Chapter 65: Swiss Roll Cake and Jam Bread
Ely''s POV:
"How is it, Your Grace?" Jorge asked me as I ate histest creation which was a steak and mushroom
pot pie with pea mash and buttered corn and carrots.
"This is...Oh, you added the crushed pepper to it. It enhances the vors more. The Mash is nice and
creamy. No lumps at all and the vegetables were steamed perfectly." I enjoyed the meals he prepares
more and more. "Hmmm, the pie has been baked for about 2 minutes too long so watch out for that if
you are serving this to a critic."
The chef''s ck eyes glimmered with respect and blushed a bit before nodding.
"You caught that mistake very well. I am amazed that you were self-taught and possess a perceptive
taste bud." He looked at me sheepishly. "The culinary professors at my school would have loved to
have you learn there."
"You mean the Culinary Institute at Kalderos," I asked and he nodded.
"You have talent, Your Grace. I am learning a lot from you whenever we bounce ideas off each other. I
think you would blossom more as a chef if you study there but...that is if you want to." He said
respectfully.....
That is something to think about.
As Jorge left me to go back to the main kitchen, I smiled to myself as the thought of studying again with
fellow cooks from this world would be very different than on Earth.
The food culture here is still young and innovations of food are just waiting to be discovered.
It was an enticing idea. Something to discuss with my husband when he gets back.
I stopped eating and wondered if the letter I sent found its way to him.
Is he eating well? Sleeping as much as he can? Is he injured or tired all the time?
I have only known him for a week but what is this weird feeling I am having? It was like a longing....a
yearning to know if he is doing okay and the urge to see him.
Sigh...this is why I do not like resting or stopping to rx. I always manage to think of him when my
guard was down and I stole his pillow and reced it with mine so that I can hug it. His scent was still
on it when I first hugged it but now it was fading.
Stop it Ely! You are a strong woman! Take him out of your mind. Finish your lunch and go back to work.
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Neo''s POV:
I watched my master use a more friendly version of a piping bag and stuck it into the hole she just did
and filled the bread with jam until she stopped and took it out.
"This is the reason why we need airy bread. Try it." she gave me the first bread roll.
The bread we made using yeast was plumper and better looking than the smaller hard rolls we usually
get from the bakers. I licked my lips as I bit it and my mouth was soon filled with fluffy soft bread that
just melts in my mouth followed by a burst of rich sweet strawberry jam and then a pop of creamy
saltiness that bnces the sweet tartness of the strawberry.
I also felt like my fatigue recover instantly as I chewed more and felt a bit tingly.
What....was that small pop of vor? It was subtle and it mixed with the jam so easily.
"You taste the surprise I piped into my jam bread?" The mischievous look on the duchess'' lovely face
made me blush as she showed me the piping bag.
My word...two small bags into one piping bag?
The other one was strawberry jam and the other was...cream cheese!
"Sweet and Salty vors go really well and for people who find strawberry jam too sweet. This is
another alternative for them. What do you think? You will be making this at the shop soon. I would live
the feedback."
"This will absolutely sell! It is a new taste! I could eat 2 of these every day." I finished the roll I was
given and liked my lips to catch any crumbs. "We should get Mr. Pierce''s approval on this."
My reactionnpsed my master as she resumed piping.
"He will arrive soon. Sir Pierce alwayses immediately when I have food to give away. Help me
make these now." She handed me another piping bag and I immediately emted her technique.
Like how she keeps pushing the cream until there was no resistance and does a small twirl with the
nozzle to avoid spilling and how gentle she holds the roll in a gentle grip to avoid deforming them.
We managed to finish 20 rolls and 2 swiss roll cakes before the serious looking secretary and another
man came.
My master introduced the energetic man as Hubert the Duke''s bookkeeper and I made my
introductions before they sampled the cake and jam bread.
"How long is the shelf life of this bread and cake." Sir Pierce asked after he finished half of the desserts
before setting it on the table.
"2-3 days for the jam bread. The cake canst for 2 weeks at the most if kept in a cool environment."
She answered confidantly as Sir Hubert ate the desserts with zeal.
"The bread will need more exposure then. Maybe the top counter on the cafe would be the best
position."
"Great idea. This bread also goes well with coffee so we could advertise abo price for it to help it
sell." The duchess'' suggestion was met with approval by Mr. Pierce.
"Excellent idea. Most workers who leave for workte at night usually crave hot and sweet things
before going home during fall. We can do a promo on it during the opening...."
"We can also do one for the cake. This gives them more variety for a slightly higher price but not too
much."
I watched my master bounce ideas with the secretary as he wrote them down with such speed that I
fear his notebook might catch on fire.
Meanwhile, I saw the bookkeeper leaning towards the table and tried to take Mr. Pierce''s te which
still had half of the cake and roll.
"Hue...Take your grubby paws off my cake." A chill went through me when the secretary said those
words.
"But...it is just so good. Can I have another, Your Grace? I cannot seem to stop craving your food ever
since." Sir Hubert whined as the secretary red at him.
"Please forgive his manners, Mdy. I will reprimand him." Pierce sigh as he took his te and gobbled
up the remaining sweets.
The duchessughed as Mr. Hubert looked dejected while the secretary gave me his te to wash.
A few more minutes of talking was done by them until the two men bowed to my master who nodded
regally.
She then turned to me just as I was finished washing the dishes.
"Neo. Kindly pack some rolls and cake slices for these two gents and clean up the kitchen before going
for your supper okay?"
Text content ? N?velDrama.Org.
I nodded and we all became quiet as she left the culinary house kitchen and went towards the main
house with her maid Linda behind her.
Remembering how to pack things was the first thing my master taught me so I grabbed one of the cake
boxes that just came in and ced the slices neatly as she told me to. I wrapped the bread in paper
and ced it in the box as well before giving them to the two gentlemen.
"I can not wait to eat these with my missus. She has been eager to try one Her Grace''s food." The
book keeper held on to the box as if it was filled with gold.
"Good work. You are as talented as Her Grace says. I hope you would do a good job of cooking for the
cafe." Sir Pierce acknowledged my box wrapping skills as eptable with a nod before he dragged his
friend outside.
I sent them off with a smile and once the kitchen was quiet. I started cleaning up and storing the left
over bread and cake in the ice box.
Phew.
I feel much invigorated for some reason and not tired at all. In fact...I feel as light as air.
Took them long enough to leave.
I whirled around in rm and grabbed a nearby weapon which was a rolling pin and looked for the
intruder before an amused chuckle sounded off..in my head.
Sorry about that human. I forget that your kind are skittish when ites to hearing voices.
"Who...what are you?" The tingling sensation pulsed inside me and my eyes widen inprehension.
"Mana..."
Oh..I was right to choose you. I am Sylph, a Wind Mana Spirit and I have awakened thanks to you
consuming mana enriched cuisine.
I was shocked and overwhelmed. A Mana Spirit is rare gift and to possess one meant power and
opportunity. For a budding chef like me; it meant that I can cook even better food even if I do not
practice a lot.
But that was the type of chef I never wanted to be. Someone who relies on their mana spirits and not
on their skills...
As I close the culinary house and locked it, I made small talk with the spirit inside me and made a
promise to myself to ask my master my suspicions.
Because Mana Spirits can only be manifested when they consume enough mana enriched food.
Then that means, Her Grace is aware of the mana spirit sleeping inside me way before I did.
Was this why she weed me easily? Most nobles would never tolerate being with me unless it was
necessary...
Did that mean something? Or am I just overthinking it?