Chapter 2 Aqua-What? #2
Like a chameleon, the mahogany transformed into glistening marble. The stacks of papers vanished. Measuring cups and a box of kitchen tools shot out of the pen holder. The telephone twisted into a stand mixer.
“Whoa!” Sylvie had seen her mom cook up magical recipes before, but she’d never seen an entire room transform.
Jean pointed to the shelves on the wall behind her. Loads of ingredients were now stacked on top. “Use these supplies to make a French meringue.”
Jean pulled a small bottle out of a drawer.
Sylvie eyed the label. CRIMSON KNOTROOT.
“You’ll need a dash of this to create the visitor’s pass.”
Sylvie nodded.
Every weekend, Sylvie helped her little brother make meringue for their waffle batter. I should be excited. Meringue is easy. But this seems too simple, like finding a hundred-dollar bill glued to the sidewalk.
“Is there a recipe to follow?” Sylvie asked.
Jean shook her head. “No recipes in a quickfire challenge. Also, if you find an ingredient is missing, be creative. You’ll need to work fast.”
How fast?
Before Sylvie could ask, Jean rapped her Blade against the pastillage filing cabinet, transforming it into a giant digital timer. A number five flashed red. “Your time starts now.”
Sylvie scrambled toward the ingredients. She pulled out the cream of tartar and tossed it onto the counter. Next came the sugar. Sylvie continued rifling through the shelves. There were cans of beans, bags of pasta, blocks of chocolate, but one ingredient was noticeably missing.
“There aren’t any eggs,” said Sylvie finally.
Jean popped a handful of Allaway’s Antacids into her mouth. “Like I said, get creative.”
Now what? Sylvie stared at all the options. Some ingredients in cooking just belonged together. Pizza with cheese. Blueberries with pancakes. Meringue with egg!
How else can I make this recipe? Think.
A minute vanished off the timer.
Sylvie chewed on her lip. The quickfire’s purpose was clear. Expose a lack of knowledge, a weakness. Keep out those who don’t belong. Her hands clenched into fists. But I do belong!
There has to be another way. Sylvie shoved over a bag of chocolate and continued digging through the shelves. Maybe powdered egg whites? A can of garbanzo beans tumbled to the floor.
“Three minutes left,” said Jean.
Not helping!
Sylvie stared at the can of beans. There was a point in every cooking competition when the losing chef seemed to realize they weren’t going to make it. A similar sensation was creeping over her now.
Stay calm. Sylvie took a deep breath and focused.
Something was coming to her. Better Baking Hacks.
It was a blog, all about vegan ingredient swaps.
Maybe that’s what she needed to do now, hack her way to a better meringue?
Agar-agar replaces gelatin. Carob instead of milk chocolate.
Meringue morphs out of aqua … aqua-what? Sylvie searched her memory. Aquafaba!
“That’s it! Garbanzo bean juice!” Sylvie grabbed a can opener and pried the beans open.
Truthfully, Sylvie had lost interest in the blog after reading the post about swapping carob for milk chocolate.
Anyone who doesn’t eat chocolate shouldn’t be trusted!
Now she was sorry she hadn’t looked up the recipe for aquafaba.
Still, she was certain this was the answer.
She dumped the bean bath water into the mixing bowl, crossed her fingers, and flicked on the mixer.
The beaters spun rapidly. Sylvie added the sugar and debated her next move.
“One minute left,” Jean said.
Think!
Crimson Knotroot was the magical ingredient she needed for the passes, but how was she supposed to use it?
Sylvie opened the bottle. The scent of a warm tropical night tickled her nose.
Something about it reminded Sylvie of her mom’s pineapple paradise cookies.
The secret to their delicious flavor was plenty of toasted coconut and … a splash of vanilla.
That’s it! Use it like vanilla extract!
The whir of the mixers filled the air as Jean counted down the final seconds.
It was now or never. Sylvie held her breath and squeezed the dropper.
A splotch, bright as blood, landed in the bowl.
Sylvie waited for the frothy mixture to turn pink.
Instead, the color turned into a strand of smoke and vanished.
“Time’s up!”
The beaters froze, mid-spin. The room grew quiet.
Sylvie eyed the shimmering fluffy mound as Jean lifted a beater into the air. A pointy white dollop stuck to the top.
“Nice firm peak. Now for the real test.” Jean gave the beater a flick.
Flecks of meringue landed on the marble table, sliding toward one another like magnets.
A moment later, a silver pass—with the Brindille twigs embossed on it—formed in their place.
Her mom gave her arm a squeeze. “Good job, Sylvie.”
Sylvie scooped up the ticket and clenched it in her hand.
I did it! A feeling was rising inside her, like a bud breaking through frozen ground.
Whatever it takes. I have to finish top of my class and get my Blade.
Her future depended on it. The ticket pressed into her palm, reminding Sylvie of everything she stood to lose—or gain.