Volume 2 Chapter 87 We Made Non-Alcoholic Cocktails In Home Ec Club Today
Well, as usual, classes are only in the mornings until summer vacation starts, and the afternoons are free, but I'll join club activities if there are any.
However, since summer vacation starts next week, club activities for the first semester end today.
Anyway, I'm participating in the Home Ec Club today.
I sent a message to Osaragi-san just in case.
"Hello. What are you planning to do for today's Home Ec Club session?"
The reply came back right away.
"Hi, hello. We're going to do a cooking practice session today.
Let's discuss and decide what to make together."
"Understood. Oh, is it okay to record a video this time too?"
"Yes, that's fine."
So, me, Saikachi-san, and Shinonome-san headed to the Home Ec cooking practice room.
And Osaragi-san and Utashiro-san were already there.
"Hello, you're always early. Osaragi-san, Utashiro-san."
When I said that, Osaragi-san replied with a smile.
"Hello. Summer vacation starts next week, after all.
This is the last club activity of the first semester, so we're all fired up. Even after summer vacation, there's the sports festival in September, and we have to prepare for that. Then, in October, we'll get hyped up for the cultural festival."
When Osaragi-san said that, Utashiro-san also spoke up.
"We don't have any plans to come to school for club activities during summer vacation. Let's discuss what to make today and then go shopping for ingredients at the supermarket."
We nodded, and I said,
"Yeah, classes are only in the morning today, and we have plenty of time for club activities. It's starting to get hot, and I was thinking something cold and delicious would be nice."
Then Saikachi-san also said,
"Oh, that's a good idea. In that case, how about ice cream or shaved ice?"
And then Shinonome-san said,
"Ice cream seems difficult, but I think I can make shaved ice, I'm in!"
Upon hearing this, Osaragi said.
"Is it shaved ice?
That sounds good too."
I chimed in with my thoughts.
"If we're going to buy syrup for the shaved ice, I'd like to try making a non-alcoholic frozen cocktail as well. What do you think?"
Osaragi replied.
"A non-alcoholic frozen cocktail, huh? That sounds interesting too. We can't buy too many types of syrup or mixers due to budget, though."
To that, I responded.
"For now, if we have Monin syrup in cassis and peach along with coffee, we could whip up a variety of possibilities. As for mixers, carbonated water, oolong tea, orange juice, grapefruit juice, tomato juice, and ginger ale should be more than enough, right? It would be nice to also get some lemons, limes, mint, and strawberries."
Osaragi replied to my words.
"With all that, we can definitely make a wide range of non-alcoholic cocktails."
So, we all headed to a larger supermarket.
First, we checked out the non-alcoholic section by the alcohol drinks corner and the baking ingredients aisle.
"I'm wondering what to do if we can't find Monin syrup in cassis and peach... but it looks like we might be in luck."
To my words, Osaragi smiled and responded.
"Recently, more supermarkets have started stocking syrups instead of liqueurs or rum for baking, which is a big help."
"I see, it's true that larger supermarkets nowadays carry sliced almonds and powdered sugar too."
Shinonome, who overheard our exchange, asked curiously.
"Do they sell those kinds of things too?"
To that, Osaragi gently replied.
"Yes, of course, but depending on the scale, there are places, like general supermarkets, where they might not carry as many food items."
Shinonome, after hearing the explanation, tilted their head.
"I see. Where should we go to buy those, then?"
To that line, I replied.
"There might be a liquor store with a good selection of foreign spirits, don't you think? Well, nowadays it might be harder to find such a store than to hunt for a big supermarket."
Shinonome nods and says.
"You're right, it'll be faster to find a big supermarket than a shop like that."
Saikachi-san and the others chuckle at our conversation.
And in the drinks aisle, Saikachi-san reached for jasmine tea.
"I'm going to try making a jasmine tea cocktail."
"Well, I'll stick with oolong tea."
Shinonome takes a bottle of oolong tea and says so.
"I'll have milk."
Shinonome bursts out laughing at that.
"As expected, you picked something kid-like."
"But, things like Kahlúa milk with cranberry juice or coffee liqueur are cocktail classics, you know."
I answer her.
"By the way, since today's the last day of club activities for this semester, how about we make some snacks and drinks as a celebration?"
Shinonome was the most enthusiastic about my suggestion.
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Things like french fries, sausages, chicken nuggets, and breaded pork cutlets, like what we eat at karaoke, would be great, right?"
Saikachi-san then,
"That's definitely a good idea."
So we bought french fries and other snacks.
"Let's go back to school and start cooking."
Everyone nods at Osaragi's words, and we head back to school.
We lightly cook things like french fries, sausages, chicken nuggets, and breaded pork cutlets and arrange them on plates.
"Wow, it smells so good. Let's eat!"
Shinonome says, her eyes sparkling.
Then, we each make our cocktails.
"Shinonome, have you ever made a mocktail?"
When I asked her that, Shinonome shook her head with a bright smile and said,
"Of course, I have! That's a silly question! Hata-pippi makes it!"
"Well, in that case, let's make a mock Reggae Punch. I don't know what you like so don't set the ratio of syrup to splitting material to 1:4."
"I don't really know so that's fine."
I filled a tumbler with ice cubes and spun them around with a stirrer about 20 times.
"What are you doing?"
I answered Shinonome's question.
"I'm doing this to chill the glass and make the ice in the glass stable. I'm swirling it around to melt it a bit. Some people say that the best way to chill a glass is to put it in the freezer, but that's a different story. Anyway, doing this prevents the ice from breaking apart and spilling the drink when you tilt the glass, and it keeps the drink nice and cold. Also, in really particular bars that carefully measure their liquor, they'll actually drain off the melted water from the ice before pouring the liquor to make sure the drink doesn't get watered down."
"Wow, I didn't know that."
Then I added peach syrup to water in a 1 to 4 ratio, stirred it well, and passed it to Shinonome.
"Here you go, non-alcoholic Reggae Punch."
"Thanks."
Saikachi-san was also making a non-alcoholic Peach Jasmine tea, mimicking what I did.
"Is this how it's supposed to be?"
"Yeah, impressive."
As for me, I blended frozen milk and yogurt with strawberry syrup in a food processor, crushed it, poured it into a glass, and made a Frozen Strawberry Milk.
"Wow, strawberry milk looks so fancy when you make it like that."
Shinonome said that, and Saikachi-san nodded in agreement.
"These frozen cocktails are great for hot weather."
"Yeah, using fruits like kiwi, pineapple, or mango would really make it feel summery."
By the way, Osaragi-san was making a Shirley Temple, a non-alcoholic cocktail of grenadine syrup and ginger ale, and Utashiro-san was making a Cassis Soda, a tart cassis mixed with unsweetened sparkling water.
Those were delicious too.
"Shirley Temple, huh? Then I'll..."
I crushed mint leaves in a glass with lime juice, filled it with crushed ice, and topped it off with soda water to make a non-alcoholic Mojito.
"Normally you'd add white rum, but even without the rum, doing it this way is said to replicate that refreshing Mohito-like drinkability."
"Oh, that's stylish!"
Miss Shinonome said that, and Mr. Saikachi nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, that's very stylish."
And so, with a spirit of harmony, the final club activity of the semester came to a close.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)