I frowned What do you think that means It means the cookies and cakes have to look nice when they’re on the plate he said He pointed to the last line Also we’re not supposed to play favorites That’s going to be difficult I said because I know everyone in the contest and they’re all my favorites Mine too agreed Connor I wonder what kinds of treats everyone will be baking I said I heard Mr O’Reilly is making a baked Alaska I wonder what that is Let me check When Connor and I found out we were going to be judges we went to the library and borrowed a whole bunch of books on baking I thought if we know the recipes that make up the treats it might help when it 6
comes to judging them I took out one of the books and looked up baked Alaska Crickets It looks really complicated Connor leaned over my shoulder Holy smokes They bake ice cream in an oven 7
I nodded Yeah but it doesn’t melt That’s amazing Connor took the book from me He flipped through the pages Man I hope the contestants make some of these desserts Look at all this checkerboard cakes and pinwheel cookies They look delicious I nodded They’re making me hungry and I just ate Do you think anyone will make mandazi Mandazi is one of our babu’s babu is Swahili for grandfather favorite desserts They are coconut donuts and they are delicious I hope so Hey Connor frowned as he read one of the pages What’s cream of tartar Is that like tartar sauce Doesn’t seem like it would be very good in desserts 8
Hmm let’s check I bet we have some in the baking cupboard I don’t know if that’s a good idea But I was already walking to the kitchen Max ran beside me I was too excited to get the stepladder out so I climbed onto the counter and opened the cupboard door There’s so much stuff in here Hold on I dug around and tried to be careful but my fingers were too excited And clumsy I knocked over a bunch of containers of sugar and sprinkles Boom Crash Smash Halmoni Mom and Dad raced into the kitchen They stared at the mess They stared at Max who was covered in sugar and sprinkles Well said Dad we always say Max is the sweetest dog Lark just proved it 9
