47th Recipe [Text]

[cyan_maid]

[Jane's been busy, like most folks, but today she's struck by some modicum of motivation. A "I don't feel as down in the dumps as I've been grappling with" sort of thing. So, you know what, she's going to bake.

And show off a little in the process.]

So I don't quite know what sort of region they hail from, since as far as I'm aware, there is not yet a Pokemon version of Russia that's just been grafted into the general subconscious of this world, but where I'm from you would call these "Russian piping tips". And oh, they are astoundingly beautiful! Usually when you're decorating cakes and the like, you need several different tips for different kinds of petals, and making one flower is a lot of work, but these? You can make a veritable field of flowers in no time!

springcupcakes.jpeg

So, if you happen to be like me and enjoy a spot of baking now and again, I can confidently let you know that tips for making these sorts of decorations are on sale in the Goldenrod Department Store. Maybe also Celadon? I can't get over there very quickly to check. Oh, but they also have the piping tips with the spheres on the end, those are also lots of fun! And if you want tips on how to get the icing colors to do the thing, I don't mind sharing what I know!

...Ah, I guess this is a weird thing to make a post on, isn't it? Here, hold on, I'll pay the Pokemon tax:

[And then attached as a picture of an Audino and Indeedee, both absorbed in eating some of those lovingly crafted cupcakes, the latter doing so much more daintily than the former.]

I couldn't have made so many without my helpers. I swear, give them a task and they can find it within them to tolerate each other's presence...

Comments

[heartofalioness]

These are gorgeous, Jane! (I gasped out loud!) And the Pokémon are adorable as well, of course!

[Seriously, both Hunk's cooking and the Pokémon cafes here have demonstrated how beautiful human cuisine can be, but this is one of the most beautiful things she's seen yet.]

[cyan_maid]

Shucks, it's the piping tip that does the hard work! I'm just putting the frosting in the bags and doing the squeezy thing. :B

[heartofalioness]

Don't deny it. I've seen my friend Hunk bake before, decorating is harder than it looks.

pulls self by ear to get the black text html code

[cyan_maid]

I'm serious! These tips are kind of incredible that way!
The most complicated part of it is filling the piping bag a certain way if you want multiple colors to come out. You have to have one color scraped around the inside, and then the other fills the middle...or you have to use the coloring for frosting on the inside of the bag in a design, put your base in, and then you see if it even comes out properly...

[heartofalioness]

Mhmm... and you've just proven my point. Give yourself more credit, Jane.

[cyan_maid]

But that's not really so impressive, anyone can do that! Just like anyone can use these tips to make professional-looking flowers!

[heartofalioness]

[Ah...]

:| Jane. I can assure you if I tried to set up a piping bag like that, it would be a mess. And you had to coordinate colors and the designs overall. Your work takes a lot of skill, and there's no shame in letting others acknowledge that.

Now, are they any left, and how much are they?

[cyan_maid]

Well, yes, there are plenty left. This was kind of a stress-bake project.
And they do not cost anything because I am not an official shop or anything at the moment.

[heartofalioness]

[SHUT UP AND TAKE HER MONEY.]

Excellent, I'll be over shortly.

[And she IS bringing money, she swears she'll stuff it into the cookie jar when Jane's not looking if she has to. She has practice giving Shiro rent via Swear Jar. So soon enough, Jane will find an Altean princess on the premises.]

Hello, Jane.

[cyan_maid]

[NO NOT UNTIL SHE'S SELLING THEM AT THE CHRISTMAS MARKET]

Oh, hello! Come in, come in, I've got - I found some of those little cake boxes somewhere, I had leftovers from holiday gifts, so you don't have to worry about cupcake transport.

[Sure enough, when you enter the kitchen, there's a couple of those thin white cardboard boxes already folded up...and some of that bakery string, too? The red and white kind? Jane you just have this shit ready to go...]

[heartofalioness]

[THAT'S TOO FAR AWAY. Jane deserves money for her hard work NOW.]

