Brownie.
Also known as chocolate brownie cake, the English name for it is "brownie," and it originated in the United States.
It's said that a Black woman, while making a chocolate cake, forgot to beat the butter and instead mixed the melted butter directly with the chocolate, creating a surprisingly delicious result! From its origins, it's clear that this is an American-style cake.
Its characteristic is its simplicity and boldness!
In plain terms, it's a heavy butter cake.
The ingredients and method are similar to those of the classic pound cake, but the texture is more like a cookie—soft and tender.
Therefore, you shouldn't expect to significantly reduce the calories by cutting down on fat, because without the richness of butter and cocoa butter, the cake would lose its shine!
Eggs.
Flour.
Oil.
Sugar.
These four ingredients should be in close proportion, allowing for slight adjustments.
Unlike chiffon or sponge cakes, which can fail easily, brownies even skip the step of beating the butter.
Moist and dense.
When eaten, it doesn't have the light, airy texture of traditional cakes.
This texture is due to Erina's unique preparation method and ingredient ratios.
"If you use a square mold with a larger base area, the batter's height will be lower, making the baked result more aesthetically pleasing."
"And although the batter has high fat and sugar content, the large surface area and thinness of the batter allow it to bake at a higher temperature, shortening the baking time and preserving the cake's moisture, giving it a soft texture."
"Finally, when you cut it, the interior is very moist, perfectly blended with chopped walnuts, giving it an even richer flavor."
"If you let it sit for a while, it might even become more like pound cake, becoming softer and richer as it reabsorbs its oils!"
"Hmm? This…"
As he continued to eat, Azami was surprised.
The cake's deliciousness was only truly realized at this moment, with a slight crunch when bitten into.
It then melted smoothly in the mouth, with the silky texture and chocolate aroma spreading without leaving any residue.
It must be said.
A perfect brownie can satisfy even the pickiest tastes!
The surface's beautiful chocolate swirl patterns complemented the cake's name perfectly. Before Azami knew it, the brownie cake in front of him was completely gone.
…
"Finished?"
Azami blinked in disbelief.
"Uncle, when tasting our brownie, don't just swallow it whole. The ingredients I added to the chocolate have a hidden charm."
"Only by savoring it carefully will you discover another delightful world."
At this moment, Erina, seeing Azami's somewhat stunned expression, couldn't help but smile lightly.
Obviously, she was quite confident at this moment.
"Exactly."
Hisako also nodded, adding, "Even though the cake is sweet and can become overwhelming if you eat too much, I added some sour plums when making the cake base. Although it's a small amount, you won't notice it when eating, but it balances out the sweetness, making you crave more."
"After all these years, you've grown to this level?"
Hearing this, Azami's eyes flashed, then he just smiled faintly.
Then he turned his gaze to Alice, who always kept her head down, feeling gratified and a bit affectionate.
…
"Judge."
"Shouldn't you try my fondant cake now?"
Beside them, Rindo presented her masterpiece and asked.
"Yes!"
Azami nodded.
Then he began tasting Rindo's fondant cake.
In fact, Rindo's fondant cake was made using American cake techniques, using fresh eggs, imported cream, and other natural ingredients!
On top of the cake, she even added healthy fresh fruits, like dried fruits soaked in imported brandy!
Just one bite was incredibly sweet, with a dense and layered texture complemented by a variety of flavors, whether fruity or rich chocolate.
The complex yet delicate combination of flavors was both sweet and fragrant, leaving one marveling:
Fondant cake!
It truly tastes great no matter how you eat it!
…
Generally speaking.
Due to the unique materials and craftsmanship of fondant cakes, they are usually limited to high-end markets, making them somewhat unpopular with the general public.
However, as people's living standards and tastes improve and demand for diverse cake products increases, more and more people are becoming interested in fondant art cakes.
At this moment, Azami couldn't help but sniff the air, immediately feeling a sweet fragrance wafting towards his nose.
He closed his eyes, greedily inhaling, until the refreshing sweetness seemed to fill his lungs, making him feel captivated.
"Interesting!"
He said, opening his eyes with an expression of admiration and excitement.
He looked again at the fondant cake in front of him, gently flipping it with a small fork, then continued to cut another piece, savoring it carefully.
The aftertaste of the first bite hadn't faded.
The flavor of the second bite spread instantly in his mouth, both fragrant and sweet, with a unique taste!
Especially the tiny, sweet pearls on the cake, constantly exuding a delightful fruit aroma.
And the strawberries carved intricately on the cake, just a bite would release the cream filling with a "whoosh," slowly melting away!
…
Fondant cake, also originating in the United States, is a product of the early 20th century.
Due to its gorgeous appearance and rich taste, it quickly became popular worldwide. Today, fondant cake is a star in the dessert world, seen at weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations.
Why is fondant cake so special?
First, its appearance can truly be described as "stunning."
The surface of a fondant cake is covered with a thick layer of fondant, which can be shaped into various forms and patterns, from cartoon characters to flowers, and even mimicking famous paintings and sculptures.
Moreover, the fondant is soft and delicate, easily molding into intricate details.
Apart from the appearance.
