bark, waon!」
「Okay, just stay quiet for me then.」
I gave Chocola, who was sitting stubbornly by the back entrance, a good rub, then stepped into the kitchen. It was sweet that he didn’t want to leave my side, but he couldn’t possibly be after the striped goat’s milk, could he…?
「Kyu…」
In front of me, the plate set down was wagged at eagerly—just his usual charm.
「Well then, thank you for having us.」
「Of course! I’ve been looking forward to your new creation.」
Tomoe-san welcomed us with her usual demeanor, showing no signs of worry. Yet, I couldn’t help but notice a slight tension in her expression. After all, I had mentioned that the cake was a present for Schnei-san and her.
「I prepared a rather generous amount of sugar and butter as you requested…」
「Yes, thank you. I think it should be enough.」
I had asked for three times the usual amount of sugar, butter, and flour.
As expected, it was quite impressive to see it all laid out.
「Is there anything you’re missing?」
「Yogurt, dried fruits soaked in alcohol, nuts, nutmeg, and cinnamon… We’re all set!」
—Alright.
I clapped my hands lightly to pump myself up.
「First, as part of the preparations, I’ll make ghee.」
「What’s that?」
Ghee is a type of clarified butter oil that originated in India (I believe).
To prepare it, I used unsalted fermented butter made from cow’s milk. Although it’s traditionally made from raw milk, that process is incredibly time-consuming and managing the temperature can be quite challenging, so I skipped that step.
I placed the butter into a pot and set it over low heat. As it slowly melted, a lot of foam resembling impurities bubbled up, but I resisted the urge to skim or stir and continued to heat it.
From time to time, I used a spatula to push the surface aside and check the liquid’s consistency. Eventually, the foam transformed into smaller bubbles. Once the liquid became clear enough to see the bottom of the pot, I turned off the heat just before it began to scorch, allowing it to finish cooking from residual heat.
「Finally, if you strain this through a cloth, it’s done!」
「It smells amazing. And it looks beautiful.」
「Yes, it’s golden and transparent… is this ‘ghee’?」
The two of them were captivated by the ghee in the glass jar.
「It’s the result of removing impurities like proteins from the butter. Be sure to seal the jar tightly and store it in a cool place at room temperature. It should last for about six months.」
「Can ghee be used for anything besides cake?」
「Yes! Essentially, since it’s an oil, it can be used in a variety of dishes. It’s also quite healthy.」
Tomoe-san expressed her admiration with a ‘hou’.
「Well, now that the ghee is ready, let’s get started!」
First, just like with a standard cake, I mixed and sifted the flour with the leavening powder. Then, I cracked in the eggs, added sugar, and sprinkled in spices—nutmeg and cinnamon—before mixing and kneading the dough.
Next, I added butter, strained yogurt, the ghee I just made, and roasted nuts along with the dried fruits soaked in alcohol.
「You’re using that much butter… combined with the ghee, that’s an astonishing amount.」
「Isn’t it? The nuts and dried fruits are the key ingredients.」
Dried fruits are a common preserved food in this world, and Sidera actively produces them as part of their strategy. Portable sweets are a lifeline for adventurers.
Grapes, jujubes, and apricots are quite popular. This time, I decided to use all of them. I soaked them in rum mixed with a bit of lemon juice to ensure they absorbed the flavors.
「According to the traditional standards, you should use more than thirty percent butter compared to the flour, and more than sixty percent dried fruits. Well, in this world, no one is going to criticize you for it, but I’d like to stick as closely to the original recipe as possible.」
After mixing the various ingredients, I kneaded the dough further, let it rest for a bit, and then shaped it into an oval form. I molded it into a rugby ball shape, waited for it to rise, and then it was time to put it in the oven.
While we waited, I gave Chocola a refill of milk and engaged in light conversation. About an hour later—
What emerged from the oven was a rough, lumpy mass with a brown, crusty surface that could hardly be called beautiful.
「Well, this doesn’t look very appealing…」
「It’s not finished yet. We’re only halfway through the process.」
「Eh…?」
Tomoe-san’s voice held a hint of disbelief as she processed my response.
In terms of the time taken to prepare, we were far from halfway.
「I’m going to brush this while it’s still hot. It’s a mixture of melted butter and sugar.」
「You’re still using butter and sugar…?」
Karen looked just as incredulous, but I could only smile in response.
With a pastry brush, I carefully coated the entire surface, and for the final touch,
「Now, I’ll sprinkle a generous amount of powdered sugar on top.」
「Eh…?」
「Just like that.」
I coated the surface with finely ground sugar until it was completely white. The rough, earthy appearance transformed dramatically.
The two of them were astonished by the amount of sugar, but then they murmured,
「This looks just like…」
「Hmm… it’s like snow has piled up.」
「Now, the cooking part is complete. However, it’s not truly finished yet. We’ll wrap it in oiled paper and seal it to let it mature. It could take two to three weeks, but we’ll aim for one week this time.」
「One week…? Won’t it go bad?」
「That’s what the sugar is for.」
Sugar acts as a preservative. By coating the surface thoroughly and packing the dough with plenty of dried fruits, it prevents spoilage.
With time, the flavors of the dried fruits will infuse into the dough, allowing the tastes to meld together and become even more delicious.
「Let’s gather everyone for a tasting party in a week. Until then, enjoy the anticipation of the flavor.」
「Sui, does this cake have a name?」
「It does. In the language of its country of origin, it means something like ‘tunnel’ or ‘underground passage’. Perhaps it’s because of its shape resembling a tunnel? I think I also heard it’s derived from offerings made to the gods.」
Originally, it’s a cake meant to be eaten gradually leading up to Christmas.
However— in the city of Sidera, where adventurers risk their lives in the forest, it holds a much greater demand and value.
「It’s called ‘Stollen’. It’s delicious, has a long shelf life, and is high in energy, making it a great emergency food. So, bringing this into the forest can provide enjoyment during meals and could also save lives in a pinch.」
「……」
Seeing Tomoe-san’s eyes widen, I nodded.
「This Stollen is a cake for this town, connecting those who pledge to return alive, like Schnei-san and Tomoe-san….who swear to return alive with those who are waiting for their return.」
Leave a Reply