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greekcookingmadeeasy · 19 days ago

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Greek Fluffy Amygdalopita Almond Cake (Pie)

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Greek Fluffy Amygdalopita Almond Cake (pie) - Amygdalopita Cake Afros

BY: Greek Cooking Made Easy

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Κοιτάξτε Επίσης Την Συνταγή Μου Σε YouTube Βίντεο, Το Λίνκ Είναι: ΕΔΩ

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SERVES 🍴⃒ PREP. TIME 🕔⃒

16 pers. 25 min.

COOK. TIME ♨ DIFFIC. LEVEL 👩‍🍳⃒

45 min. Easy

Although it has a difficult name for those who don't speak Greek, this is an easy to prepare cake and I am certain will be a firm favorite for those who love almonds.

Amygdalo means almond and Amygdalopita is a sophisticated kind of Cake, although we call it a "pita" i.e. pie.

Almond trees can be found all over Greece, hence you'll find many versions of this dessert prepared usually in Crete, Lesvos, Naxos and Cephalonia (made with added syrup). Amygdalopita is flavored with almond meal and extract and has a charmingly, fluffy and light bite.

A sweet treat for the almond enthusiasts to savor at any time of day with a cup of coffee or tea. I highly recommend it.

Suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians.

INGREDIENTS:

· 200 gr. / 7 oz / 0.9 cup Butter, softened, good quality

· 5 large Eggs at room temperature

· 270 gr. / 9.7 oz / 1.2 cups Sugar

· 200 gr. / 7 oz / 1.6 cups Self rising Flour, sifted

· 100 gr. / 3.5 oz / 1 cup Almond Meal

· 200 gr. / 193 ml Fresh Milk, 2% fat

· 1/3 tsp. Almond Extract (essence) or a shot of Almond based Liqueur

· A pinch of Salt

· Some Powder (icing) Sugar to garnish

METHOD:

A. Prepare the cake:

1. Crack the 5 eggs and separate their yolks from the whites.

2. Place the soft butter in the bowl of a strong, stand-up electric mixer. Start beating it in high speed, adding the sugar, for 5'-10' or until they whiten and are very fluffy.

3. Next pour the egg yolks one by one in the batter and continue beating.

4. Lower the speed and gradually add half of the sifted flour spoon by spoon into the batter, together with the salt.

5. Halfway, pour in half of the fresh milk before continuing with the rest of flour, beating gently.

6. Pour the rest of milk and almond extract (not more than 1/3 tsp.!) in the batter. When they have been blended in, stop the mixer.

7. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer a couple of min. or until they turn white, frothy and form soft peaks on top.

8. Briefly start the stand-up mixer again, adding the almond meal, beating just enough to incorporate it. Stop the mixer.

9. Pour gradually the beaten egg whites in the batter. Use a soft spatula to gently blend all cake ingredients; careful, you don't want the cake batter to deflate!

10. Spray or brush some oil on the bottom and sides of a round spring form of 26 cm / 10 in. with side opening.

11. Tip the cake batter into the form, leveling its surface. It is now ready to be baked.

B. Baking instructions:

12. Place the form on the bottom shelf of a preheated oven, top / bottom heating elements on @ 170℃ / 340℉, and bake the Almond cake for 45' (depends on the oven).

13. After 45', test if the cake is baked through by inserting a knife in its center. It should come out clean!

14. Next, place the form with cake on a rack to cool down completely. The cake looks light brown, very fluffy, frothy and light.

C. Serving instructions:

Let cake cool down completely before you garnish it with powder sugar. When it has cooled down, remove the form from around the cake.

You could place a crocheted doily on top of the cake and then sprinkle powder sugar on top for a nice decorative pattern.

This cake could be prepared and served all year round, any time of day with a cup of hot coffee or tea.

During the summer months, Amygdalopita could be served with vanilla ice cream for a refreshing pairing.

Or you could pour on top some sour cherry preserve (spoon sweet) for a beautiful contrast of sweet, nutty, woody and sour.