The taste of fondant cake is also a highlight.
The inside usually consists of sponge cake, cream, and icing.
The sponge cake is light and soft, the cream is rich, and the icing adds sweetness, creating a variety of textures.
Of course, the process of making fondant cake is also quite interesting.
It involves preparing various materials, including fondant, icing, and cream, followed by specific steps such as making the cake, shaping the fondant, and coloring.
Every step requires careful attention!
And it must be said, Rindo's fondant cake was "sweet" to the extreme.
So much so that Azami immediately showed an appreciative look, commenting, "Not bad, as expected of the current second seat of the Elite Ten, your skills indeed surprise me!"
…
Soon, under everyone's watchful eyes.
Azami finally finished all of Rindo's fondant cake.
And at that moment, he felt the surrounding world being isolated by an invisible film, leaving only his thoughts wandering in a vast space.
Hmm!
In his mind.
Images and ideas flashed like meteors.
He stared into the endless darkness, trying to find a guiding light.
Unconsciously, Azami frowned, gently tapping his fingers on the table, each rhythm marking the birth and demise of a thought.
Finally, he slowly opened his eyes, looking at Erina and the others, saying, "I declare, Erina, Alice, and Hisako, you all have successfully passed this examination!"
…
"Huh?"
Hisako felt incredulous.
What does that mean?
We passed the exam?
So, does this mean we defeated the current second seat of the Elite Ten, Rindo?
No!
That can't be possible, right?
Something like that shouldn't be so simple!
"We really won?"
Alice, upon hearing this, felt a buzzing in her head, suddenly feeling a bit dazed, unable to react for a while!
"Uncle, you…"
Erina was also stunned.
"Erina, you've really changed a lot over the years!"
Azami smiled knowingly and added, "In this cooking duel with the Elite Ten, I saw your growth, and I'm somewhat relieved."
"Keep working hard. I believe that one day, you'll bring Totsuki Academy into a new era!"
…
In this exam, Rindo was a loser!
However, she didn't mind, because she didn't really care about winning or losing, nor about her reputation.
Moreover, Azami never wanted Erina to lose in this exam; otherwise, he wouldn't have ordered her to rush from Totsuki Academy to Hokkaido to take charge of blocking Erina and the others.
Obviously, everything was predetermined!
On the other hand, in another examination hall, Megumi, Ikumi, and Miyoko weren't as lucky.
Their opponent was Momo, the fourth seat of the Elite Ten!
Unlike cakes, in this exam, the theme for both sides was desserts.
Yes!
It's Momo's specialty.
So, in this exam, she had a great advantage, while Megumi, Ikumi, and Miyoko were at a disadvantage.
Momo showed no mercy, creating a very rare rainbow jelly dessert.
As the name suggests.
This dessert looked as colorful as a rainbow!
…
The ingredients for rainbow jelly included black cherries, cherries, limes, lemons, oranges, pineapples, and strawberries—seven ingredients with different colors.
Momo's jelly-making process was complex, relying entirely on the gelling properties of gelatin and using different molds to create unique styles and shapes!
After the jelly liquid was prepared, molded, and refrigerated, the final product was this beautiful dessert.
At this moment, the judge was stunned, staring at the rainbow jelly with an incredible expression!
Then she began to taste it.
"Woo, amazing!"
"It tastes a bit like steamed egg custard."
"The jelly texture is elastic, and you have to gently cut it with your teeth to eat it."
"And when your teeth touch the jelly, there's this delightful anticipation as it splits into two, it's just fantastic
."
In the end, this judge, with a sigh of admiration, directly announced the result of the exam:
Momo, a landslide victory.
Megumi, Ikumi, and Miyoko were utterly defeated!
Thus, when Megumi and the others reached the third round of the advancement exam, they faced an unprecedented setback.
And the fate awaiting them was:
Expulsion!
…
Almost at the same time, in another examination hall.
Using chopsticks to pick up a translucent fish slice, you could see it refracting light, emitting a rainbow sheen.
Bright!
It was truly bright!
After plating, you could even see the pattern on the plate through the fish, it was:
Red muscles, white flesh, so thin it could blow away, as delicate as a cicada's wings, paired perfectly!
Japanese cuisine is often said to be a feast for the eyes, and the presentation is a major part of its appeal. But when Eishi's sashimi was brought to the table, even without tasting it, one would be awed by its vibrant colors and beautiful presentation.
If food can be considered art, then Eishi's sashimi was a masterpiece.
One bite.
It could be stunning, refreshing, elegant, or exquisite.
The judge could feel the strong Japanese vibe.
That umami flavor wasn't masked by strong seasonings but came from the natural taste of the ingredients themselves, giving it a pure and deep flavor that was mesmerizing.
…
"I declare, in this cooking duel, Eishi is the winner!"
"Thanks, first-year students."
At this moment, Eishi took a deep breath, then smiled at Soma.
"Sigh!"
"As expected, I lost again!"
Knowing the competition was over, Soma could only shrug helplessly, sighing.
Next to him, Takumi and Ryo were already exhausted, lying on the ground, no longer filled with the confidence they had during the Autumn Election, only feeling fear and despair!
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