Oh, excellent! Thank you so much. Let's see... how many are left?

[She's hoping enough for a full dozen, maybe two. One cupcake each for her and Keith, of course, but then they have pretty large teams between them, and it'd be a shame to leave anyone out, even with splitting.]

[cyan_maid]

[Allura.

I'm not gonna lie.

There's several dozen out on the table all decorated and a few more pans of cooling cupcakes on the counter in this kitchen.

When Jane said this was a stress bake, it was a stress bake, and there's even some misshapen/too dark ones that the sweetest-smelling shiny Grimer is just slowly snacking on, paper cups and all, in the corner. That's Gertrude, and she waves hello.]

Ah, a lot are left. Don't mind Gertrude, she always wants what I'm baking, so...I kind of make sure not everything turns out perfect for her sake.

[heartofalioness]

[... OKAY, Allura feels less guilty taking that many off her hands.]

So I see. In that case, I'll take two dozen, please?

[And while Jane's preoccupied with boxing them up, she'll just... slip a few Pokébucks towards Gertrude, attempting a stage whisper.]

This is for your Trainer...!

[cyan_maid]

Absolutely! Any color preferences?

[She'll start putting some pink ones in a box, though, like. She gets a pink sense.

Gertrude looks at the money with confusion. What this? This is paper? What does the paper do? It's for Jane? What would Jane do with paper? She didn't like paper being on her house when they first met, so...

I'm so sorry, Gertrude's thought process has lead her to gently take the Pokedollars in her sticky hands and just swallow them whole.]

[heartofalioness]

[Pink works--OH NO! Well it's not like Allura can wrestle the Grimer for the money without making a loud, messy scene, sooo RIP money. (Thank goodness her Meowstic knows Pay Day. And maybe she can send Jane money via a more reliable courier later.)]

Aaah any would be nice. Keith tends to like red and purple. I'm partial to pinks and blues myself, but really, any colors you wish would be lovely.

[cyan_maid]

[Gertrude does not think she's done anything wrong! She chews on the money with a big smile. No messy paper for her trainer!]

Reds, blues, pinks, purples - so in a similar sort of color family, got it. [Jane starts loading up the box! Many cupcake treats!]

[heartofalioness]

[Bless this mess indeed...]

Thank you so much! Frankly, I am a bit surprised you haven't attached a bakery to the Gym, Jane. These are certainly high quality.

[cyan_maid]

Oh, well, I mean...a bakery gym was my first idea, actually. But I knew someone who had a regular bakery in the area, and I didn't want to take away from her business...that, and I couldn't really come up with any clever ideas for gym challenges that didn't end in a big mess. The Private Eye sort of situation just worked out a lot better.

[heartofalioness]

That is a fair point. I don't see why you couldn't open a bakery adjacent to the Gym now, but I do understand not wanting to spread yourself too thin. Your products are certainly high quality, I'll say that much.

[cyan_maid]

Ah, well, I think just doing it for the holiday season as a sort of...maybe a Gym tie-in? Advertisement? Maybe that could work. But...I guess since I was always meant to be in the baked goods industry back home, as far as I was aware, that...because I'm set apart from it all now, I wanted to do something that's wholly me. Does that make sense?

[heartofalioness]

[Ah... she remembers Jane's broadcast after the Beheeyem incident. Her smile sobers a bit as she nods.]

I believe it does... [Allura almost wonders if she should apologize for being too pushy, but settles on a chance in tone instead.] In any case, you are doing quite well for yourself already with the gym and detective agency; you're right there's no need to spread yourself too thin. And I do admit, pursuing baking casually does allow you to devote more time and care than in a business.

[cyan_maid]

[A little smile.] Thanks. I like to keep busy but there is such a thing as keeping too busy.

[heartofalioness]

Indeed. Although I have found it rather difficult to be too busy in this world.

[Then again, everything seems relaxing after finding yourself spearheading a rebellion against a universe-spanning empire.]