Dedicated to all my friends who love almonds! Enjoy it!!

D. Storage info:

Leftover Almond Cake can be stored, at room temp., covered, for up to 3 days. In the freezer, you can store it for up to 1 month.

Tip: You can prepare and bake the cake ahead of time, and store it in a plastic bag either in the fridge for 1 week or in the freezer for 1 month.

E. History, Mythology of the Greek Almond Trees and health benefits of almonds:

The earliest varieties of almonds were found in China carried by traders down the ancient silk road to Greece, the Middle East, northern Africa, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey, and other areas in Asia Minor.

The almond tree, which has existed in Greece since the antiquity, is the first deciduous tree to flower, usually in February or even January if the weather is mild; it has thus been particularly associated with the rebirth of nature and undying hope, giving rise to myths linked to its early bloom.

Ancient Greek medical texts are among the oldest to discuss the use of almonds, and today they've remained an integral part of the health-focused Mediterranean lifestyle.

Greeks love almonds and since the trees can be found all over Greece, almonds are used in many special recipes, e.g. Koufeta (wedding treats), Amygdalota, Kourabiedes (Christmas butter cookies), Almond Cake, Hamalia etc.

The Greek Myth of Phyllis and Demophon:

Demophon (or Demophoon), son of the legendary hero Theseus, took part in the Trojan War together with his brother Acamas. On his way back home to Athens, he made a stop in Thrace (northern Greece) where he met Phyllis, daughter of the Thracian king Sithon. They fell deeply in love and got married, but soon Demophon had to resume his journey to Athens, where his father Theseus was awaiting. Phyllis agreed to let him leave, making him however promise to soon return for her.

There are several versions of how the couple’s story unfolded. According the most famous version, Demophon made it to Athens, but was held there longer than he expected. The gods took pity on forlorn Phyllis, who faded from grief, transforming her into a tree. Yet the tree remained dry and barren, as Phyllis’s soul was in mourning. At long last, her beloved made his way back to Thrace, only to find the dead almond tree in her place. Filled with sorrow and regret, he wrapped his arms around the dry trunk, and cried hopelessly. Warmed by his embrace and watered by his tears, the tree immediately blossomed and was filled with small white flowers.

The myth of Phyllis and Demophon is mentioned by Alexandrian poet Callimachus in his poem Aetia, which encompasses a large collection of origin myths.

* Health benefits of Almonds:

Almonds are high in antioxidants, protein, vitamin E and fibber. Almonds may have health benefits, including supporting heart health and reducing blood pressure, among others.

With excerpts from:

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Αμυγδαλόπιτα Κέικ Αφρός

BY: Greek Cooking Made Easy

SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/greekcookingmadeeasy

ΜΕΡΙΔΕΣ🍴⃒ ΠΡΟΕΤΟΙΜΑΣΙΑ 🕔⃒

16 25 min.

ΜΑΓΕΙΡΕΜΑ ♨ ΒΑΘΜ. ΔΥΣΚΟΛΙΑΣ 👩‍🍳⃒

45 min. Εύκολο

Αν και με δύσκολο όνομα για όσους δεν μιλούν ελληνικά, αυτό είναι ένα εύκολο στην παρασκευή κέικ και είμαι σίγουρη ότι θα γίνει ένα από τα πιο αγαπημένα σε όσους αρέσουν τα αμύγδαλα.

Η Αμυγδαλόπιτα είναι ένα εκλεκτό είδος κέικ, αν και το ονομάζουμε πίτα.

Οι αμυγδαλιές βρίσκονται σε όλη την Ελλάδα, επομένως θα βρείτε πολλές παραλλαγές αυτού του γλυκίσματος που παρασκευάζεται συνήθως στην Κρήτη, τη Λέσβο, τη Νάξο και την Κεφαλονιά (φτιαγμένο με επιπρόσθετο σιρόπι). Η Αμυγδαλόπιτα είναι αρωματισμένη με αμυγδαλόψιχα και εκχύλισμα αμυγδ��λου και είναι γοητευτική, αφράτη και ελαφριά σε κάθε μπουκιά, σκέτος αφρός!

