Alstroemeria

Chapter 22

Okay first, don't try to make this at home! I'm just explaining it for the sake for the story. This is how I make caramel, melt chocolate, and do homemade popcorn (separately, usually) and I'm not sure if I'm even doing it right. If you do try, please do not turn up the heat on the popcorn or caramel too high, you can burn it or cause a fire. Caramel and popcorn are very difficult to make!

-Safety Marzia

Entering the class--with two Italians, an Englishman, and a Japanese man trailing behind you (he said he was joining for.. bento reasons)--you noticed it was quite empty. The only people in there being France, China, Canada and a man slumped over on a cooking station. You also noticed two new cooking stations. You went to one of the new stations; the back left one.

As class filled up the countries present were China, Japan, N. and S. Italy, France, Canada, England, America, Turkey, the sleeping man, and you. There were 11 people, one person would have to work alone. You desperately hoped it was you, no offence to the others, but please just let it be you!

"Hello Cla-" Mrs. Hopkins entered, she stopped speaking and let out a loud gasp when she saw the new people in class. She smiled. "Ah~! New people! How exciting! I suppose we'll have another competition then? How does that sound?" Most of the class cheered, competition coursing through the air. Why is it so much more intense than last time?

"Okay! Team up!" Many nations began rushing around, choosing a teammate and a cooking station, you simply stayed in your spot, hoping no one came up to you.

Luckily, no one even looked at you! The teams ended up as; Japan and China, front left station; Italian brothers, front right station; France and Canada, middle left station; England and America, middle right station; you, alone, back left station; Turkey and slump man, back right station. You really needed to figure out his name, you can't just call him slump man the rest of your life.

"You will now make your meanest dessert!" Mrs. Hopkins said, colour drained from a few faces, a few nations beamed. "But here's the catch: They have to be related to your country! BEGIN COOKING CHILDREN!" One country from each team rushed back to the pantry, pushing and shoving each other, you stood still; what to make? Popcorn~! Caramel and chocolate popcorn!

Once everyone had returned you went to the pantry and leisurely browsed. You saw a bag full of pre-popped popcorn. You shuddered in disgust, those bags were a disgrace to the art of popcorn. Factory made has nothing on home-made! You grabbed a jar of dry corn kernels, some sunflower oil, vegtable oil, butter, meltable chocolate bars (hypocrite, those are factory made too), heavy cream, and sugar. Once back to your station you pulled out three pots; one for the popcorn, one for chocolate, and one for the caramel.

You started with the chocolate. You filled a pot with water and put it on the stove; you were going to put a glass bowl over it once the water is boiled and put the chocolate bars into the bowl with cream (an easy way to melt chocolate without it burning).

You then did the popcorn, you put a mild amount of both oils and a small amount of butter, and put the stove on lowish heat. You then added some kernels. Once all those kernels popped you added more. Once popped you put more, and more, and this continued till you had a large bowl full of plain popcorn.

Just as you finished this the water was boiling, you put a heat-safe glass bowl over the water and chopped up the chocolate bar, you then put it in with heavy cream and waited for it to melt a bit.

While you waited you began the caramel. You started with making brown butter, adding a bit of water, and then putting in sugar. You stirred as you waited for the sugar to caramelize.