"Think about it this way," Theo began, his eyes bright with the familiar enthusiasm of a creator who had just unlocked a new recipe. "Instead of replacing the mochi entirely, my plan is to layer it directly inside our flaky, buttery pie crust. We keep the pastry shell, but completely reinvent what's inside."
Aurora leaned against the kitchen counter, resting her chin in her hands as she hung onto every word. Her purple eyes tracked the gentle, rhythmic motion of his wooden spoon as he explained.
"First, I'll spread a smooth, velvety layer of sweet red bean paste along the bottom of the chilled crust," Theo said, gesturing with his free hand. "But to elevate it, I'm going to swirl a rich, jarred strawberry jam right into the paste. That mimics the concentrated, juicy berry flavor of the classic Ichigo Daifuku we love."