Μια γλυκιά απόλαυση για τους λάτρεις του αμυγδάλου που μπορούν να την ευχαριστηθούν οποιαδήποτε στιγμή της ημέρας με ένα φλιτζάνι καφέ ή τσάι. Τη προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα.

Κατάλληλη για χορτοφάγους.

ΥΛΙΚΑ:

• 200 γρ. / 7 oz / 0,9 φλ. Βούτυρο, μαλακό, καλής ποιότητας

• 5 μεγάλα Αυγά σε θερμοκρασία δωματίου

• 270 γρ. / 9,7 oz / 1,2 φλ. Ζάχαρη

• 200 γρ. / 7 oz / 1,6 φλ. Αλεύρι που φουσκώνει μόνο του, κοσκινισμένο

• 100 γρ. / 3,5 oz / 1 φλ. Αμυγδαλόψιχα ωμή, σε σκόνη

• 200 γρ. / 193 ml Φρέσκο Γάλα, 2% λιπαρά

• 1/3 κ.γ. Εκχύλισμα Αμυγδάλου (απόσταγμα) ή ένα σφηνάκι Λικέρ με βάση αμύγδαλο

• Μια πρέζα Αλάτι

• Λίγη Ζάχαρη άχνη για γαρνίρισμα

ΜΕΘΟΔΟΣ:

Α. Ετοιμάστε το κέικ:

1. Σπάστε τα 5 αυγά και χωρίστε τους κρόκους τους από τα ασπράδια.

2. Βάλτε το μαλακό βούτυρο στο μπολ ενός δυνατού ηλεκτρικού μίξερ. Αρχίστε να το χτυπάτε σε δυνατή ταχύτητα, προσθέτοντας και τη ζάχαρη, για 5'-10' ή μέχρι να ασπρίσουν και να αφρατέψουν.

3. Στη συνέχεια, ρίξτε τους κρόκους των αυγών έναν έναν στο μίγμα και συνεχίστε το χτύπημα.

4. Χαμηλώστε τη ταχύτητα και προσθέστε σταδιακά το μισό από το κοσκινισμένο αλεύρι κουταλιά-κουταλιά, μαζί με το αλάτι.

5. Στα μισά, ρίξτε το μισό φρέσκο γάλα πριν συνεχίσετε με το υπόλοιπο αλεύρι χτυπώντας αργά.

6. Ρίξτε το υπόλοιπο γάλα και το εκχύλισμα αμυγδάλου (όχι περισσότερο από 1/3 κ.γ.!) στη ζύμη. Μόλις ανακατευτούν, σταματήστε το μίξερ.

7. Σε ένα ξεχωριστό μπολ, χτυπήστε τα ασπράδια με μίξερ χειρός για κανά δύο λεπτά ή μέχρι να ασπρίσουν, να αφρατέψουν και να σχηματίσουν απαλές κορφούλες.

8. Ξεκινήστε ξανά για λίγο το μίξερ με τη ζύμη, προσθέτοντας την αμυγδαλόψιχα, χτυπώντας μόνο όσο χρειάζεται για να ενσωματωθεί. Σταματήστε το μίξερ.

9. Ρίξτε σταδιακά τα χτυπημένα ασπράδια μέσα στη ζύμη. Χρησιμοποιήστε μια μαλακή σπάτουλα (μαρίζα) για να ανακατέψετε απαλά όλα τα συστατικά του ��έικ. Προσοχή, δεν θέλετε να ξεφουσκώσει η ζύμη του κέικ!

10. Ψεκάστε ή βουρτσίστε λίγο λάδι στο κάτω μέρος και στα πλαϊνά μιας στρογγυλής φόρμας με ελατήριο των 26 cm / 10 in. (δηλ. τσέρκι ή άνοιγμα στο πλάι).

