Angel Muffins

“Furaha! Orko! You’ve got mail!” called Ua from downstairs. Furaha and Orko raced downstairs to see Ua holding a medium-sized pink envelope with their names written on the back - in Angel Cake’s writing. Furaha gently took it from her mother and opened it up. The heavenly scent of ice cream cakes wafted into her nose. Orko could smell it too. The letter read:

“Dear Furaha and Orko,

How would you two like to head over to my place? We can bake blueberry muffins tomorrow. Custard and Pupcake are coming too, but please don’t let Pupcake near any of my baking equipment. Hope to see you tomorrow,

Love,

Angel Cake.”

Furaha and Orko were bursting with excitement. “We’re going to bake muffins at Angel Cake’s house!” they cried at once. “Now don’t get too excited about it,” said Ua, “Because you have a job to do once you get there.” “What’s that?” asked Orko. “Your job is to keep Pupcake away from Angel’s baking equipment, because it can easily get knocked over.” “Oh.” Orko felt disappointed. “But I was looking forward to the muffin part.” “You can hide under the table with Pupcake whilst we do all the muffin business,” suggested Furaha. Orko thought that was a great idea.

Meanwhile, at Strawberry Shortcake’s strawberry-shaped house, Custard and Pupcake were also excited over going to Angel Cake’s house for a baking session. But then, Pupcake’s face fell. He wasn’t supposed to touch the baking equipment, was he, because he always knocked everything over. “Don’t worry, Pupcake, you’ll have Orko to protect you.” said Strawberry Shortcake, “Because time and time again, you’ll find yourself useful for once in your life.” “I was going to say that,” said Custard sarcastically. “Let the master speak first,” scolded Strawberry. Custard harumphed as she slumped down in her basket. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, she thought.

And it was. Furaha, Orko, Custard and Pupcake all made their way to Angel Cake’s big, bright cake shaped house on a bright and sunny day. “Isn’t it exciting?” squealed Custard, “Angel Cake - allowing us to bake muffins!” “Oh boy, yes,” said Furaha, “And think of all the baking equipment she keeps everywhere!” Orko was carrying Pupcake in his arms. Pupcake was trying to wiggle free, but Orko was trying to keep hold of him. “Stay still!” he cried multiple times while wrestling with the fussy pup.

At last they reached Angel Cake’s pink front door. Furaha knocked three times, and who should answer it but… “Angel Cake!” our three friends cried. Pupcake barked. “Oh it’s so nice to see you - and it’s just the right kind of weather to bake cakes. Blueberry muffins, for instance. Come on in!”

So everyone stepped into Angel Cake’s squeaky clean kitchen and saw that she had all the ingredients ready - all purpose flour, baking powder, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla and almond extract milk, turbinado sugar, and best of all - the blueberries. Furaha, Orko and Custard had stars in their eyes just seeing the basketful of blueberries on the table! Pupcake was still wiggling like a wiggling thing in Orko’s arms. “STAY STILL!” he shouted. Angel Cake tutted. “I don’t think it’s going to be easy sailing with Pupcake ruining the whole recipe. Orko, why don’t you take him into my living room? That’ll calm him down.” “Right away!” said Orko, and he lead Pupcake out of the room.

Angel Cake advised Furaha and Custard that they need to wash their paws and wear baking aprons before they start. Furaha and Custard loved making frothy lather from all the bubbles caused by Angel’s raspberry-scented washing up liquid! Then, the baking began. Angel Cake advised that first they need to combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. They all worked together to make a snow like mixture, but suddenly, Custard felt an itch in her nose. She was going to sneeze! “Aaa…aaa…aaa…” “Sneeze into your arm!” cried Angel Cake. So she did. “AaaaTCHOO!” Everyone laughed. Custard’s sneezing was very funny!

Meanwhile in Angel Cake’s living room, Orko let Pupcake run around the fleecy dark blue carpet. “There. Much better.” he said, “After all, who would want to leave Pupcake alone in the kitchen while he messes everything up?”