The Great Greenfield Bake-Off Read online

  “I gotta go,” Emma told Benny with a frown. “Connor forgot the entry form at home. Part of my job was to run back to get it.”

  Violet noticed the beads of sweat on Emma’s forehead. She whispered to Henry, “Emma doesn’t seem happy to be in the contest.”

  “I thought that too,” Henry agreed. Emma seemed so unenthusiastic compared to Benny, who was bouncing on his toes, impatient to get started.

  “Tell me about the recipes again, Jessie,” Benny said as they watched Emma and Connor turn in their entry form.

  “We have to make three different desserts,” Jessie explained for the hundredth time. “For the first one and the last one, we bring our own recipes. We can even practice baking them at home.”

  “I volunteer to make sure it’s good!” Benny licked his lips. “But what about the second dessert? Can I sample that one too?”

  “You can’t because the second dessert is a mystery,” Henry reminded Benny. “You’ll get everything you need to make it when you get to the contest table.”

  “Aldens love mysteries, and dessert mysteries are the best kind of mystery.” Benny clapped his hands.

  “Let’s focus on the recipes we need to bring,” Jessie suggested. “I don’t know what to make yet.”

  The line was moving quickly.

  Violet started naming things that were baked in an oven. “Cookies. Cake. Muffins. Croissants.”

  “Cake pops. Cinnamon rolls,” Henry added.

  Benny sniffed the air. “I smell cinnamon-apple pie. We could make that.” Benny quickly changed his mind. “Nah. We’d never make it as good as Mrs. Catalan’s.” Mrs. Catalan was the current owner of Greenfield Bakery. “Hers is the best.” Benny sniffed the air again and asked, “Can we get some pie for a snack? It’s hot out of the oven!”

  “How do you know the pie is hot?” Violet asked. “We’re still outside the bakery, standing in line.”

  “My nose knows,” Benny said. “And all this talk about food is making me hungry.” He asked again, “Please?”

  “Sure,” Henry told him. “I’m a little hungry too. Violet and I will go buy the pieces of pie and get a table while you and Jessie register for the contest.” As Henry and Violet went inside, Mrs. Catalan called, “Next!” It was Benny and Jessie’s turn at the sign-up table.

  Jessie handed Mrs. Catalan the entry form.

  Mrs. Catalan took the form, wrote down their names on a lined piece of paper, then looked up. “Jessie Alden. Benny Alden.” She smiled. “Two of my favorite customers.” Mrs. Catalan wrote number ten on the top of their form. “You’re the last ones in the competition. We can only have ten teams. Registration is now officially closed.”

  She handed them each a Greenfield Bakery apron and a piece of paper with the rules printed on it. “We will meet at the contest tables on Friday. There will be a big, white tent in the park—you can’t miss it! Bring your ingredients list, and you’ll get to see your baking station.” She stopped Benny and Jessie before they walked away. “Read the rules carefully. The first recipe category has changed slightly. We’ve added an exciting twist.” She winked. “Good luck!”

  “Whew,” Jessie said with a sigh of relief as she and Benny slipped into a booth with Henry and Violet. “We turned in our entry form just in time.”

  Benny looked toward the bakery door. They’d been the last in line, but now there was one girl, a few years older than Henry, leaning on Mrs. Catalan’s contest sign-up table. She had red hair tied with a bright green ribbon.

  “I want to sign up,” she told Mrs. Catalan, who was packing up extra aprons and rule sheets.

  The Aldens could hear their conversation.

  “I’m sorry,” Mrs. Catalan said. “The contest is full.”

  “But I need to be in the contest!” the girl said.

  Mrs. Catalan shook her head. “I can’t add any more teams. Sorry.”

  The girl bit her lip, turned sharply, and left the bakery.

  A few minutes later, the door opened with a bang.

  “Mrs. Catalan!” a man’s voice echoed through the bakery. “I need to talk to you.”

  “That’s Steve Lin from The Bread Box,” Jessie said. The Bread Box was a new bakery in Greenfield. It had only been open a few weeks.

  “I think it’s weird that he decided to open a bakery across the street from this bakery,” Violet said. They’d talked about this before.