11. Χύστε τη ζύμη του κέικ μέσα στη φόρμα, ισιώνοντας την επιφάνειά του. Τώρα είναι έτοιμο για ψήσιμο.

Β. Οδηγίες ψησίματος:

12. Τοποθετήστε τη φόρμα στο κάτω ράφι ενός προθερμασμένου φούρνου, στις πάνω/κάτω αντιστάσεις στους @ 170℃ / 340℉, και ψήστε το κέικ για 45' (εξαρτάται από τον φούρνο).

13. Μετά από 45', δοκιμάστε αν έχει ψηθεί το κέικ μπήζοντας ένα μαχαίρι στο κέντρο του. Πρέπει να βγαίνει καθαρό!

14. Στη συνέχεια, τοποθετήστε τη φόρμα πάνω σε μια σχάρα για να κρυώσει εντελώς το κέικ. Το κέικ φαίνεται χρυσαφί, φουσκωτό και ελαφρύ, σκέτος αφρός.

Γ. Οδηγίες σερβιρίσματος:

Αφήστε το κέικ να κρυώσει εντελώς πριν το γαρνίρετε με ζάχαρη άχνη. Μόλις κρυώσει αφαιρέστε τη φόρμα γύρω από το κέικ.

Μπορείτε τώρα να τοποθετήσετε ένα σεμενεδάκι πάνω από το κέικ και στη συνέχεια να πασπαλίσετε από πάνω τη ζάχαρη άχνη για όμορφο διακοσμητικό σχέδιο.

Αυτό το κέικ μπορεί να ετοιμαστεί και να σερβιριστεί όλο το χρόνο, οποιαδήποτε ώρα της ημέρας με ένα φλιτζάνι ζεστό καφέ ή τσάι.

Στους καλοκαιρινούς μήνες, η Αμυγδαλόπιτα μπορεί να σερβιριστεί με παγωτό βανίλια για ένα δροσιστικό ταίριασμα.

Ή μπορείτε να ρίξετε από πάνω λίγο γλυκό του κουταλιού βύσσινο για υπέροχη κόντρα γλυκού και ξινού.

Αφιερωμένη σε όλους τους φίλους μου που αγαπούν τα αμύγδαλα! Απολαύστε τη!!

Δ. Πληροφορίες φύλαξης:

Η Αμυγδαλόπιτα που έχει απομείνει μπορεί να φυλαχτεί, σε θερμοκρασία δωματίου, σκεπασμένη, για έως και 3 ημέρες. Στην κατάψυξη, μπορείτε να τη φυλάξετε για έως και 1 μήνα.

Συμβουλή: Μπορείτε να ετοιμάσετε και να ψήσετε το κέικ από πριν, και να το φυλάξετε σε πλαστική σακούλα είτε στο ψυγείο για 1 εβδομάδα ή στην κατάψυξη για 1 μήνα.

Ε. Ιστορία, Μυθολογία της Ελληνικής Αμυγδαλιάς και οφέλη για την υγεία:

Οι αρχαιότερες ποικιλίες αμυγδάλων βρ��θηκαν στην Κίνα και μεταφέρθηκαν από εμπόρους από τον αρχαίο δρόμο του μεταξιού στην Ελλάδα, Μέση Ανατολή, βόρεια Αφρική, Πακιστάν, Συρία και Τουρκία όπως και άλλες περιοχές της Μικράς Ασίας.

Η αμυγδαλιά, που υπάρχει στην Ελλάδα από την αρχαιότητα, είναι το πρώτο φυλλοβόλο δέντρο που ανθίζει, συνήθως τον Φεβρουάριο ή και τον Ιανουάριο αν ο καιρός είναι ήπιος. Έτσι, έχει συνδεθεί ιδιαίτερα με την αναγέννηση της φύσης και την αθάνατη ελπίδα, δημιουργώντας μύθους που συνδέονται με την πρώιμη άνθησή της.

