House Special

Flour to Dough turned out to be a huge success. Whether it was the country fresh air, or the pure spring water, something made it extremely tasty. Mason Tuxedo even landed himself a deal with the supermarket ran by the Marshmallow Mouse father. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Natalie would deliver a few loaves of bread to the supermarket before she went to teach ballet. This was considered a great accomplishment. This agreement helped Flour to Dough earn publicity. Now a couple of families take a monthly trip up the mountains to the countryside to buy lots of bread.

When the Brick Oven Bakery began, it had gotten a deal with the Fisher Cats’ Super Market. This would be considered the beginning of the beginning for the Brick Oven Bakery which was now a popular spot to purchase bread, treats, sandwiches or pizza. The Tuxedo Cat Family was now hoping that they’d have that success one day.

Of course, Mason always wanted progress, if he ever wanted to reach his goal, he would need to be original. That morning he prepared the bread for the day. Mason never mass produced, for he wanted to sell fresh bread. Whatever was leftover became part of his family’s meals. They never minded and as his twin daughters would say, “There’s no difference at all!”

Everything was placed on the stands and Flour to Dough was now open for business.

No one bought bread at this hour, so Mason decided to take advantage of the time and try making a new bread. The ingredients were spread out on his work table. The usual: milk, yeast, flour, sugar, eggs and butter.

In his wife’s fancy pot, Mason easily mixed the ingredients together before he kneaded it into fluffy dough and placed it into the rectangular mold. Now came the hard part, the shape. “Hmmm,” Mason said out loud, “What should it be?”

Looking up at his wonderful house, an idea sparked in his mind. Clearing his work table, Mason brought over his baking pan. First he out a nice amount of dough on before he started adjusting the shape. Then he would layer more dough for the finer details. Satisfied with the product it was popped in the oven.

Mason sighed happily, he was planning on surprising his wife with breakfast and to get her opinion on his special new creation. Therefore, when the bread baked he prepared the rest of breakfast. A glass of soy milk and butter for the bread. Being a critter of many skills, preparing breakfast was a simple task. Ding!

Mason rushed to the brick oven and pulled out his latest bread, a house shaped bread! However it was a lot more than that, he had modeled it after the top two levels of his house. The windows, balcony, triangular spike in the roof were all there! Even the door had been decorated.

The meal was hidden on top of the chairs and as if right on cue, Natalie came down. “Morning, dear,” she said, “I’m gonna go over there to use the bathroom, be right back.”

Mason smiled, “Alright, but do be back quick.”

As soon as his wife left, Mason put the plate, and cup on top of their wooden table and patiently waited for Natalie’s return. “What’s all this?” Natalie asked, “It smells delicious.”

“It’s breakfast, I’d thought I try something new, have some,” explained Mason eagerly.

Natalie sat down and spread butter on the bread, admiring every little detail. “It’s so cute,” she added, “It looks just like a house! Mason, you’re such an artist!”

“Well, that’s what I was planning. Go on, try it.”

Natalie bit into it, and it tasted divine. Warm, yet not soggy, with salty butter melting on the bread. Everything seemed to compliment each other and nothing was out of balance. The right amount of everything, simply amazing. Natalie exclaimed, “It tastes great, and I love that shape. I am sure it is going to sell very well, you’ve outdone yourself!”

The day went on and just like Natalie had said, it did sell well. Mason made another, and it was swiped off the shelf after the Cuddle Bear mother, Carol Cuddles, (Cuddles was her maiden name) saw it. She complimented Mason’s skills and his creativity. Carol’s eldest daughter, Ava Cuddle Bear, had an amazing conversation with twins, Lily and Rose.

On the following day, Heidi Choch was making squash and carrot soup. She would need a side dish though and the day’s biscuits had already been eaten when Bell was watching TV. Pound cake and tarts wouldn’t do and soup wasn’t enough to fill everyone’s bellies. “Skip, be a dear and run over to Flour to Dough and buy a bread, okay?” requested the busy mother.

Skip nodded and happily ran off to his next door neighbors. Natalie greeted him happily. (Mason was busy grading papers)

Skip looked through the variety of bread. He noticed the new one, up at the shelves. “What’s this?” he asked.

Mason came down and explained his latest product and Skip’s eyes went wide! “House bread! Can you make our house too then? Maybe the Toy Shop or the Lakeside Lodge? How about a 3D version?” bombarded Skip with much excitement.

“Woah, slow down there, I think this is the only ‘special’ I’ll be doing.”

Skip nodded and purchased the bread, and brought it home.

“It’s so pretty!” exclaimed Grace.

The family crowded around the table, admiring their neighbor’s artistic talent. Dinner was smooth, the soup plus the bread was excellent and no one complained. Bell and Bellia helped with the dishes, while the Chiffon Dog siblings tended to the 4 babies and Skip showered.

The usual routine for bed was over and soon every was catching Z’s.

The new bread’s popularity caught on rather quickly. Mason named it the House Special, pun intended. It became Flour to Dough’s best seller, its design caught everyone’s eye and the creativity in such a thing made is so special. Felicia Tuxedo even wrote a short article on such a bread, her job was to report interesting things after all, and how interesting was this! Praises were given in the city and in the countryside. The House Special was Mason’s best idea yet!