Making Cookies Together
During morning tea time, Mother told me that Steve and Daniel would be visiting to report on the matter from the other day.
Can we do it? Can we do it? Now, now, haha~n. Now, haha~n.
I skipped towards the kitchen, humming a tune.
It was a song from an old children's TV show.
[Pfft! Ahahaha—!]Huh!? What?
I quickly turned around… Brother Noel, Brother Gene, Brother Aran, and Vee were all shaking with laughter.
“Heh… Wh-what was that song?”
Brother Noel asked while laughing.
Meanwhile, the other three were clutching their stomachs, still laughing.
“Uh… Ah… A song from my past life.”
I answered, blushing.
“Bwahaha… ‘Now, haha~n’… Ahahaha! What even is that… ahahahaha—!”
“Huh!? I was singing out loud?”
“Heh… Oh, you were loud and clear. Ahahahaha.”
Brother Aran pointed out.
Apparently, I was so excited that I didn’t just hum—I was fully singing.
Oh no. This is beyond embarrassing…
My face was burning. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
“I-I was just too excited… Wait, why are you all following me?”
“Haha… Because we figured you were heading to the kitchen… pfft, hahahaha—.”
Brother Gene answered.
“You’re making something, right…? Ahaha. And we want to eat… hahaha.”
Vee added.
“Oh, I see. But enough laughing already!!”
Leaving the four still laughing, I headed to the kitchen.
After a while, the four finally stopped laughing and joined me.
“So, what are we making?”
Brother Gene asked.
“I was thinking of making some thank-you sweets for Steve and Daniel. Last time, I gave them cookies and pound cake, so… what should I make this time?”
I sorted through my storage to check what I had.
Let’s see… chicken stock, dried fruit, BLT sandwiches, egg sandwiches, hair ties, lunch bags, embroidery, salt butter cookies, pound cakes (dried fruit, tea), egg whites, etc.
Wow, it's almost all food.
Oh! I still have egg whites left over from making mayonnaise, so how about cigarette cookies?
“Alright! Let’s make cigarette cookies.”
[Cigarette cookies?]Not just Brother Noel and the others, but even Arthur, Ben, and Anny all responded in unison.
“Yes, you bake thin cookies and roll them up while they’re still warm. They end up shaped like cigarettes.”
[Heeh~]“Alright, mix the butter and sugar together.”
Since we were making a lot and there were many people who wanted to participate, I took on the role of instructor. Brother Noel and Brother Gene teamed up, Brother Aran and Vee were another pair, Master and Anny made another, while Arthur worked alone.
“Once it turns white, add the egg whites in portions.”
“Little Joan, we don’t have to whip the egg whites?”
“Nope, no need to whip them. Just add them in batches and mix until smooth each time.”
“Whoa, Vee, don’t splash it everywhere! Be more careful.”
Brother Aran scolded Vee.
“Okay…”
Vee pouted but answered obediently.
“Is it mixed? Now sift in the flour and fold it in gently.”
“Hey, Gene, you’re sifting too high! I’m getting covered in flour!”
“Ah, sorry! My bad—ah… ah… ah-choo!!”
“You okay, Brother Gene?”
I handed Brother Gene a handkerchief.
“Ah… Yeah, somehow.”
“… Um, what about me?”
I turned to look at Brother Noel, who was now completely covered in flour from Brother Gene’s sneeze.
“Pfft… Ahaha—!”
Brother Gene and I burst out laughing at the sight of him.
“Don’t just laugh! Help me!”
Brother Noel complained, but…
“Ahahaha—!”
Even Brother Aran and Vee joined in the laughter.
“Young master Noel, here… Clean.”
Arthur used his skill to clean up the flour-covered Brother Noel.
“Thanks, Arthur. Unlike my so-called family here…”
After that little incident, we finally finished making the dough.
“Now, using the back of a wet spoon, spread the dough into thin ovals or circles as evenly as possible. Then we’ll bake them. Master, can you handle the oven?”
“Got it… But hey, Little Joan, can you stop calling me ‘Master’? I mean, I’m always the one learning from you. It’s embarrassing… Just call me by my name.”
Ben said as he placed the trays in the oven.
“Alright, Mr. Ben.”
“No need for ‘Mr.’ either.”
“Same here, just call me Arthur.”
Arthur added.
“Um… me too…”
Anny chimed in.
“Alright then, Arthur, Ben, Anny. That okay?”
“Yes.”
“Mmm~ it’s starting to smell good.”
Vee sniffed the air happily.
“Once they’re baked, we have to work quickly, so let me explain first. Right after baking, we’ll roll them up on the tray while they’re still hot. Be careful not to burn yourselves.”
It would be easier with chopsticks…
“Alright, they’re done baking!”
“Okay, roll them up quickly!”
“Yes!!”
Cigarette cookies require speed. Everyone focused on rolling them up.
Since they kept baking in batches, we were rolling non-stop. At first, some struggled, but after a few tries, they got the hang of it and rolled them beautifully.
If we had chocolate, these would be even better… but no point wishing for what we don’t have.
With chocolate, we could’ve made langue de chat. Maybe I should ask Mr. Taiki about it next time…
What do you think about this chapter?