Τα αρχαία Ελληνικά ιατρικά κείμενα είναι από τα παλαιότερα που συζητούν τη χρήση των αμυγδάλων και σήμερα έχουν παραμείνει αναπόσπαστο μέρος του μεσογειακού τρόπου ζωής που επικεντρώνεται στην υγεία.

Οι Έλληνες λατρεύουν τα αμύγδαλα και αφού τα δέντρα τα βρίσκουμε σε όλη την Ελλάδα, τα αμύγδαλα χρησιμοποιούνται σε πολλές σπέσιαλ συνταγές, π.χ. στα Κουφέτα (γαμήλια κεράσματα), Αμυγδαλωτά, Κουραμπιέδες, Τούρτα Αμυγδάλου, Χαμαλιά κ.α.

* Ο μύθος της Φυλλίδος και του Δημοφώντα:

Ο Δημοφών, γιος του θρυλικού ήρωα Θησέα, πήρε μέρος στον Τρωικό πόλεμο μαζί με τον αδελφό του Ακάμα. Κατά την επιστροφή του στην Αθήνα, έκανε μια στάση στη Θράκη (βόρεια Ελλάδα) όπου συνάντησε τη Φυλλίδα, κόρη του βασιλιά της Θράκης Σίθωνα. Ερωτεύτηκαν βαθιά και παντρεύτηκαν, αλλά σύντομα ο Δημοφών έπρεπε να ξαναρχίσει το ταξίδι του προς στην Αθήνα, όπου τον περίμενε ο πατέρας του Θησέας. Η Φυλλίς συμφώνησε να τον αφήσει να φύγει, κάνοντάς τον ωστόσο να υποσχεθεί ότι θα επιστρέψει σύντομα σ εκείνη.

Υπάρχουν πολλές εκδοχές για το πώς εξελίχθηκε η ιστορία του ζευγαριού. Σύμφωνα με την πιο γνωστή εκδοχή, ο Δημοφών έφτασε στην Αθήνα, αλλά έμεινε εκεί περισσότερο από όσο περίμενε. Οι θεοί λυπήθηκαν την απελπισμένη Φυλλίδα, η οποία έσβησε από τη θλίψη, μεταμορφώνοντάς τη σε δέντρο. Ωστόσο, το δέντρο παρέμενε ξερό και άγονο, καθώς η ψυχή της Φυλλίδας θρηνούσε. Επιτέλους, ο αγαπημένος της επέστρεψε στη Θράκη, για να βρει μια νεκρή αμυγδαλιά στη θέση της. Γεμάτος θλίψη και λύπη, τύλιξε τα χέρια του γύρω από τον ξερό κορμό και έκλαψε απελπισμένα. Ζεσταμένο από την αγκαλιά του και ποτισμένο από τα δάκρυά του, το δέντρο άνθισε αμέσως και γέμισε μικρά λευκά λουλούδια.

Ο μύθος της Φυλλίδος και του Δημοφώντα αναφέρεται από τον Αλεξανδρινό ποιητή Καλλίμαχο στο ποίημά του Αετία, το οποίο περιλαμβάνει μια μεγάλη συλλογή αυθεντικών μύθων.

* Αμύγδαλα και Οφέλη για την υγεία:

Τα αμύγδαλα έχουν υψηλή περιεκτικότητα σε αντιοξειδωτικά, πρωτεΐνες, βιταμίνη Ε και φυτικές ίνες. Τα αμύγδαλα πιθανόν να έχουν οφέλη για την υγεία, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της υποστήριξης της υγείας της καρδιάς και της μείωσης της αρτηριακής πίεσης, μεταξύ άλλων.

