Chapter 16: Raspberry Tart of Blessings and Bonds

I decided to bake a raspberry tart in order to celebrate and welcome Faruno and the children.

Its just the right time for raspberry harvest. Yesterday, I got the children to pick them. Most of them are preserved in honey, the rest of them are split into todays use and distributed supply for the villagers.

As a preservation method, honey preservation is certainly superior. With a strong sterilization effect, fruits can be preserved in honey for more than a year.

In other words, even in winter when no fruit can be harvested, we can still enjoy the juicy raspberrys flavor. Moreover, theres a different delicacy compared to the fruit when eaten fresh.

I should sample the taste.

I bite into raspberries that Ive cut into small pieces. Refres.h.i.+ng sourness rushes about in my mouth. Then theres a faintly sweet taste. Theres not enough sweetness when theyre eaten fresh, but after being tossed and heated, the sweetness should be just about right.

I fetch the tart crust dough that I made yesterday from the shelf. The tart dough was kneaded by adding eggs and walnut oil to wheat flour. I press the dough, shaping it into a circular shape, not forgetting to make the thinness uniform. Then, I puncture the dough, make the rim of the crust, remove the air by adding stone weight, and complete the pre-cooking stage.

After the crust is done, its now the creams turn to be made. This time, I use pistachio foraged from the mountain to add to the tart cream. Pistachio is a wonderful nut which contains a lot of oil. After going through some preparation, mix the pistachio that has been ground into paste with newly made fresh cream. Then, dont forget to add honey and egg yolk gradually here.

The fresh cream has been dyed with a beautiful emerald hue, signaling that the pistachio cream is done.

With this pistachio cream, Ill be able to build up the sweetness that the raspberry lacks, while smoothing the sour edge as well.

I sample the taste. Yeah, tastes good.

I spread the pistachio cream on top of the finished tarts crust evenly. The umami of pistachio will only grow after being heated.

Its the bakings turn next.

I put the tart crust that has been filled with pistachio cream into the oven. Due to the heating, the alluring smell of the pistachio wafts across the kitchen.

The tart is only baked for a short while. The shape is good, the surface of pistachio cream is also smooth. Afterwards, it needs to be cooled down for a moment.

In the mean time, I make custard cream from egg yolk, honey, and fresh cream. This tastes better without going through the fire. After the tart is cooled, I spread the custard cream on top of the tarts surface. Im sure this will add a nice accent to the pistachio cream.

I sprinkle chopped pistachio to add more accent to the texture. Then, its the main actors showtime. I cover all the custard cream generously with raspberries. Juicy and vibrant red fruits are as dazzling as precious rubies.

Tartlet version.

With this, its completed.

Faruno and the kids will surely be overjoyed.

I take advantage of Farunos favor by borrowing a room in Farunos mansion to hold a welcome party for Faruno and the children. When I arrive in front of the room, I can already hear their chattering voices.

Kurt-aniki is a slave driver to his workers!

Johann exaggerates mundane things to Faruno. Hes complaining with a bright tone, though, making it sound like he enjoyed it.

But Kurt-sama is so kind. He teaches us politely.

Besides, if you work earnestly, you can finish up properly.

The other children playfully refute him.

Oi, youre spoiling it.

As Johann says with a chuckle, Faruno smiles bitterly.

Are you happy that you came to this village?

Upon Farunos question, the children look at each other.

Un. They nod in unison.

As I thought, it feels good to do a decent job. We dont feel guilty or get beaten up over it besides, we can eat a lot here.

Yeah, after a lot of work, the food will surely be there too. This is the ultimate happiness.

The children get highly excited.

They work earnestly without pretense. Tina is training them; they absorb everything so quickly that they have remembered almost everything in just a week. And if a single one of them remembers, he/she will properly explain to the company, lessening Tinas burden significantly. Recruiting them into this village has been a huge boon.

Feeling the joyful atmosphere from this room, a smile naturally comes to my face too. Then I enter the room.

Everyone, Ive brought the pastry to the celebration party.

The moment I entered the room, the children let out high pitched noises.

Uwaa,

it smells

so

good!

So pretty!

Those are the raspberries that we picked yesterday, right?

I took a tiny bite, but it just tasted sour.

There are intriguing comments, but in general, the response is positive.