  “Mr. Lin makes great cupcakes,” Benny said. “But Mrs. Catalan makes the best pies.”

  “Still,” Henry said, “it might have been smarter for him to set up his shop farther away.”

  “I like having two bakeries so close,” Benny said, licking a bit of apple filling off his fingers. “I think every store on Main Street should be a bakery.”

  Henry smiled. He turned to see what Mr. Lin was upset about. But Mrs. Catalan and Mr. Lin had moved to a corner. “I just heard Mr. Lin complaining that his bakery isn’t part of the bake-off competition. He seems really mad about being left out.”

  “That’s the saddest thing I ever heard.” Benny rubbed his eyes as if he was going to cry. “Bakers shouldn’t fight. They should be friends and make beautiful cakes together.” He went on. “Vanilla cakes with chocolate frosting and rainbow sprinkles.”

  “Those two are definitely not planning to bake a friendship cake,” Violet said, watching as Mr. Lin stormed out of the bakery, slamming the door behind him.

  “Who would argue about something as wonderful as a bake-off?” Benny asked. He finished the last bit of his pie in one big bite. “That would be very silly.”

  Through the window, Jessie could see Mr. Lin clomping angrily across the street to his own bakery shop. Goosebumps skittered up her arms. Jessie had a bad feeling about the argument they’d just heard. She decided to put it out of her mind. Benny was probably right. No one would argue about a bake-off, right? That really would be silly.

  Something Strange

  Friday afternoon, Jessie, Benny, Violet, and Henry went to visit the park where the Great Greenfield Bake-Off competition was going to be held.

  Watch loved going to the park. He bounded along happily next to Violet, who held his leash.

  Jessie held the list of ingredients for their recipes tightly in her hand. That piece of paper was precious, and she didn’t want to drop it by accident!

  “Whoa!” Benny’s eyes widened as they walked across the lawn. The contest was set up near the playground, at almost the same spot where they’d been when Benny got the flyer for the competition. Only now the grass was covered by a large wooden floor and a huge, white, pop-up tent.

  The Aldens tied Watch’s leash to a shady tree near the tent and went inside to look around.

  There were ten tables made into workstations that faced a long tasting table where the judges would sit. Each station had a counter with a mixing bowl in the center. A sink was off to the side. Beneath each counter was an oven. And behind the work areas, there were several small refrigerators, one for each team.

  “It’s like they moved the best parts of Grandfather’s kitchen here!” Jessie was impressed. In each station’s cupboards were pots and pans and baking dishes. “I don’t have to bring anything from home,” she added. “Mrs. Catalan has really invested a lot into this competition.”

  “Whoa,” Benny repeated. “This is amazing. The only thing better would be if the fridge were full of snacks!” He opened one of the refrigerators and peeked inside. “Sad. It’s empty.”

  “We’re going to fill ours with our own creations,” Jessie said, still clutching her list, hoping they’d chosen impressive desserts that were both tasty and nice to look at. Presentation was a big part of a team’s score. The food had to be delicious plus creative and pretty. Violet had really helped Jessie and Benny with the artistic part of their recipes.

  “There are viewing stands right here.” Henry pointed to a nearby area where stadium seats were set up, facing the kitchen workspaces. “They’re so close, we’ll be able to
see everything that happens. Violet and I will get Watch and pick out the best seats.” Henry gave Benny a high-five. “We’ll meet you when you’re done for the day.”

  “This shouldn’t take very long,” Jessie said. “Today we’re just turning in our list of ingredients and getting the rules. It’ll be quick.”

  “I hope they tell us which station will be our own little baking spot,” Benny added. “That’s where the yummy magic is going to happen.” He rubbed his belly. “Oh, look! There’s Mrs. Catalan. Maybe she brought snacks?” They all turned to see Mrs. Catalan unloading pastry boxes from the Greenfield Bakery van. “I smell chocolate,” Benny said happily. “With salt and almonds.”

  Jessie didn’t smell anything. “Come on, Benny,” she said. “Bring your talented nose. The other contestants are gathering by that banner.” They headed over.

  There was a big banner in rainbow colors announcing the competition. Benny and Jessie immediately noticed Connor and Emma in the center of the group. Since they didn’t know anyone else, they decided to say hi.