Με αποσπάσματα από:

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kiarazuri · 2 years ago

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Chapter 2: Lottie

“Golden tickets,” Charlotte “Lottie” DuCiel (27M, he/him) states matter-of-factly. Sucre DuCiel, matriarch of the family and Lottie’s mother, stops typing long enough to turn her head, raise her left brow, and give Lottie the most ‘what about it’ expression in the world. “I think we should hold a contest for our customers to win a tour of the factory,” Lottie tells her, forcing himself to keep still, to not fidget under his mother’s stare. “Using golden tickets.” “You mean to allow people inside the factory?” Sucre clarifies, the question obviously rhetorical as she turns to face Lottie head on. She leans forward in her chair and places her hands on the desk between them, steepling her fingers. She taps her acrylics together in a steady, slow rhythm. Lottie almost flinches at the sound—a shiver running up his spine—but manages to hold it in at the last second. He’s always hated the feel of acrylics, the memory of his one and only pair, of tapping them against anything, making his skin crawl. He has the urge to glance at the chipping gumdrops on his own nails. He went to the salon only a week ago but they’re already due for a touch-up. He’s been smoothing a quick layer of glamour over them to mask the imperfections every day before work. Lottie doesn’t fidget, doesn’t flinch, and doesn’t look at his nails. He doesn’t show weakness or insecurity. He can’t. Not now. Sucre DuCiel has been in the foulest mood of Lottie’s life these last few months, forcing everyone in the family to walk on eggshells lest they unleash the Factorie Queen’s wrath. The last time that happened… the river flooded. As his mother’s tapping takes on an incessant speed, Lottie keeps his cool by counting down from ten: 10 amandines, 9 amygdalopitas, 8 angel cakes, 7 aranygaluskák, 6 babkas, 5 bara brith— Sucre stills. Silence rings in Lottie’s ears. He keeps his eyes focused just above his mother’s, on the spot directly between the woman’s beautifully arched brows—filled in today with a black pencil just a few shades darker than her natural color to make them pop! against her deep brown skin. The same color as the roots of the voluminous ombre curls framing her face. “Explain it to me,” she commands, finally. Lottie lets the breath he’d been holding out slowly, unobtrusively; praying she doesn’t notice. “Five tickets will be hidden in our signature candy bars and each of the five winners will be allowed a single companion each,” Lottie explains, keeping his voice even. “10 people, no more, no less. Allowed inside the factory on a single day for a 10 hour tour guided by myself and a handful of my sibling-cousins.” Tap! Tap! Tap! 10 basbousas, 9 baumkuchen, 8 bebinca, 7 berlingozzi, 6— “Give me a reason.” “Good publicity,” Lottie admits truthfully. Sucre’s lips twist in displeasure, her brown eyes hardening. She knows exactly what Lottie means—as did his sibling-cousins when he first floated the idea. Délicieux Carré is in deep need of good publicity at the moment, have needed it ever since The Kandy Killer or Jawbreaker or whatever the newspapers have been calling the serial killer—the source of the matriarch’s aforementioned foul mood,—started using DuCiel territory as their hunting ground seven months ago. From a public standpoint, it’s bad. From a private standpoint, it’s worse. Especially since the killer has been using DuCiel products as calling cards. They even stopped selling their jawbreakers and candycanes after the second murder, but the cakehole must have stockpiled beforehand ‘cause all the murders since have still featured them. Not to mention the shame of not being able to figure out who the fudger is. In their own territory. It’s enough to make all of them a little irked. “Why golden tickets?” “No one can resist a good gimmick,” Sucre stares at him; waits for him to continue. Lottie takes a moment to control his voice. “Because if the tour is themed after Wally Wonda’s than—“ “Than you and your sibling-cousins can play as many tricks as you like,” Sucre finishes, breaking eye contact. She takes a deep breath that tells Lottie all he needs to know about her feelings on the subject. “Is this a