Everyone, Kurt-samas pastries are so wonderful that even n.o.bles will give them high praises. I couldnt even count how many n.o.bles said that they wanted to eat another one, but they couldnt. Being able to eat such a pastry is truly a blessing.

When Faruno says so, the childrens expectations turn higher.

The pastry that n.o.bles cant even eat!!

Awesomeee.

Im glad we came to this village~

The children lean forward impatiently, they cant wait anymore. In that case, I should let them eat it soon, right?

Tina, please prepare the plates.

Yes, Kurt-sama.

With a gleeful look, Tina comes back with small plates. I take out the cake knife from my upper clothes, then I cut the tart. As the cake knife goes through the pie, it makes delicious crunching sounds.

The sweet smell from the raspberry, the savory smell from baked pistachio cream, and with all those fragrances wafting through the air, theres that crisp sound.

With the barrage of sound and smell tempting them, the children start drooling.

Tina, line up the sliced tart, please.

As you wish.

Tina sets the sliced tart into the tray and places them. There are children who look like they cant hold back to take the tart thats lying right in front of them, but their hand is slapped by the child next to them.

All the portions of the tart are set in this way.

Lets get to the troublesome talk first. Everyone, I really thank you for coming to my village. Today, I made a pastry to convey my grat.i.tude to all of you. And I want you to know how much youre part of this wonderful creation, so I made this one. You helped in making it, from the honey and the raspberry. I want you to know just how wonderful that is.

Short as it is, my speech is over. I think the children cant stand to wait any longer.

Lets give our prayer. There are probably some of you who dont know it yet, so Ill say it first. After repeating the prayer that Im about to say, you should eat right away.

I clap once.

For the food that we have today, we thank the forest and G.o.d.

For the food that we have today, we thank the forest and G.o.d.

Everyone speaks in unison, then starts to eat the raspberry tart.

Inside the room, the sound of chomps resounds as teeth bite into the tarts crust. What a pleasing sound. I cant hold back either and start eating my portion.

The base crust gives a crunchy response as I chomp into it, then the smoothness of pistachio cream envelops the feel for the longest time, while the custard cream gives a fluffy feeling to it.

When I chew, the chopped nuts reveal themselves, the raspberry juice spreads in the mouth, the sweet and rich cream blends together with the sour raspberry. A fascinating world that cant be achieved by a single one of them now harmoniously spreads in my mouth.

Its a great flavor. I did a good job.

When I look next to me, Tinas tail is shaking in a buzz. Tina seems to be lost in putting the remaining tart into her mouth.

I can say the same for the children. Theyve forgotten how to talk as their teeth keep sinking into the tart. Obviously, eating that way will make the tart finish up in a second And the next second, the children who were enraptured with the deliciousness recover themselves

Aah, Ive eaten it all!

Its, its gone!

This pastry, for the first time in my life

Uuuu, I still want to eat it~

They cry words of regret one after another. There are children who lick their plates in a bad manner, flick their finger to steal the cream from the corner of the lips of the child next to them.

Kurt-samas pastry is as wonderful as always. Even in Marquis Fernandes territory, no one can eat pastries as good as this.

Faruno, the only one who eats with a knife and fork instead of bare hands, gives me praise.

Praising me to that extent truly makes me glad.

Ive confirmed it from eating this pastry. Kurt-samas pastries are profound. The delicious taste is layered one upon another while attaining a sense of harmony. Its different to any other cook in the world.

Farunos unintentional words describes the fundamental principle of pastries in the modern world. On top of multiple layers of delicious flavor, it needs to achieve balance as well. That exact sense is what showcases a ptissiers skill.

Receiving that kind of praise means that I have to make even more wonderful pastries, dont I?

Since Ive built those expectations, it makes me wish to answer those feelings.

Kurt-aniki, are there any seconds?

Ou, I want to eat it too.

Me too, me too!

The food doesnt seem to be enough for growing children. Its a good thing that Ive put it into consideration.

To be honest with you, Ive indeed prepared something.

Opening the door and carrying over the tart from the kitchen, Volg appears.

My apologies for the wait. Young lady, Kurt-sama, everyone.

Everyone stands up lively, not expecting a second batch at all.

If you want seconds, raise your hand.

The children, as well as Tina with her ears pointing straight up, raise their hands. Then

Me as well, I wish for another slice as well.

While looking extremely embarra.s.sed, Faruno also raises her hand timidly.

It looks so strange that everyone laughs.