Delicious or Not?

New Friends and a Grade Change

Suki's POV

As the teacher walked past my part of the kitchen, she looked at mine surprised to see it done, and so well too. She took me out of class and to the principal's office to talk with him when she knocks on the door, opens and I see not only the director but Jōichirō and someone else as well. I look at my feet nervously now that Jōichirō was here. I look at the people here and then look down at my hands shyly, that's weird I've never been shy before. I fidget with my fingers as the adults talk. My teacher talked to the director a little about why I was here and then left. The director told me to take a seat so I do.

Jōichirō's POV

I walk into the school that Suki attends after I was called there by the director. I saw my good friend, Azami Nakiri, the director of Totsuki academy, as I walked into the room, "I wonder why he's here" I thought to myself.

The secondary school director addressed us, "Jōichirō, your daughter is very talented" he started, "she's not my daughter, but Moriko's, I'm just caring for her while she goes to school" I interrupted him. "Well, either way, she is very talented and I would recommend" just then there was a knock on the door and the director went and opened it, there was Suki and who I assumed was her teacher. I overheard what they were talking about, stuff like gastronomy. "Was Suki doing gastronomy?" I thought to myself as I looked at them. The director thanked the teacher and she walked off. "Please sit down miss Suki," he said directed at Suki, she looked down at her hands as she walked to the open chair and sat down while looking at her hands, she was fidgeting with them as the director came back over and sat back down, "as I was saying" the director continued, "Suki here needs a grade change, she's a very intelligent eight-year-old and I think she needs to be put into the middle school, or even higher if that's okay with you Mr. Nakiri?" the director asked Nakiri what he thought about it, "I will need to see how well she can cook," He said.

Suki's Pov 

When I sat down they started talking about me, and how I need a grade change. I got nervous because the old guy said he needed me to cook something for them. We walked to one of the spare classrooms that had a kitchen with the ingredients already in there. I decided that I was going to make something I'd never made before that I found in the third library, Khanom Chan also known as Thai Steamed Coconut-Pandan Cake.

I started to cut the bunch of pandan leaves, by one inch. When cut I put them into the blender with water and Puree'd them on high speed until loose paste forms, 6 minutes, and they were done. I then set a fine-mesh sieve in a small bowl and poured in the pandan puree; I stirred and pressed the puree to extract as much juice as possible, once I had my juice I discarded the solids. Lightly I grease a 7-inch round cake pan with nonstick spray, then I line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. I lightly grease the top of the parchment round as well.

"Is she making what I think she is making? That'll take too long" asked the director, the old guy nodded a yes. "She is talented for an eight-year-old," said Jōichirō.

I continue to fill a medium pot with enough water to reach 4 inches up the sides, then set a 9-inch bamboo steamer inside. I add the cake pan to the steamer as well, I make sure the steamer and cake pan are completely level, then I set the pot over medium heat thus preheating the cake pan while I make the batter. I fill a kettle with water and bring it to a simmer. While the water is simmering. In a large bowl, I whisk rice flour, tapioca starch, and arrowroot starch. In another medium-size bowl, I use my hands to mix coconut milk with palm sugar until fully blended.

I start humming a song as I make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour in 2 cups of the coconut milk mixture. I mix thoroughly with my hands as I start bobbing my head along to the tune I was humming. I knead and squeeze, until the batter feels thick and gluey, about 5 minutes. I add the rest of the liquid in two batches, mixing thoroughly by hand each time.

I divide the batter into two large bowls. I add ½ cup of pandan juice and the food coloring to one bowl and some jasmine tea to the other, I stir each mixture well.

I pour ¾ of a cup of the green batter into the preheated pan. Then dry off the underside of the steamer lid, to avoid any water dripping into the mixture and put the lid back on, and I cover the pan with a lid. 

I steam the first layer over medium heat until set, slightly translucent, and firm to the touch, it is still slightly tacky for 9ish minutes. I repeat the process with a layer of the white batter, cooking for 11 minutes.

I continue steaming one layer at a time, alternating colors for at least 5 layers or as many as my pan can hold, ending with a pandan layer. I make sure each layer is thoroughly cooked before adding the next. I keep an eye on the water level and top it off from the simmering kettle as necessary. The cooking time for each layer increases slightly as the Khanom chan gets thicker. I remove the covered pan from the heat and let the Khanom chan cool completely at room temperature. 

The tune of my song changed a bit and then stopped s I remembered I wasn't alone. I lightly grease a large plate with nonstick spray, as I blush bright red. I invert the Khanom chan onto the plate but did not remove the cake pan. I wrap the inverted cake pan and plate tightly with plastic wrap and put it in the super fridge for at least 8 minutes before I pulled it out. I unwrapped the Khanom chan and turned over the cake pan, the Khanom chan remained inside. I use a sharp paring knife to loosen it from the sides of the pan, then I carefully peel the cake out onto a cutting board. I dip my knife into oil to slice the Khanom chan into 1 ½ inch squares. I serve immediately.

I put it on three plates, I then put it In front of the three adults nervously. I read gifting this dessert is to bless one with prosperity or success, but I'm not sure. The men grabbed their spoons and grabbed a bite placing it into their mouths I wait a minute then the old guy's shirt came off, I looked away quickly embarrassed. "It's really good kid," Jōichirō said, "Mhm, It's sweet but not too sweet, a fragrant perfume of sweet jasmine and nutty pandan. It's tender yet chewy and firm," the director said. The old guy had his clothes on again and I looked back smiling, "I'm glad you liked it" I said cheerfully "It's my first time making it, so I was worried that you wouldn't like it" I finished. "This is your first time making this dish?" asked the old guy, I nodded my head yes at his question.

"How would you like to move to high school level?" the old man asked, "If that's okay with Jōichirō?" he asked more towards Jōichirō this time, "I'm okay with it if you wanna do it, Suki?" Jōichirō asked me. "Does it mean I'll be able to cook more?" I ask the old man and Jōichirō, "you will be able to cook whenever you want" answered the old man. "Well then, I'd love to join your school" I respond.

After they finished eating the rest of the cake I went home with Jōichirō and found that Soma was still here because the high school wasn't in session yet.

~~Time skip One Week~~ 

Soma and I were at home waiting, Soma thought I was suspended because I was home and wouldn't tell him exactly why. I haven't told anyone that I was headed to the high school with Soma.

The business lady came back, she wrecked the fridge, all the ingredients then asked for a nice juicy steak, Soma made her his Potato steak.