trap for the killer or simply a means to play games?” Both. “We think it’ll do our business good. People have been curious about the inside of the factory since Mamie’s reign,” Lottie urges. It’s true, even if it’s not the only truth. “We’ll even give a public announcement everyday telling our customers how many tickets are left to drive sales.” “Make them fight for the honor.” “Exactly.” Sucre finally returns her gaze to her son, her eyes flashing a bright orange before returning to their human brown. “There are rules.” “Of course, Maman. We’d never break your rules.” She doesn’t comment, merely starts listing each rule off on her perfectly manicured fingers. Seeing them up close makes Lottie jealous. I really need to get my nails redone. “No tortures, no disappearings, no product or profit tampering, and keep far, far from the fairyhole,” Sucre commands. “Understand?” “Yes, Maman.” Sucre snaps her finger, the usual sign that she’s done with a conversation. Lottie stands to leave when a single, loud sound stops him in his tracks. “Look at me.” Lottie returns his gaze unerringly to his mother’s brow. “Tell me your plan for the killer.” Lottie swallows. 10 bibikkan, 9 bibingka, 8 bienenstich, 7 birthday cakes, 6 Black Forest, 5 blitztorte— “Our tricks will double as traps, capturing and collecting—“ A genuine smile curls Sucre’s lips. “Just like Wonda’s.” “Yes,” Lottie admits. “And because of the nature of our factory, it’ll be easy to interrogate them with fairy foods disguised as samples.” She nods appreciatively. “Don’t screw up.” “We won’t,” Lottie promises with a bow of his head. Lottie steps out of his mother’s office. Waits for the door to shut with an audible, heavy click! and sighs the heaviest sigh in his life (well, not life, but it’s still very heavy). As the air in his lungs escapes, Lottie deflates, the tension in his shoulders easing. He rolls his shoulders and cricks his neck. “Nerve-wracking,” Lottie murmurs to himself, pulling his phone from the breast pocket of his navy suit. He pulls up the Chaos App and navigates through the DuCiel Confectionarie server till he reaches the Events category, inside is the #Wonda Tour channel he’d created a few weeks ago (after the last murder left them all scrambling to find a solution). Charlotte♡Fever: Maman said yes CreamQueen💦: Thats what I like to hear *Fist-Pumping Baby Meme* 𝓑ittersweet𝓑itch: Awesome! 🗝LIME0314159: Oh thank gods, thought she was gonna eat you alive CLAIRCardCaptor: Surprised she didnt yeet u into the Hole beeloverbabe: glad you survived Bro Charlotte♡Fever: Asdfghjklf 😭 it wasn’t *that* bad yall Charlotte♡Fever: im heading back now Charlotte♡Fever: Meet me there “CreamQueen💦 is typing…” appears beneath my final message just as a sound like a giant suction-cup releasing pops through the air. Lottie freezes mid-step, senses tingling. He doesn’t move, doesn’t breathe, doesn’t even think as he waits for the sound to repeat itself. When it does, Lottie pockets his phone and turns left, aiming for the ruckus. DuCiel Confectionarie is a maze of constantly moving twists and turns that anyone without the magical knowhow to navigate it will get lost in. But there are some parts, some doors or windows or potted plants, that stay, that never move no matter how much the wild magic commands it. This area, where his mother and auncle’s offices are, is one of those stagnant parts. The area surrounding the offices is another story. It’s only half-wild, alternating between three areas and three areas only: 1) The Testing Hall, 2) The Experiment Hall, and 3) The Marketting Hall. The sound comes again, and when Lottie pushes through a large double door to follow it, the staggered, labelled red doors in the hallway beyond are instantly recognizable. The Experiment Hall. The Citrus Triplets’ domain. Two of those triplets responded to Lottie’s message in Chaos, but he hasn’t heard from the third all morning. But that’s not unusual. Of the DuCiels, Aigreur spends the most time outside the Compound. The sound comes again. Followed by yelling, yipping… and mooing. Oh no. Lottie’s stops in front of the door labelled DAIRY. He presses his ear to the door hoping to make sense of the sounds, but has to admit defeat when a crash is added to the mix. Lottie sighs. Places a hand on the door handle. And