Don't Distract Me, I'm Cooking.

A cozy rainy day in the town of Clayton, London. Doi was watching TV with an excited face. There was a cartoon where the girl receives the magical cake with raspberry jam, which she brought to her mother. This cake looked very tasty, so he wondered how it could taste. “Is it really magical?” he asked to himself. “And how tasty it is, I wonder?” With these thoughts, he ran to his room, where were also his friends, Robin and Drake. “Hey, guys,” he said with a smile. Robin didn't respond being «busy» listing every single object in the room and writing it down to his clipboard. Drake was trying to write his new novel on their computer, but as he heard they boy's voice, he turned his head to see Doi standing in the door frame. “Oh, hi,” he said, “how's it going, Doi? You need some help?” Doi approached Drake, opened the browser on the computer, and searched for the cartoon he watched before coming to the room. And, he skipped it at the moment where this cake was, thinking that Drake would take the hint. And, Drake did. He asked Doi, “You want this cake, don't you?” The boy eagerly nodded, “And I want it with some magical secret ingredient. Can I have one?” His green eyes shone with excitement. Robin drew himself near his friends, looking at the cake on the computer screen. He then looked at Drake, his voice a little bit mischievous, “Ya know what to do, fella.” Drake then closed the browser, saved his novel, and turned off the computer. “Okay, I'll bake these cakes for the three of us,” he said. “But first, we need to do some shopping. Let's get dressed and go to the Tepoco supermarket, shall we?” Drake put on his sweater, jeans, beige coat, green and yellow checkered scarf, and took his blue umbrella. Robin put on his blue jacket over his brown suit, and Doi put on his yellow raincoat and green boots. With that, the trio went outside. As the trio stepped outside, they were greeted by the soothing sound of raindrops falling on the pavement. They hurriedly made their way through the narrow streets of Clayton, their footsteps echoing in the quiet town. The Tepoco supermarket was just a short walk away. The familiar yellow and red sign could be seen from a distance, signaling the warmth and comfort that awaited them inside. Upon entering, they were welcomed by the aroma of freshly baked bread and the sight of colorful grocery aisles. Drake led the way, navigating through the shelves with purpose. They passed by rows of canned goods, fresh produce, and refrigerated items until they reached the baking section. Doi's eyes widened as he scanned the shelves, spotting the ingredients they needed for the magical cake. Drake picked up a packet of powdered sugar and a stick of butter while Robin carefully inspected the almond extract, ensuring it was of the finest quality. Doi happily grabbed the almond meal, imagining the delightful flavor it would add to the cake. Their journey continued through the supermarket, collecting an assortment of fruits for the cake's filling. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, green grapes, and green apples made their way into their shopping cart. Each fruit was carefully selected, ensuring they were ripe and ready to create a burst of flavors. With their shopping complete, the trio made their way to the checkout counter. As the cashier scanned their items, a friendly conversation ensued, filled with laughter and anticipation for the delicious cake that awaited them. Leaving the supermarket, they unfolded their umbrellas and braved the rain once again. The cool droplets splashed against their faces, invigorating their spirits as they made their way back home. The rain seemed to match their excitement, as if nature itself was eager to witness the magic that was about to unfold. Back in their cozy house, Doi eagerly helped Drake unpack the groceries while Robin cleared the kitchen counter. As they gathered around, their culinary adventure was about to begin. The ingredients were laid out in front of them, ready to be transformed into something truly special. “Now,” Drake exclaimed, tying his blue apron, “we're a bit ready to start! Doi, Robin, can you stay here while I'll find the recipe?” Then, he immediately rushed to their room, leaving his friends with ingredients. Robin then asked Doi, “Why did you think that this pie is magical, can you tell me?” Doi explained that it's because the girl asked some witch to make something to change her and, as he remembered, her mother's fate. Drake came back to the kitchen with the recipe written in the piece of paper. “Here it is, the recipe of this cake I found online. First, the ingredients list, which we need to prepare.” Then, he placed the recipe in the fridge. Here's the ingredient list. For crust they needed: one and a quarter cups of flour, two tablespoons powdered sugar, half cup butter (cold), one egg yolk and two tablespoons cold water. For filling they needed: half cup butter (room temperature), half cup powdered sugar, three eggs (room temperature), two teaspoons almond extract, one cup almond meal, three tablespoons flour. And last, but not least: blueberries and raspberry jam for garnish. Drake then added, “Okay, good! Mine would be with blueberries and raspberry jam. Robin's cake would be with cherries and raspberries, and Doi's one would have grapes and apples.” “Oh, I know!” Doi noted. “It's