  “Hey Emma,” Benny said. “Did you bring your ingredients list? Did you find some great recipes?”

  “We—” Emma began, but Connor interrupted her.

  “Don’t tell them anything, Sis. They’re the competition!” He turned to Jessie, “This is your assistant?” He tipped his head toward Benny. “Isn’t he too young for something so important? He might mess everything up.”

  “There wasn’t an age requirement,” Jessie said, feeling like she needed to defend Benny.

  Benny didn’t need defending. He puffed out his chest and announced, “I’m a very good sous-chef.” He corrected himself, saying, “Not that I’ve ever been one before, but I plan to be the best one here.”

  “I’m the top chef,” Connor said. “My recipe is going to win and be on the menu at Greenfield Bakery. Emma’s just my helper.”

  Jessie noticed Emma pinch her lips, like she had something to say but decided against it.

  “Benny’s more than a helper,” Jessie said. “We’re a team.”

  “Team Alden,” Benny said proudly.

  “Well then,” Connor announced. “It’s Team Alden versus Connor Green.”

  “And Emma Green,” Benny put in, but Connor didn’t seem to hear.

  “Good luck to you,” Connor said to Jessie as Mrs. Catalan told the contestants to make a line to hand in their ingredients lists. “May the best baker win.” He grabbed Emma’s hand and tugged her away, rushing to be first in the line.

  “Emma is nice,” Jessie said, as they stood patiently in line with the other teams. “But I wonder why she’s doing the contest with her brother when he’s so bossy.”

  “He really, really, really wants to win, doesn’t he?” Benny said. “I think he’s forgetting the fun part.” He put out his pinky to Jessie for a pinky promise. “Bake it with a grin?”

  Jessie linked pinkies with Benny and shook. She finished the cheer. “That’s how the Aldens win.”

  Benny watched Emma and Connor finish in line and walk into the tent to pick out their workstation. “And even if we don’t win, we still grin?”

  Jessie shook Benny’s pinky again. “Definitely.” She gave him a sample of the world’s biggest grin.

  They turned in their ingredients list and were told to go into the tent to pick a station. Jessie led Benny to one as far away from Connor and Emma as possible. She wanted to be able to focus on her own baking without wondering what Connor was doing. If they were going to have fun and make great desserts, Jessie didn’t want any distractions.

  She checked that the oven heated up, that the fridge was cold, then took a good look at the pots and pans provided. Everything was wonderful! “This is going to be so fun,” she gushed to Benny. “I’m glad you got that flyer.”

  “Me too!” Benny smiled.

  “Welcome, welcome, welcome.” Mrs. Catalan stood at the front of the workspace. “I am so excited to be hosting the Great Greenfield Bake-Off. The competition, as you know, starts tomorrow. I looked at your ingredients lists and look forward to tasting your dishes.” She reminded them that pretty presentation was important. “I hope everyone read the rules carefully. Tomorrow’s first dessert has a twist, I mean, a twist for a bake-off.” She grinned. “There will be no baking in your first dessert recipe! It’s the no-bake bake-off.”

  The kids at the workstations all laughed except Benny.

  Everyone had known about the no-bake plan for the bake-off since the day they turned in the entry form. And every few hours, every day since, Benny had complained how it didn’t make sense.

  “No-bake baking is confusing,” Benny said.

  Jessie then noticed Emma hadn’t laughed at Mrs. Catalan’s no-bake baking joke either. She was staring at the audience bleachers, not really paying attention.

  “I am one of three judges,” Mrs. Catalan continued, looking serious. “Tomorrow, you’ll meet the other judges.” She motioned toward someone near her van. Jessie couldn’t see who was there. “Starting now, if you need anything or have questions, please see the bake-off contest assistant, Leslie Smallwater.”

  A familiar girl with bright-red hair stepped out from behind the bakery van. She was carrying a clipboard.

  “Isn’t that the girl who wanted to sign up but couldn’t?” Benny asked Jessie.

  “Yes. She was too late to get her entry in.” Jessie watched the girl whisper something to Mrs. Catalan before moving alone to the front of the tent. “Looks like she’s the contest assistant now.”