walks straight into an absolute disaster. There’s a split-second between Lottie opening the door and the sound of another suction-cup releasing, just enough time for him to catch a glimpse of the room’s insides, of Aigreur chasing an escaped goupil* between the cow-stalls and the goupil tripping over one of the milking-machine’s long tentacles, before he’s drenched. And even if he hadn’t seen the fluffy yellow cow the milker’d been hooked up too, Lottie’d recognize this dairy the second it touched his skin. Thick, slimey, viscous, and covering EVERY. SINGLE. INCH of his body from head to feet and the tips of his toes. Custard. Lottie holds his breath; in disbelief, in shock, in fear—what flavor is this?! The scent is too savory-spicy to ever be right for a custard—and counts, prays that when he reaches 1 he’ll wake up and this’ll all be a dream. 10 blondies, 9 bolo de mel, 8 Boston cream pies—The urge to breathe is too much. God-DOUGHNUT. When Lottie releases his held breath he vibrates his lips, pushing against the layer of muck coating them—only for a glob of disgusting, MUSTARD FLAVORED custard to fall from his cupid’s bow and land in his mouth. Lottie gags. “WHAT UNHOLY EXPERIMENTS ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!” He screams blindly, and knowing full well he’s not alone. “It’s—” Aigreur’s voice breaks through the gunk covering Lottie’s ears. “—for a new vol au vent flavor.” Vol au vent. VOL AU VENT. “IGGY, ARE YOU FUDGING KIDDING ME?!” Aigreur’s wince is palpable in the otherwise still room. The goupil must have stopped running. Prob’ly hiding, the li’l pez. “Sorry, Lot,” she replies, sounding like a kicked puppy. “E’erythin’ woulda been dandy if Toutou hadn’t gotten in.” Toutou, otherwise known as the biggest li’l pez in the factory. Forget hiding, the goupil probably fled the second the custard touched Lottie’s skin. Escaped into the wild wild factory somewhere where none of the DuCiels will find them for months, not till they’ve all forgotten The Custard Incident and the little fairy fox will be safe from retribution. Lottie makes a mental note not to forget. I will have my revenge, he promises. “You need ‘elp gettin’ cleaned up?” Lottie shakes his head. “Nope,” Another glob of custard splits from his lip on the ‘P’. “But we’re gonna talk about this—” Lottie motions to himself, the custard. “—later.” “Yes, Sir.” Arms airplaned out to his sides and legs slightly spread, Lottie turns and waddles back out the door. He walks slowly, oh so carefully navigating the factory’s treacherous halls on blind autopilot. At some point he wipes at his face with his drenched suit arm but it’s useless. Either nothing came off, or he just transferred even more custard onto his face. He resigns himself to relying on his memory to get him out, seeing today’s layout in his mind’s eye. He feels the flow of the factory’s wild magic with his own and uses this extra sense to head straight for the Hidden West Door that opens directly onto Bonbon Street. If he takes that door out, all he’ll have to do is cross the street and enter through the Hidden East Door. Just fifty-feet from one door to the other. And then it’ll be a straight shot to the DuCiel apartment complex. I can do this, Lottie just needs to keep his senses on alert. He makes sure to put a full layer of glamour over his skin, using it as a touch barrier to feel every inch of his surroundings. It’ll give him a warning if anyone comes too close. He finds the Hidden West Door, and pauses with his hand on the knob. 10 brownies, 9 buccellati, 8 budapestlängd, 7 bundts, 6 bustrengos, 5 butterkuchen, 4 cassata…, he breathes in as deep as the cursed custard will allow, opens the door, and walks outside. His glamour instantly goes on alert, yelling DANGER! DANGER! Lottie swerves, easily avoiding the customer. Or so he thinks. He only makes it halfway around before he smacks!–and when I say smack! I mean the wet sound of bad kissing–headfirst into a hard, warm chest. Lottie clenches his eyes tight, hoping against all hope he didn’t just do what he thinks he did. But he did.

To Be Continued in Chapter 3 💗

#me #mine #the chocolate trickerie #charlotte and the chocolate trickerie #my writing #chapter 2 #tct chapter 2 #catct chapter 2

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