Page 47 of Markets & Mooncakes

"Is that necessary?" I ask.

"I think so. The moulds are a specific size, so they need the right amount of filling. If I'd been making mooncakes for years, then maybe I'd be able to do it by sight, but as this is the first time, we're weighing them."

"All right, I suppose that makes sense."

I head over to the scales and bring them over to the table, separating out the two brass weights that we need. We follow the instructions on the recipe and put an egg yolk on the scales, making up to the first measure with lotus paste, and then to the second measure with the mooncake skin dough until we have twelve sets of components in front of us, but no complete mooncakes.

"I think we can both do them at the same time," Nate says. "But we should put them all into balls first."

"I'm still a little worried about how we're going to get them out of the moulds once we've put them in there," I admit as I roll out the first disk of lotus paste. It's surprisingly pliable, but at least that's going to make it easier to form it around the egg yolk to make the centre of the mooncake.

"The skin dough isn't very sticky," he responds. "So I think that might help."

I nod, though I'm still not entirely sure. "Lady Sun Jinglan showed me how to get them out when I asked her."

"I suppose it's not that dissimilar to other moulds," Nate responds.

"Oh, I suppose that's true. We just don't have anything nearly that intricate."

"Spekulaas moulds from Wafeland are. I just haven't made them since coming back to Falhaven."

"Have you been holding out on me?" I respond.

"No, they're just popular at Yuletide, so I've been saving them. But we'll make them together soon," he promises. "Especially because I think the Queen will like them." He's already made two of the mooncake balls while talking, so I take the chance to make one of my own.

I place the egg yolk in the centre of the lotus paste and close it up, making sure there are no gaps in it before rolling it between my hands to make a perfect ball. I repeat the process with the mooncake skin until I have a light brown ball. I put it next to Nate's, impressed that they are coming out the same size.

Nate grabs the moulds and covers them in a layer of flour before shaking off the excess. It scatters through the air and onto the table a little like snow. "Ready?" he asks as he puts one of the moulds down in front of me.

"Not even slightly," I respond, pulling it towards me. This part of a first bake is always nerve-wracking. Sometimes, it still makes me nervous when I'm doing it on a bake I've done several times before. But that's also part of the challenge, even if it's frustrating when it goes wrong.

I pick up the first mooncake ball and press it down firmly into the mould, trying to make sure that it gets into all of the crevices of the pattern on the top. It's surprisingly firm to the touch, and while I was worried about the egg yolk seeping out, it doesn't at all.

Nate fills his mould and looks at me. "Shall we?"

I nod and turn over my mould. I take a deep breath and whack it down on the table, while Nate does the same with his.

Ember flusters from atop the oven and lets out some annoyed noises.

"I think we might have disturbed her slumber," Nate says.

"We'll be done soon," I promise my dragon. Though there are still ten more mooncakes to make. I'm sure she'll get used to the sound.

"How did yours come out?" Nate asks.

I look at the mooncake, a little disappointed that the intricate pattern hasn't come out as well as on Nate's. "I think I need to push it into the mould harder. I was just worried about breaking it. But my next one will be better," I say firmly. "Do you think that I can reroll this one?"

"I don't know," he admits. "But that can just be the one that I try."

"But you should also have a beautiful one."

"I don't need it to be beautiful," he promises. "Not when I can see that they all will be. Besides, the pattern is still clearly visible."

I let out a sigh. "I know. I just want it to be perfect."

He gives me a reassuring touch on my arm. "Try your next one, I'm sure it'll come out right."

I nod and pick up the next ball. He's right that I should be working on the next one. I can't expect to get the perfect mooncake on the first try. My next couple come out much better, with the rose pattern on top coming out perfectly.