because of our favorite colors! Yours is blue, mine is green, and Robin's one is red.” Drake nodded, “Correct. Now, for a little reminder: my second favorite color is medium brown, but this time I'll go with blue.” In the cozy kitchen, the trio donned their aprons and began their culinary masterpiece. Doi stood on a stool, his eyes sparkling with excitement as Drake explained each step of the recipe. “Alright, let's start with the crust,” Drake said, his voice filled with enthusiasm. He retrieved a food processor and carefully measured out one and a quarter cups of flour and two tablespoons of powdered sugar. He added half a cup of cold butter, cut into small pieces, and instructed Doi to press the button to blend the ingredients. As the dough began to form, Drake added an egg yolk and two tablespoons of cold water. The scent of butter and flour filled the air as the food processor worked its magic. Once the dough came together, Drake helped Doi transfer it onto a floured surface. “Doi, can you mold this into a disc shape?” Drake asked, showing him the desired form. Doi nodded enthusiastically and used his tiny hands to shape the dough. They wrapped it in plastic wrap and placed it in the refrigerator to chill for thirty minutes. While the dough rested, Drake moved on to the filling. He creamed together half a cup of room temperature butter and half a cup of powdered sugar until it became light and fluffy. With Robin and Doi's assistance, he cracked three eggs into a separate bowl and added them one at a time, mixing well after each addition. To enhance the flavor, Drake measured two teaspoons of almond extract and added it to the mixture. He then folded in one cup of almond meal and three tablespoons of flour, creating a rich and decadent filling. As Drake finished preparing the filling, the dough was ready to be rolled out. He dusted the counter with flour and retrieved the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Doi clapped his hands in excitement as he watched Drake skillfully roll out the dough, ensuring it was even in thickness. Using springform pans as guides, Drake carefully cut out the crust's tops and bottoms. He placed the dough circles into the pans and instructed Doi to press them gently to fit. With extra dough, Robin and Doi decided to get creative and crafted braids to add a touch of whimsy to their cakes. Meanwhile, Drake preferred a simpler approach and didn't include braids on his cake. Once the crusts were prepared, Drake placed them in the freezer for ten minutes to firm up. In the meantime, he preheated the oven to 177°C, creating the perfect environment for their cakes to bake. With the crusts chilled, Drake removed them from the freezer and poured the almond filling into each crust, evenly distributing the mixture. Robin artfully arranged cherries and raspberries on his cake, while Doi placed green grapes and apple slices on his. Drake opted for blueberries and raspberry jam to complement his cake's blue theme. To secure the crust tops and braids, if applicable, Drake lightly brushed water along the edges and pressed them gently onto the filled crusts. He then made a small cross-shaped incision on each top and brushed them with an egg wash, giving the cakes a beautiful golden finish. Carefully placing the cakes in the preheated oven, Drake set the timer for thirty-one minutes. The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked treats filled the kitchen as the cakes began to rise and turn golden brown. After the initial bake time, Drake covered the cakes with foil and let them bake for an additional five minutes. As the timer chimed, signaling the completion of their baking journey, the three friends eagerly pulled the cakes out of the oven. They marveled at the golden crusts and the fragrant aroma that enveloped their cozy kitchen. With patience, they allowed the cakes to cool in their pans before carefully removing them. Drake instructed Doi to create a hole in the top of each cake using a small knife. This would become the perfect spot to sprinkle powdered sugar and add a dollop of their chosen jam. As the final touches were added, the trio admired their creations. The cakes were a sight to behold, each reflecting the unique personality of its creator. The magic of friendship and imagination had been transformed into a delectable treat. With anticipation dancing in their eyes, Doi, Robin, and Drake took their first bites of the magical cakes they had brought to life. As the flavors danced on their taste buds, their smiles grew wider, knowing that this cozy rainy day in Clayton would forever be remembered as the day they created their own slice of magic. “By the way, Doi,” Robin asked, chowing down his pie, “you mentioned some secret ingredient before. What was it, exactly, do you know?” Doi replied with a quite smart voice, “And the secret ingredient of our cakes is to make them with love.” Drake couldn't help but nod at the young boy's wise words, “Correct. While cooking something with love, you already have the secret ingredient you wanted.” Robin smiled, looking down at his cake, “Sounds quite tritely, but I like this explanation.” And so, with full tummies, the trio sat together, savoring the taste of their creations, sharing laughter and stories as the rain continued to fall outside, creating a pitter-patter symphony of tranquility in their little corner of the world.