  “I wonder if she gets to taste all of the desserts like a judge?” Benny asked. “That would be an excellent job!”

  “I don’t know what she does,” said Jessie.

  Leslie explained. “Hi all. I am going to review the rules. Please pay careful attention.” Her voice sounded tired.

  Jessie had a notebook with her. She wanted to write everything down so she wouldn’t forget. She glanced around the tent. Almost every team had someone writing notes as well. Emma had a notebook, and Connor pointed at a blank page.

  “Tomorrow, there will be two rounds,” Leslie said in that same low, sleepy voice. She didn’t look up from the clipboard. “When you arrive in the morning, you’ll find all the ingredients you need for your first recipe.” She added, “I’m shopping from the list you gave us, so if something is missing, it’s not my fault.”

  Jessie mentally reviewed her ingredients list to make sure she wrote down everything she needed. Violet had double checked her list. Henry had triple checked it. She felt sure the list was good.

  “The second round tomorrow will be after a lunch break. It’s the mystery round. The judges will give you the ingredients and recipe for what you will make. Not everyone will make it through these two rounds.” She kept her eyes glued to the clipboard and said, without any emotion, “Some of you will go home.”

  Benny grabbed Jessie’s hand and squeezed it. He whispered, “Not us. Don’t let it be us.”

  Leslie quickly checked her watch, then said, “For the remaining contestants, Sunday is the grand finale. Your desserts will be judged on taste, presentation, and creativity.” Lowering her clipboard, Leslie finally looked around the tent. “Any questions?”

  Benny’s hand shot up. “Are there treats today?”

  “No.” Leslie turned away from him. “Other questions?”

  Benny’s hand shot up again. Leslie called on him a second time.

  “Can we taste the desserts the other teams make?”

  “Yes.” With that simple answer, she dismissed everyone. “See you all tomorrow.” Leslie walked quickly away.

  Jessie watched Leslie leave. It had seemed like she really wanted to be in the competition the other day, but now Leslie acted like she didn’t want to be there. Jessie wondered what changed. Maybe she was just tired.

  “Tomorrow’s going to be the best day!” Benny cheered. “Today would have been the best day, but there weren’t any snacks. So tomorrow will have to be the be
st.”

  “We might be on TV!” A boy from the team at the table next to Benny and Jessie showed them where the local news crew was setting up their cameras.

  “I’ve never been on TV before,” a different boy from a workstation near the back of the tent said.

  Everyone gathered around to talk about the TV crew.

  “I’ve been on television many times,” Connor announced. “It’s not a big deal.”

  “I am going to call my mom,” a girl said. “I feel like a celebrity already.”

  The conversation turned to recipes and ingredients. Since they’d already turned in their shopping lists and couldn’t change what they’d chosen to make, everyone was willing to share what they were baking. But not Connor. He told Emma, “It’s time to go. I want to practice my recipe one more time at home before I make it for the judges tomorrow.” Emma nodded and they quickly left.

  Henry and Violet came to find Benny and Jessie. Watch loved all the commotion and greeted everyone.

  Benny introduced Henry and Violet to the other contestants, since now they were becoming friends. Henry already knew one girl, named Melanie, from a book club he’d gone to at the library. Violet knew a team of twin boys from her art class. Most of the other kids were new to them, but everyone chatted away because they all loved to bake.

  As they were leaving, Henry told Jessie and Benny what they’d witnessed while sitting in the audience.

  “While you were going over the rules, we saw something strange,” Henry said.

  Violet nodded.

  “After Mrs. Catalan left Leslie to talk to you, she went to talk to a man hanging more bake-off banners,” Henry said.

  “We heard them talking. Tomorrow, there will be numbers hanging above each workstation,” Violet said. “You’re at number three.”

  “Lucky three,” Benny echoed. He clapped his hands. Watch lay down by Benny’s feet to rest.

  “What’s strange about that?” asked Jessie.

  “Mrs. Catalan was angry that they weren’t up already. It sounded like someone else had told the man not to hang the numbers. Mrs. Catalan told him not to talk to anyone except her.” Henry glanced over to where the Greenfield Bakery van had been parked. It was gone now. “I’ve never seen Mrs. Catalan so upset before.”